click here for a pdf version of my CV


Taylor Ely

3598 Alani Drive, Honolulu, HI 96822
(310) 245-0207
tely@hawaii.edu

Education

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
PhD Candidate in Zoology
Started August 2019, current GPA: 4.0
Advisor: Dr. Peter Marko

University of California, Los Angeles
Bachelors of Science in Marine Biology
Minor in Environmental Systems and Society
Graduated June 2018, GPA: 3.957
Senior Honors Thesis: Investigating Temporal Variation in a Marine Environment, Advisor: Dr. Paul Barber


Publications

First author or co-first author:
Ely TD1, Mukai GNM1, Kobayashi DR, Marko PB, Moran AL, Wren JLK. (2024). Characterizing key sensitivities for modeling long-distance dispersal in the North Central Pacific Ocean. NOAA tech report. Link
1 = co-first authors

Ely T, Patten N, Naisbett-Jones LC, Spencer ET, Willette DA, Marko PB. (2023). Molecular identification of critically endangered European eels (Anguilla anguilla) in U.S. retail outlets. PEERJ. 11: e14531 Link

Ely T, Barber PH, Man L, Gold Z. (2021). Short-lived detection of an introduced vertebrate eDNA signal in a nearshore rocky reef environment. PLOS ONE 16(6): e0245314. Link

Blanchette A1, Ely T1, Zeko A1, Sura S, Turba R, Fong P. (2019). Damselfish Stegastes nigricans increase algal growth within their territories on shallow coral reefs likely via enhanced nutrient supplies. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 513: 21-26 Link
1 = co-first authors

Others: Nichols PK, Sherwood AR, Fraiola KMS, Ely TD, … & Marko PB (2025). Detection of a Non-Indigenous Marine Macroalga (Acanthophora spicifera) With Environmental DNA From Surface Seawater. Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries 5(6): e70135. Link

Fumo JT, Nichols PK, Ely T, Marko PB, … & Sherwood AR. (2025). A predictive framework for identifying source populations of non-native marine macroalgae: Chondria tumulosa in the Pacific Ocean. PeerJ, 13: p.e19610. Link

Moran AL, Toh M-WA, Lobert GT, Ely T, Marko PB. (2021). Egg masses and larval development of the Antarctic cephalaspidean snail Waegelea antarctica (Cephalaspidea: Antarctophilinidae), with notes on egg masses of the related Antarctophiline alata. Journal of Molluscan Studies. 87(3). Link


Grants

2024 to current - Jessie D. Kay Memorial Award in Zoology ($10,000)
What are the dispersal pathways for marine species to the Hawaiian Archipelago?

2023 - Elizabeth Alison Kay Endowed Awards for students in Biology/Zoology at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa ($2500)
Dispersal patterns of marine organisms in the Hawaiian Archipelago

2020 - The Charles H. And Margaret B. Edmondson Research Fund ($2000)
Community-wide genetic patterns revealed through eDNA

2019 to 2024 - NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program ($118,500 over 3 years)
Using eDNA to examine the impact of warming oceans on marine fish communities


Honor & Awards

2025: UHM Zoology Graduate Program Achievement Scholarship ($1000)
2025: Honolulu ARCS Scholar ($6,000)
2025: Honorable mention for graduate student talk at Tester Symposium at UHM
2025: Environmental DNA (eDNA) Conference Bursary ($1500)
2018: Graduated Summa Cum Laude and Departmental Highest Honors from UCLA
2018: 3rd place Undergraduate Poster at UCLA’s Biology Research Symposium
2014-2018: Dean’s Honors List at UCLA
2017: UCLA Undergraduate Research Scholarship Program award ($5000)
2017: Whitcome Research Undergraduate Summer Fellowship at UCLA ($3000)
2016: UCLA Promise Award Scholarship ($2000)
2014: California State PTA Scholarship ($500)


Presentations

Ely T, Marko PB. (2025) “Population Genetics of Marine Species in Hawai‘i using eDNA”. Albert L. Tester Memorial Symposium. Honolulu, HI. won honorable mention for graduate student talks

Ely T, Marko PB. (2025) “Analysis of eDNA as a community genetics tool” 2nd Australian & New Zealand Environmental DNA (eDNA) Conference. Wellington, New Zealand.

Ely T (2024) “eDNA: a promising tool for population genetics” Albert L. Tester Memorial Symposium. Honolulu, HI.

