Erin de Leon Sanchez

Biography

I am a first-year PhD student in the Hofmann Lab where I study how marine heat waves affect red sea urchins on the physiological, molecular, and ecological levels. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of California, Davis. During undergrad, my research interests focused on the ecophysiology of freshwater fish. But my true love lies in the rocky intertidal region – urchins! As a UC LEADS fellow, I spent a summer in the Hofmann lab studying the thermal tolerance of a local sea urchin and became intrigued with marine biology. From there, I gained field experience in a research class at the Bodega Marine Lab where I investigated the effects of a record-breaking heatwave on mussel bed communities in northern California. I’ve also worked in the American River looking at how water quality affects Chinook salmon hatching success. As a first-generation Filipino woman, I am well aware of the challenges minority students face throughout their education, and I aspire to give others the same opportunities that shaped me. I strive to provide resources for under-represented students to succeed in STEM. Outside of science, I love exploring with my Labrador Bodie!

Research

I study how climate change affects commercially important marine invertebrates on the physiological, molecular, and ecological levels.