Tory Chase

Tory Chase is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies and Sciences at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY. He completed dual undergraduate degrees in Biology and Science Education at Elon University, followed by an M.A.Sc. and Ph.D. in Marine Biology at James Cook University and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Australia. After a three-year Postdoctoral Teaching Scholar appointment in Geography and the Environment at Villanova University (2020-2023), he joined Skidmore, where he teaches courses such as Environmental Concerns in Perspective, Marine Ecology and Conservation, and the Research Capstone sequence. He also directs the Coast to Coral Reefs Environmental Dynamics lab.

Education

• Ph.D. Marine Biology (2019), James Cook University & ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Australia
• M.A.Sc. Marine Biology (2012), James Cook University & ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Australia
• B.S. Biology (2010), Elon University, NC
• B.A. Science Education – Comprehensive Biology (2010), Elon University, NC

Research Interests

Dr. Chase investigates how coral reef ecosystems respond to anthropogenic stressors and how targeted restoration can bolster resilience. His work integrates small-scale physiological and behavioral mechanisms—such as coral–fish symbioses and damselfish territoriality—with large-scale patterns of sedimentation, land-based pollution, and community dynamics. Current collaborative projects quantify the cost-effectiveness of reef restoration in the Caribbean, map fine-scale fish–coral interactions, and trace contaminant pathways from watersheds to nearshore reefs.

Publication Trends

Across 20 peer-reviewed articles since 2014, Chase’s scholarship reveals three dominant strands: (1) the ecological roles of coral-dwelling damselfishes in mitigating sediment and thermal stress on host corals; (2) the impacts of heavy-metal contaminants and sedimentation on reef biogeochemistry; and (3) the use of structural complexity metrics to predict biodiversity patterns in warming oceans. These studies appear in high-impact journals such as Nature, Current Biology, Ecology Letters, and Restoration Ecology, collectively accruing over 1,100 citations.

Scientific Awards & Fellowships

• International Coral Reef Society Science Communication Fellowship (2021)
• Diversity Journal Award for Coral Reef Research, Australian Marine Science Association (2018)

Grants, Mentorship & Outreach

Chase has secured multiple research and teaching grants and has mentored numerous undergraduate researchers (denoted * in publications and presentations). He actively promotes Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) initiatives in academia and fosters science communication through podcasts, public talks, and social media outreach.

Laboratory & Team

He leads the Coast to Coral Reefs Environmental Dynamics lab at Skidmore College, where undergraduate students engage in fieldwork, GIS analyses, and laboratory experiments to address pressing questions in coral reef ecology and conservation.