Tessa M. Hill

Dr. Tessa M. Hill is a Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of California, Davis, and serves as the Associate Vice Provost for Academic Programs, Public Scholarship & Engagement. She is affiliated with the Bodega Marine Laboratory, leading the Bodega Ocean Acidification Research (BOAR) group and the Ocean Climate Lab. Her work focuses on climate change impacts, particularly ocean acidification and deoxygenation, and integrates research with policy and education initiatives. Tessa holds a B.S. in Marine Science from Eckerd College (1999) and a Ph.D. in Marine Science from UC Santa Barbara (2004). She was a UC President’s Postdoctoral Fellow at UC Davis before joining the faculty.

Her research examines marine species responses to environmental changes, leveraging interdisciplinary approaches to inform management strategies. Notable projects include collaborations with shellfish farmers and K-12 educators to address ocean acidification challenges. Tessa is a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and serves on the West Coast Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Panel. She advocates for inclusive academic reward systems and equitable impact metrics in science.

• Key Roles: Faculty member, BOAR group leader, AAAS panelist, science education advocate
• Research Groups: Bodega Ocean Acidification Research (BOAR), Ocean Climate Lab, Hill Biogeochemistry Lab

Her outreach efforts emphasize bridging science and policy, including workshops on paleoceanography’s relevance to decision-making. Tessa’s work highlights the importance of seagrass ecosystems in mitigating coastal ocean acidification and the need for adaptive strategies in marine conservation. She also addresses microplastic pollution and its effects on shellfish health, reflecting her broad commitment to environmental science and societal impact.