Marisa S.

McDonald
Marisa.sarah.mcdonald@gmail.com
(415)-299-2922

Primary Research Interests

Dissertation work investigates larval mantis shrimp (stomatopods) visual systems with an
emphasis on ultraviolet (UV) vision.
Education
2016-Present University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI
Marine Biology Ph.D. Candidate. Advisor: Dr. Megan Porter
Graduate Specialization: Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology
Program
2012-2016 The University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
B.S. with departmental honors; Majors: Marine Science and Biology;
Minors Chemistry and English Literature
Undergraduate Research Advisor: Dr. Lynne Fieber
Honors Thesis: The effect of serotonin on spontaneously active pedal neural
cells of Aplysia californica
Employment History
2015-2016 Lab Manager and Undergraduate Research Assistant with Dr. Michel
Toborek, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
2014-2016 Undergraduate Research Assistant with Dr. Lynne Fieber
University of Miami RSMAS, Miami, FL
Publications
• McDonald, M., Porter, M.L. (2021) Evolution and Physiology of Animal Visual Systems.
In: Cell Physiology Source Book Fifth Edition. Elsevier Publishing Company. (In press)
• Skowronska, M., McDonald, M., Park, M., Toborek, M. (2017) Methamphetamine
increases HIV infectivity in neural progenitor cells. The Journal of Biological Chemistry.
293(1), 296–311
Publications in Preparation
• McDonald, M.S., Cohen, J.H., Porter, M.L. Visual Physiology of the Grass Shrimp
Palaemon. In prep, to be submitted.
• McDonald, M.S., Palecanda S., Cohen, J.H., Porter, M.L. Ultraviolet vision in larval
Neogonodactylus oerstedii. In prep, to be submitted.
Funding
Jessie D. Kay Memorial Research Grants $10000
• Research grant awarded to assist in dissertation research
Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii Graduate Fellowship $4000
• Fellowship awarded to assist in dissertation research
The Maybelle Roth Fellowship $5000
• Merit based fellowship awarded to assist in dissertation research
The Charles H. And Margaret B. Edmondson Research Fund $840
• Research award to assist in larval stomatopod behavioral work
2020 Marine Biology Graduate Program Achievement Scholarship $500
 • Scholarship awarded for excellence in the University of Hawaii Marine Biology Graduate
Program
Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology Grant in Aid of Research $904.64
• Research award to assist in larval stomatopod behavioral work
The Crustacean Society Student Travel Award $500
• Travel award received to attend the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
Annual Meeting in Austin, USA January 2020
Graduate Women in Science National Fellowship $9997.90
• Selected as a GWIS National Fellow to support electrophysiological research and
equipment for dissertation research
The Crustacean Society Fellowship $1000
• Graduate fellowship to support microscopy studies as part of dissertation research
Dai Ho Chun Graduate Fellowship $2500
• Graduate fellowship from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa to support graduate student
travel
Hampton and Meredith Carson Fellowship $4500
• Fellowship awarded to assist in building electrophysiology equipment through the
Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology Graduate Specialization program
Graduate Women in Science-HI Chapter Research and Travel Grant $250
• Grant awarded through the local GWIS chapter for research and travel
2019 Marine Biology Graduate Program Achievement Scholarship $500
• Scholarship awarded for excellence in the University of Hawaii Marine Biology Graduate
Program
The Crustacean Society Student Travel Award $500
• Travel award received to attend the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
Annual Meeting in Tampa, USA, January 2019.
Heiligenberg Student Travel Award $750
• Travel award received to attend the International Congress for Neuroethology in Brisbane,
Australia, July 2018 (International Society of Neuroethology, 2018)
The Charles H. and Margaret B. Edmondson Research Fund $2000
• Fund awarded to develop dissertation research utilizing TEM (University of Hawai’i at
Mānoa, 2018)
Graduate Student Organization Award 17-10-11 $991
• Award to fund training and preliminary TEM data collection (University of Hawai’i at
Mānoa, 2017)
The University Scholarship (University of Miami) $96,000
• Four-year $24,000 scholarship to partially fund undergraduate tuition (University of
Miami, 2012-2016)

