Kristina Tietjen, MSc

Baum Lab Manager and Kiritimati Island Research Project Manager

University of Victoria, Department of Biology
kristinaltietjen@gmail.com • kristinatietjen.weebly.com
Twitter: @Tietjenk • github.com/kristinatietjen
(778) 922-6980 - CA • (307) 214-3247 - USA

Education
MSc in Biology, Univ. of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada, Fall 2017 – January 2020
Mitacs Accelerate Internship, January 2019 – January 2020
Thesis: Tietjen, KL. 2020. Implications of heat stress and local human disturbance on early life
stage corals. MSc thesis. University of Victoria.
B.S. Marine Science, Univ. of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Hilo Hawai‘i, August 2009 – December 2013
Major GPA: 3.87/Overall GPA: 3.62; Graduated with Honors
Biology and Chemistry Minor, Marine Option Program (MOP) Certificate
Foreign Exchange Program, James Cook University, Townsville Australia, Spring 2011

Research/Work Experience
Kiritimati Island Project Manager, Univ. of Victoria (February 2016 – Current), Organize and
lead (five to date) research diving trips with a small team to Kiritimati - a remote island with no
field station, extract DNA from samples at HIMB, assist with data processing, manuscript
writing, and grant writing (i.e. PEW Fellowship), will be leading 2021 trip.
Baum Lab Manager, Univ. of Victoria (January 2020 – Current), Handle lab accounting, assist
with manuscripts, manage undergraduate student volunteers/ work study/ and research assistants,
and conduct general lab tasks.
MSc Research, Univ. of Victoria - Advisor: Julia K. Baum (September 2017 – January 2020),
“Coral reef recovery rates along a gradient of local disturbance following mass coral mortality”
Mentoring an undergraduate student in his honours project and managing several undergraduate
volunteers.
Scientific Diver, Stanford University, California, USA (March 2019, 2020), Month long diving
research trip on vessel throughout the Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory) –
assisted with coral recruitment tile deployments, sampling, benthic community analysis, grazing
observations, fish dissections
Research Assistant, Global Young Academy Importance of Fundamental Research Working
Group (July 2016 – 2019), Report on funding and fundamental research for Canada and world-
wide
Research Assistant, Whale Shark and Oceanic Research Center (NGO), Utila, Honduras
(September – December 2015), Whale shark and coral reef research, coral nursery development,
local outreach, lionfish eradication and dissections, whale shark tours for tourists
Research Assistant and Scientific Diver, University of Victoria (Various dates 2014- 2015),
Several week diving research trips with a small crew to the remote Kiritimati for coral reef
surveys – assisted with coral tissue, coral mucus, water, and sediment sampling, photos for
benthic community analysis and 3D model creation, deployed long term temperature, light,
salinity, and sound recorders, and urchin surveys
Nurse Assistant, Zeehondencreche, Netherlands (November 2014 – January 2015), Seal
Rehabilitation Center, Assisted nurses with feeding, administrating medication, temperature
measurements, and cleaning pens
Scientific Diver, Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources, Hawaii (January – April 2014), Weekly
trips along the coast of Hawaii to monitor coral reefs, assisted with rugosity measurements
Undergraduate Thesis Research, University of Hawaii Hilo (Advisor: Dr. Marta DeMaintenon;
2013), Color morphology of the Christmas Tree worm, data collected using SCUBA
Marine Option Program (MOP) Research Project, University of Hawaii Hilo (Advisor: Dr.
Don Hemmes; Spring 2013), “Classification system of Triphoridae using a Scanning Electron
Microscope”
Directed Studies Project, University of Hawaii Hilo (Advisor: Dr. Steven Colbert; 2012-2013),
“Ghost Crab burrows and grain size along local beach”
MBL Intern, Marine Biological Laboratory – Dr. Roger Hanlon Lab, Woods Hole,
Massachusetts (Summer 2012), Cuttlefish 3D camouflage behavior

Peer – Reviewed Journal Papers

Claar, D.C., S. Starko, K.L. Tietjen, H.E. Epstein, R. Cunning, K.M. Cobb, A.C. Baker, R.D.
Gates and J.K. Baum. 2020. Dynamic symbioses reveal pathways to coral survival through
prolonged heatwaves. Nature Communications. 11,6097.
Claar DC, Tietjen KL, Cox KD, Gates RD, Baum JK (2020) Chronic disturbance modulates
symbiont (Symbiodiniaceae) beta diversity on a coral reef. Scientific Reports 10:4492
Dimoff, S.D., W.D. Halliday, M.K. Pine, K.L. Tietjen, F. Juanes and J.K. Baum. The utility of
different acoustic indicators to describe biological sounds of a coral reef. In revision.
Tietjen KL, Epstein HE, Baum JK. (in advanced prep for Coral Reefs) Coral recruitment on an
isolated atoll following mass coral mortality.
Baum JK, Claar DC, Tietjen KL, Magel JMT, Lund J, Cobb KM, McDevitt-Irwin JM (in
advanced prep for Nature Climate Change) Heatwave impacts on coral reefs depend on
underlying human disturbance and biological scale.
McNally S, Hartmann A, Tietjen KL, Claar DC, Carilli JE, Baum JK (in advanced prep for
Coral Reefs) Investigating coral energy stores and food sources across the intense 2015-2016
El Niño-induced bleaching event on Kiritimati Island.

