معرفی
Shawn Arellano, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Biology Department at Western Washington University (WWU), affiliated with the Marine and Coastal Sciences Program. He leads the Arellano Larval Lab at WWU’s Shannon Point Marine Center, focusing on deep-sea larval ecology and hydrothermal vent communities. His research investigates larval dispersal mechanisms, symbiont-larval interactions, and the role of microbial biofilms in larval settlement.
Education:
- PhD in Biology (Marine Biology), University of Oregon, Oregon Institute of Marine Biology
- BS in Biology (Cell Biology, Organismal Biology), University of Kansas
Research Interests: Deep-sea ecology, larval behavior, marine invertebrate biology, and climate impacts on larval development. His work combines field studies at hydrothermal vents with lab-based molecular and proteomic analyses to understand larval settlement cues and community recovery.
Grants & Projects:
- NSF-funded project (OCE-1948580) investigating microbial biofilms’ role in larval settlement at hydrothermal vents
- Collaborations with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Rutgers University
- Development of the Marine Science Scholars program at WWU to mentor undergraduates
Labs & Teams: The Arellano Larval Lab focuses on deep-sea exploration using submersibles like Alvin. Current projects include studies on larval dispersal at East Pacific Rise vents and impacts of volcanic eruptions on benthic communities.