Presentations
• McDonald, M.S., Cohen, J.H., Porter, M.L. (2021) Visual Physiology of Larval
Stomatopod Crustaceans. 45th Annual Albert L. Tester Memorial Symposium, Honolulu,
HI.
• McDonald, M.S. (2021) Vision in larval stomatopod crustaceans. Invited seminar speaker
for the Air Force Research Laboratories.
 • McDonald, M.S., Cohen, J.H., Porter, M.L. (2021) Visual Physiology of Larval
Stomatopod Crustaceans. The Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology, Virtual
Conference.
o Honorable Mention in the Division of Neurobiology, Neuroethology, and Sensory
Biology Best Student Paper Competition
o Second Place, The Crustacean Society Best Student Oral Presentation Competition
• McDonald, M.S., Cohen, J.H., Porter, M.L. (2020) Evidence for Ultraviolet Vision in
Larval Stomatopod Crustaceans. The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology,
Austin, Texas.
o Third Place, Crustacean Society Best Student Oral Presentation Competition
• McDonald, M.S., Cohen, J.H., Porter, M.L. (2019) Visual physiology of the grass shrimp
Palaemonetes vulgaris. 44nd Annual Albert L. Tester Memorial Symposium, Honolulu, HI.
o Best Paper Honorable Mention
• McDonald, M.S., Cohen, J.H., Porter, M.L. (2019) Visual physiology of the grass
shrimp Palaemonetes vulgaris. The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology,
Tampa, Florida. (Poster)
• McDonald, M.S., Feller, K.D., Porter, M.L. (2018) Anatomical Evidence for Ultraviolet
Vision in Larval Stomatopod Crustaceans. The International Congress of Neuroethology,
Brisbane, Australia. (Poster)
• McDonald, M.S., Feller, K.D., Porter, M.L. (2018) Evidence of Ultraviolet Vision in
Larval Stomatopod Crustaceans Through Eye Ultrastructures. 9th International Crustacean
Congress, Washington D.C.
• McDonald, M.S., Feller, K.D., Porter, M.L. (2018) Preliminary Evidence for Ultraviolet
Vision in Larval Stomatopod Crustaceans. 43rd Annual Albert L. Tester Memorial
Symposium, Honolulu, HI.
• McDonald, M.S., Porter, M.L. (2017) Crazy Baby Eyes: Exploring the Larval Transition
of the Visual Systems of Stomatopods. 42nd Annual Albert L. Tester Memorial
Symposium, Honolulu, HI.
Research Skills
• Transmission Electron Microscopy and Ultramicrotomy
• Extracellular Electrophysiology
• R Statistical Programming
• Molecular Experience
• AAUS Scientific Research Diver
Research Experience
2016-Present
Vision in larval stomatopod crustaceans
University of Hawai’i at Mānoa- Advisor: Dr. Megan Porter
• Conducting research on the visual system of larval stomatopods. My dissertation aims to
understand the visual system ecology and capabilities of larval stomatopods through
transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electroretinogram recordings, and behavior.
Summer 2018, 2019
NSF R11 Track 4 Training Grant on Electrophysiological Techniques
University of Delaware 2018- Supervisors: Dr. Jonathan Cohen and Dr. Megan Porter
 • Traveled to the University of Delaware to learn these techniques to incorporate into my
Ph.D. dissertation research. Work was completed on the crustacean Palaemonetes vulgaris,
and a paper is currently being completed on the project.
Keys Marine Laboratory 2019
• Continued training remotely, using equipment provided by Dr. Cohen to begin data
collection on larval stomatopod crustaceans and learning how to set up and operate
equipment independently.
July 2016, July 2017
Bioluminescence Research Cruise
University of Hawai’i at Mānoa-Advisor: Dr, Megan Porter
F.G Walton Smith, Miami, Fl
• Participated in a two-year NSF funded investigating bioluminescent shrimp in the Florida
Straits. Samples were brought back to UH Mānoa for further investigation including
stomatopod larvae, which are currently being used for biodiversity studies and TEM
investigation of larval eyes.
2015-2016
Effects of methamphetamine on HIV infectivity in neural stem cells
Miller School of Medicine- Advisor: Dr. Michal Toborek
• Research Assistant: Investigated the effects of the enhancement of the HIV virus through
the application of methamphetamine in-vitro in various human and mouse cell types. The
work was published in 2017: Skowronska, M., McDonald, M., Park, M., Toborek, M.
(2017) Methamphetamine increases HIV infectivity in neural progenitor cells. The Journal
of Biological Chemistry. 293(1), 296–311
• Lab Manager: Performed duties integral to the laboratory, including but not limited to:
purchase requisitions, external correspondence, lab maintenance, and the editing of grant
proposals and publication manuscripts.
2014-2016
Effect of serotonin on spontaneously active pedal neural cells of A. californica.
RSMAS (University of Miami)-Advisor: Lynne Fieber
• Conducted research on the nervous system of the California Sea Hare (Aplysia californica)
through a series of electrophysiological techniques exploring the effects of serotonin on
the fully removed pedal motoneurons for undergraduate senior thesis.
Teaching Experience
Teaching Assistant, UHM: Introduction to Biology Laboratory 2 (BIOL 172L)
Spring 2021
• Teaching assistant for three laboratory sections per semester (30 students). Hybrid course,
part virtual part classroom activities.
Teaching Assistant, UHM: Advanced Topics in Marine Biology (BIOL 404)
Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Fall 2020
• Teaching assistant responsible for organizing weekly guest lectures, paper discussions,
grading and assessment for an undergraduate senior capstone course (20-40 students).
Teaching Assistant, UHM: Marine Ecology and Evolution Laboratory (BIOL 301L)
Spring 2020
• Teaching assistant for two laboratory sections per semester (32 students). Responsible for
weekly lectures, laboratory activates, and grading and course assessment.
Teaching Assistant, UHM: Ecology and Evolution Laboratory (BIOL 265L)
Fall 2019
• Teaching assistant for two laboratory sections per semester (32 students). Responsible for
weekly lectures, laboratory activates, and grading and course assessment.
Teaching Assistant, UHM: Introduction to Biology Laboratory (BIOL 171L)
Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2019
• Taught two full laboratory sections per semester (40 students). Responsible for weekly
lectures, assisting in laboratory activities, and all grading and course assessment.

