Sheila Kitchen

Sheila Kitchen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Marine Biology at Texas A&M University at Galveston. Her work integrates molecular, computational, and field-based approaches to study symbiotic relationships in corals, focusing on evolutionary and ecological dynamics. She earned her Ph.D. in Zoology from Oregon State University (2016), an M.S. and B.S. in Marine Biology from UNC Wilmington (2010, 2007).

Research Interests: Kitchen's lab investigates the genomic and ecological mechanisms underlying symbiosis in corals, including heat stress responses, symbiont inheritance, and conservation strategies for threatened species. Her work emphasizes coral genomics, population genetics, and the application of molecular tools for reef restoration.

Publications: Her recent work includes studies on coral symbiosis dynamics, genomic tools for conservation (e.g., STAGdb), and symbiont transmission mechanisms. Key themes include climate resilience, symbiotic evolution, and biodiversity conservation.

Grants & Labs: The Kitchen Lab develops STAGdb, a SNP genotyping array for coral conservation. She collaborates on NSF-funded projects and contributes to coral restoration efforts. Prospective students are encouraged to join her team via the Join Us page.

Labs/Teams: Kitchen leads the Kitchen Lab at TAMUG, focusing on symbiosis, genomics, and applied conservation. Her team includes researchers like Hannah Reich and K.L. Vasquez Kuntz, advancing coral genomics and field-based methodologies.