Other Publications
Baum JK, Dodd M, Tietjen KL, Kerr J (June 2017) Restoring Canada’s Competitiveness in
Fundamental Research: A View from the Bench. Global Young Academy

Presentations at Scientific Meetings

Tietjen KL, Epstein HE, O’Brien N, Perks N, Baum JK (2021 - accepted) Coral recovery following
the 2015-2016 El Niño-induced mass coral mortality event on Kiritimati (Christmas Island) (oral
presentation) International Coral Reef Symposium, Bremen, Germany.
Tietjen KL, Baum JK (2019) Coral recruitment on an isolated atoll following mass coral
mortality. (oral presentation) University of Victoria Biology Graduate Student Symposium,
Victoria, BC, Canada.
Tietjen KL, Baum JK (2019) Return from the brink: coral recruitment on Kiritimati following
the 2015-2016 El Niño. (oral presentation) Pacific Ecology and Evolution Conference, Bamfield,
Canada.
Tietjen KL, Baum JK (2018) Return from the brink: coral recruitment on Kiritimati following
the 2015-2016 El Niño. (oral presentation) University of Victoria Biology Graduate Student
Symposium, Victoria, BC, Canada.
Tietjen KL, Baum JK (2018) Return from the brink: coral recruitment on Kiritimati following
the 2015-2016 El Niño. (3-minute talk) Pacific Ecology and Evolution Conference, Bamfield,
Canada.
Tietjen KL, Baum JK (2017) Return from the brink: coral recruitment on Kiritimati Atoll
following the 2015-2016 El Niño. (poster) European Coral Reef Symposium, Oxford, UK.
Tietjen, KL (2013) Evidence for a new genus of Triphoridae in Hawai‘i based on scanning
electron micrographs of the protoconch. (oral presentation) University of Hawaii Marine Option
Program Student Symposium, Kahului, Hawaii.

Certifications and Memberships

ISRS Student Member (Fall 2017 – 2020); professional member (2021 – current)
Mental Health First Aid Certification (2019)
Small Vessel Operator Proficiency Certificate (May 2018)
Radio Operator Certificate (Maritime) (May 2018)
Small Non-Pleasure Domestic Vessel Basic Safety (SDV-BS) Certificate (May 2018)
Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid and CPR 20hr course (March 2018)
Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Instructor (Spring 2014)
National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) dry suit diver (Winter 2013)
Divers Alert Network (DAN) Instructor (Spring 2015)
CAUS Scientific Diver – Active (Fall 2016 - Current)
AAUS Scientific Diver – Inactive due to living in Canada (Summer 2012 - 2016)
American Red Cross Lifeguard, First Aid, CPR, AED, and Emergency O2 Instructor (Fall 2012)

Honors/Awards/Grants
Mitacs Accelerate Internship – 2019
The King-Platt Memorial Award - 2018
UVic Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives (CAPI) Student Fellowship - 2018
UVic Graduate Student Travel Grant (for 2017 European Coral Reef Symposium) – 2017
UHH Dean’s List – Fall: 2009, 2011, 2012, Fall & Spring 2013
College for Arts and Science Dean’s Scholarship – Spring 2013
UHH Marine Option Program Student Symposium Research Project Winner – April 2013
UHH Marine Option Program Student Fellowship ($500) – Spring 2013

Relevant Course Work

Foundations of Ecology (University of Victoria, Fall 2018)
Introduction to Data Analysis (University of Victoria, Spring 2018)
Quantitative Underwater Ecological Survey Techniques (QUEST) using SCUBA two-week field
course (University of Hawaii, May 2012)
Statistical Applications in Marine Science (University of Hawaii at Hilo, Spring 2010)
 Relevant Skills
Diving – 694 total dives • Tracker
• Scientific Diving – 475 dives • ImageJ
• Underwater photography and housing • Microsoft Office
maintenance • Website building through Weebly and
• Underwater navigation (compass and Wordpress
natural surroundings) • Compute Canada
• Laying a transect underwater following Scientific
a compass heading • Water sample filtration
• Various sample collection • Benthic Surveys
• Diving off a small boat • Tropical Central Pacific, Hawai`i and
• Applying epoxy underwater Caribbean coral identification
• Free diving to 80 feet • Coral tissue and mucus sampling
• Testing gas quality • DNA extraction using Guanidinium
• Using a cordless power drill to drill into • DNA extraction using CTAB protocol
substrate Instruments
• Fish and urchin surveys • Multi-Parameter unit – YSI
Computer Program Proficiency • Fluorometer
• R/ Rstudio • Long term data loggers (launching and
• Git Hub integrated with Mac IOS downloading data and installing
Terminal underwater)
• Adobe Photoshop • GPS

Volunteer and Outreach Activities

Nutrition bar volunteer once a week at Our Place Society, Victoria, BC (October 2019 – Current)
Skype-a-Scientist skype call with two 5th grade classes, Far Hills, NJ (February 2020)
Coral reef presentations to grade schools, Kiritimati Island (Summer 2017, Summer 2018, Summer
2019)
Skype-a-Scientist skype call with a 9th grade science class, New York, NY (October 2018)
Ocean Threats discussion panelist at The Elements Film Festival, Vancouver, Canada (April 2018)
Beach cleanups organized by Surfrider Vancouver Island, Vancouver Island, Canada (2018)
Community meals and special event volunteer for Pacifica Housing, Victoria, BC (2017 – 2019)
Contributions to multiple news articles on coral reef status, North America wide (2016 – Current)
‘Working on Kiritimati’ presentation to the Explorer’s Club, BC Chapter, Victoria, BC (2017)
First aid presentation to local fishing guides and boat drivers, Kiritimati Island (2015)
Pursuing Marine Biology presentations to high school students, Cheyenne, Wyoming (2014)
Volunteer responder for Hilo Marine Mammal Rescue Network, Hilo, Hawaii (2009 – 2013)