Service
Graduate Women in Science Hawaii (GWISH) Vice-President
Summer 2019-Summer 2021
• Elected Vice President for nonprofit organization Graduate Women in Science Hawaii in
Spring 2019 and reelected Spring 2020.
Nerd Nite Honolulu Organizer
January 2020-Present
• Current organizer of the local Nerd Nite Honolulu monthly event, the local chapter of an
international organization featuring three “fun yet intellectual” talks a month.
EECB IT Coordinator
Fall 2018-Spring 2020
• Coordinate equipment, including setting up talks and video broadcasting the seminar for
anyone who is unable to make it to campus, for the EECB graduate specialization luncheon
seminar series.
Marine Biology Graduate Representative, UHM
Fall 2016-Spring 2019
• Representative at faculty meetings, and responsible for running weekly “Pau hana” events
on Friday afternoons to facilitate interaction between faculty and graduate students
following weekly seminars.

Outreach Activities
April 2020 Honolulu Community Action Program: virtual fun science talk for the
Hā initiative creative STEM After-School Program
March 2020 Skype a Scientist: virtual fun science talk for 100 kindergarten students at
Canyon Ranch Elementary, Texas.
October 2020 Nerd Nite Miami: virtual public talk titled “Now you see me: Crazy
Diversity in Animal eyes”
April 2020 Nerd Nite Honolulu: virtual public talk titled “Crazy Ways Animals See:
Crazy Diversity in Animal Eyes.”
March 2020 “How to be a Good Ally” brunch and speaker panel: Invited panelist as
a representative of GWISH at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa
March 2020 Kapolei Library Outreach Event, The Science of Seuss: volunteer for an
event at a local public library running fun science booths for kids 4-12
November 2019 Girls on the Run Honolulu: To Space and Beyond!
November 2019 Kapolei Library Outreach Event, The Science of Sound: volunteer for
an event at a local public library running fun science booths for kids 4-12
August 2019-Present Letters to a Pre-Scientist: I am a volunteer STEM professional pen- pal
with underprivileged kids with the goal to demystify STEM careers
April 2019 Girls on the Run Honolulu: Volunteer running a science outreach booth
making volcanos and DIY bathbombs at the spring event
April 2018 Expanding your Horizons: Ran a workshop for 8th grade girls to be
exposed to science titled Under the Microscope: Hidden Life in a Slash of
Sea water. Honolulu, USA.
April 2017 March for Science: Volunteer organizing and running a booth with sea
creature clay creations, live mantis shrimp, and more. Honolulu, USA
August 2016 Waikiki Family Night: Volunteer organizing and running a booth titled
Marine Mysteries: Stomatopods. Waikiki, USA.