Kathryn Shamberger

Kathryn E.F. Shamberger is an Associate Professor (Retired) at Texas A&M University's College of Geosciences, Department of Chemical Oceanography. She specializes in chemical oceanography with a focus on ocean acidification, coral reef ecosystems, and coastal carbon cycling. Her research spans tropical and deep-sea coral reefs, examining their sensitivity to anthropogenic stressors such as climate change and pollution.

Education: Ph.D. in Chemical Oceanography (University of Washington, 2011), M.S. in Chemical Oceanography (University of Hawaii, 2005), B.A. in Marine Chemistry (University of San Diego, 2001). She held postdoctoral positions at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (2011–2013) and has conducted fieldwork globally, including the Caribbean, Hawaii, American Samoa, and Palau.

Research interests include the natural cycling of carbon dioxide in coral reef and coastal ecosystems, the impacts of ocean acidification on calcifying organisms, and ecosystem-level calcification responses to multi-stressors. Notable contributions include discoveries of deep-sea coral reefs in the North Pacific and studies on hurricane-driven coastal acidification effects.

Her publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches, linking biogeochemistry with microbiology and climate modeling. Awards include the TAMU Distinguished Teaching Award (2018) and U.S. Carbon Program Leadership Award (2022). She advises students on coral reef resilience, microbial dynamics, and ocean acidification impacts.

Shamberger collaborates internationally, leading projects on Gulf of Mexico carbonate chemistry and Palau's coral lagoons. Her lab focuses on field-based measurements and model integration to address global environmental challenges.