Daniel Pondella

Daniel Pondella is a Professor in the Department of Biology at Occidental College and serves as Director of the Vantuna Research Group. He holds an A.B. and M.A. from Occidental College and a Ph.D. from UCLA, with an academic career spanning since his 1988 appointment.

• Research focuses on California marine fish ecology, evolution in tropical eastern Pacific, and fish life history
• Projects include kelp restoration assessment, rocky-reef restoration at Bunker Point, and Marine Protected Areas baseline studies

He leads the Southern California Marine Institute (SCMI) and contributes to the AltaSea project at the Port of Los Angeles, aiming to expand ocean science understanding and education programs.