Mackenzie Gerringer

Mackenzie Gerringer serves as an Associate Professor of Biology at the State University of New York at Geneseo, where she has been a faculty member since Fall 2019. Her research focuses on the physiological and ecological adaptations of organisms living in extreme deep-sea environments, particularly in the hadal zone (depths greater than 6,000 meters). Dr. Gerringer maintains an active research laboratory that collaborates with major oceanographic institutions including NOAA Ocean Exploration, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and the University of Hawaii.

Dr. Gerringer earned her educational credentials from:

• Ph.D. in Marine Biology, University of Hawaii at Mānoa, 2017
• B.A. in Biology & German Studies, Whitman College, 2012

Her research interests span deep-sea biology, fish physiology and ecology, adaptations to extreme pressure environments, skeletal morphology of deep-sea fishes, otolith analysis for life history reconstruction, feeding ecology of hadal organisms, and the taxonomy of deep-sea fishes. Dr. Gerringer's work particularly focuses on snailfishes (family Liparidae), which represent the dominant fish group in multiple deep-sea trenches worldwide. She investigates how these organisms have evolved specialized adaptations to survive in environments characterized by complete darkness, near-freezing temperatures, and pressures exceeding 1,000 atmospheres.

Analysis of Dr. Gerringer's publication record reveals a consistent focus on understanding the physiological and morphological adaptations that allow vertebrates to inhabit Earth's deepest oceanic trenches. Her research employs cutting-edge techniques including micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), genetic barcoding, stable isotope analysis, and direct observation through submersible and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) expeditions. A notable trend in her work is the integration of undergraduate students into authentic deep-sea research, making her one of the few researchers actively bringing deep-ocean exploration into undergraduate classrooms.

Dr. Gerringer's scientific recognition includes:

• A three-year, $892,000 National Science Foundation grant titled "Collaborative Research: Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI): Pressure Adaptation, Stress, and Convergent Evolution in Fishes across Habitat Depth"
• An Ocean Exploration Education Mini-Grant from NOAA Ocean Exploration and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation in 2022

Dr. Gerringer has mentored numerous undergraduate researchers, many of whom have co-authored publications with her and presented their findings at academic conferences. Her NSF grant specifically funds four undergraduate researchers and a postdoctoral researcher who also teaches in the Biology Department. She has developed innovative approaches to incorporate NOAA Ocean Exploration's telepresence technology into undergraduate marine biology courses, creating opportunities for students to engage in deep-sea research without requiring ship time. This work has significantly increased accessibility to deep-sea research for undergraduate students, particularly those from backgrounds historically underrepresented in ocean sciences.

Dr. Gerringer leads the Gerringer Lab at SUNY Geneseo, which focuses on physiological and ecological adaptation into deep-sea environments. The lab conducts research through collaborations with major oceanographic institutions and utilizes specimens collected during international deep-sea expeditions. Current projects investigate skeletal morphology across depth gradients, otolith analysis for life history reconstruction, feeding biomechanics of deep-sea fishes, and the impact of seafloor topography on deep-sea biodiversity. The lab maintains strong connections with the NOAA Ocean Exploration program and regularly analyzes video footage from ROV Deep Discoverer expeditions to study deep-sea fish communities and coral habitats.