Kali Prescott

I obtained my Bachelors in Science in Ecology, Evolutionary, and Organismal Biology at California State University, Monterey Bay in 2017. I began my post undergraduate career in research as a Lab Technician for Dr. Arlene Haffa at CSUMB studying organic alternatives to fumigants in the Salinas Valley. I padded out my work experience by also working as a Seasonal Wildlife Technician at the SPCA for Monterey County, and eventually came to volunteer at SLEWTHS (Science, Learning, and Exploration with the Help of Sea Lions). It was volunteering at SLEWTHS that led me to apply to the Vertebrate Ecology Lab at Moss Landing Marine Labs under Dr. Gitte McDonald. Working with marine mammals awakened a keen interest in the behavioral and physiological adaptations these animals have. Adaptations which allow them to thrive in harsh environments such as on deep ocean dives or under the Antarctic pack ice.

My research interests include a broad range of topics such as animal behavior and cognition, marine mammal dive physiology, and foraging ecology. My thesis project will be looking at how biologgers may impact adult female northern elephant seals by generating 3D models and calculating drag using computational fluid dynamics.