Craig W. Osenberg

Craig W. Osenberg is a Professor at the Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, where he leads a dynamic research lab focused on marine and ecological sciences. His work spans coral reef dynamics, fisheries management, meta-analysis methodology, and the interplay of environmental stressors with organismal behavior.

• Research Themes: Coral reef resilience, thermal performance curves, meta-analysis rigor, lunar-driven spawning phenology, and cryptic density dependence.
• Teaching: Co-creator of meta-analysis courses at Kellogg Biological Station and Stanford’s Hopkins Marine Station, emphasizing quantitative synthesis in ecology.
• Alumni: Mentored PhD graduates including Rebecca Atkins (Knauss Fellow), Amy Briggs (Smithsonian postdoc), Jing Jiao (MSU postdoc), and Elizabeth Hamman (St. Mary’s faculty).

His publications highlight collaborations across institutions (UCSB, Tulane, CRIOBE) and interdisciplinary approaches, including CAFI (Coral-Associated Fishes and Invertebrates) feedbacks, Moonlight studies on Thalassoma hardwicke, and MPA (Marine Protected Area) assessments. Grants include NSF funding for cryptic density dependence and a Sea Grant John A. Knauss Fellowship for his advisees.

Labs & Collaborations: The Osenberg Lab at UGA collaborates internationally, with teams in French Polynesia, Tanzania, and the Florida Keys. Recent lab additions include Michelle Diminuco (coral wound healing) and Nina Simone Warner (fish-zooplankton-disease dynamics). Former lab members like Adrian Stier (now UC Santa Barbara faculty) and Anya Brown (UC Davis) continue to influence the field.