Ely T (2022) “Testing eDNA as a fine-scale population genetics tool in marine ecosystems” Albert L. Tester Memorial Symposium. Honolulu, HI.

Ely T, Blanchette A, Zeko A (2017). “Territorial damselfish enhance nutrient supplies to algal turf in shallow coral reefs”. Marine Biology Quarter Symposium. Los Angeles, CA.

Posters

Ely T (2018). “Monitoring Sea Star Wasting in Oregon’s Marine Reserves”. Oregon Sea Grant Final Symposium. Newport, OR.

Ely T, Gold Z, Barber PH. (2018). “Investigating Temporal Variation of eDNA in a Marine Environment”. UCLA’s Annual Biology Research Symposium. Los Angeles, CA.


Experience

Graduate Research Assistant
August 2019 to current at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
GRFP & NSF grant # 2049672
Dr. Peter Marko’s Lab
Investigating marine biogeography and population connectivity in North Central Pacific

  • Collected and processed ~2,000 eDNA samples for biogeography and population genetics analyses; analyzed in R with custom-made population genetics pipeline
  • Simulated larval dispersal into the Hawaiian Archipelago using python and OceanParcels

Lab Technician
February to June 2019 at Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine
Dr. David Carlon’s Lab

  • Processing parrotfish gut samples for MiSeq and qPCR
  • Created a protocol for laboratory and bioinformatics analysis designed for undergraduate students
  • Managed lab upkeep including ordering supplies

Oregon Sea Grant Summer Scholar
June to August 2018 at the Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW)
Marine Resources Program, Newport, OR

  • Monitored sea star wasting syndrome (SSWS) and analyzed data from SSWS and biodiversity surveys in Oregon’s marine reserves with both univariate and multivariate statistics
  • Expanded the monitoring program through successful collaborations
  • Led a team of 3-7 staff and volunteers during intertidal field sampling

Undergraduate Research Assistant
October 2015 to June 2018 at University of California, Los Angeles
Undergraduate in Dr. Paul Barber’s Lab
Senior Honors Thesis: Investigating Temporal Variation in a Marine Environment

Invertebrate Zoology Intern
June to August 2017 at Smithsonian Institute, National Museum of Natural History
Dr. Chris Meyer’s Lab
Extracted tissue samples from ARMS across Indonesia and prepped samples for Sanger sequencing

Public Programs Intern
May 2015 to May 2016 at Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, Santa Monica, CA

  • Organized scientific talks including a talk with NASA JPL
  • Created advertisements, social media posts, and displays using Canva
  • Helped found the seabirds program


Teaching

Undergraduate Mentoring
April 2025 to current
Advise a student working with eDNA data in R to investigate life history’s influence on detections

Environmental DNA team leader
July 2024
Larvae Across the Pacific Research Cruise on R/V Thompson
Trained and supervised a team of undergraduates and post-baccs to process environmental DNA samples

Teaching Assistant at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
August 2019 to May 2020
Classes: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Lab, Invertebrate Biology


Selected Graduate Courses Taken

An Introduction to place-based methodologies in Hawaiʻi; People and the Sea; Population Genetics; Systematics and Phylogenetics; Biological and Physical Oceanography; Advanced Statistics in R


Certifications

  • Scientific Diving certified since 2016: 112 scientific dives
  • CPR, AED, and First Aid certified


Professional Service

Student Social Chair
January 2025 to current at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Co-lead of weekly Pau Hana event for graduate students and faculty

Navigating the Publishing Landscape Workshop
October 2024 at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Discussion panelist for graduate student perspective


Community Service

Various workdays on Oʻahu
2024 to current
Paepae o Heʻeia ; Ka Popo Loʻi o Kānewai; Waialeʻe Lake Pono; 808 cleanups; Kaiāulu ʻO Kahaluʻu,…

International Save the Vaquita Day
September 2024 and November 2025 at Waikīkī Aquarium
Lead volunteer, ran an educational booth

Various STEM outreach for kids
March 2020, October 2022, and February 2023
Kupu Hawaiʻi STEM outreach; Career Day at Dreamhouse HS; The Science of the Seuss Library Event

Leeward Science and Engineering Fair
February 2020 and 2021
Volunteer judge for environmental science and biological sciences categories

Environmental Message of the Month
September 2013 to June 2014 at Palos Verdes Intermediate School
Founded and ran this program to educate students and parents Link



News & Media

UH News Article from September 2024 Link


Reviewer for Journals

Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Molecular Ecology Resources