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ashuff (at) uw.edu
UW Roberts Lab website
E5 Coral website

ARIANA S. HUFFMYER, PHD

School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences | University of Washington
ashuff (at) uw.edu

POSITIONS HELD

Time Position Affiliation  
2024-present Research Scientist University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences
2020-2024 Postdoctoral Researcher University of Rhode Island (URI), Department of Biological Sciences University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences
2014-2020 Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH), Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB)  

EDUCATION

Date Position Affiliation
2020 PhD in Marine Biology University of Hawaii at Manoa
2014 BSc with Honors in Marine Biology, Chemistry Minor Oregon State University

PUBLICATIONS

Google Scholar Profile

  1. AS Huffmyer, KH Wong, DM Becker, E Strand, T Mass, HM Putnam. 2023. Shifts and critical periods in coral metabolism reveal energetic vulnerability during development. In press. Current Biology.
  2. AS Huffmyer, J Ashey, E Strand, E Chiles, X Su, HM Putnam. 2024. Coral larvae increase nitrogen assimilation to stabilize algal symbiosis and combat bleaching under increased temperature. PLoS Biology 22(11): e3002875
  3. Venkataraman Y, AS Huffmyer, S White, A Downey-Wall, J Ashey, D Becker, Z Bengtsson, HM Putnam, E Strand, J Rodríguez-Casariego, SA Wanamaker, K Lottheros, S Roberts. 2024. DNA methylation correlates with transcriptional noise in response to elevated pCO2 in the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica). Environmental Epigenetics. 10(1): dvae018
  4. Chiles EN, AS Huffmyer, C Drury, HM Putnam, D Bhattacharya, X Su. 2022. Stable isotope tracing reveals compartmentalized nitrogen assimilation in scleractinian corals. Frontiers in Marine Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.1035523
  5. Huffmyer AS, E Majerova, N Bean, C Harris, C Drury. 2022. Variable intraspecific diversity effects impact thermal tolerance in a reef-building coral. Coral Reefs 42:119-129
  6. Huffmyer AS, T O’Neill, JD Lemus. 2022. Evidence for professional conceptualization in science as an important component of science identity. CBE – Life Sciences Education 21(4): ar76
  7. Alexander G, J Hancock, AS Huffmyer, SB Matsuda. 2022. Larval thermal pre-exposure does not improve post-settlement thermal tolerance in a dominant reef-building coral, Montipora capitata. Coral Reefs 41:333-342
  8. Matsuda SB, LJ Chakravarti, R Cunning, AS Huffmyer, CE Nelson, RD Gates, MJH van Oppen. 2022. Temperature mediated acquisition of rare heterologous symbionts promotes survival of coral larvae under ocean warming. Global Change Biology 28:2006-2025
  9. Huffmyer AS, CJ Johnson, AM Epps, JD Lemus, RD Gates. Feeding and thermal conditioning enhance coral temperature tolerance in juvenile Pocillopora acuta. Royal Society Open Science 8: 210644.
  10. Barott KL, AS Huffmyer, J Davidson, EA Lenz, SB Matsuda, J Hancock, T Innis, B Glazer, C Drury, H Putnam, RD Gates. Fitness of thermally tolerant corals following transplantation supports utility of assisted gene flow for climate change remediation of coral reefs. PNAS 118: e2025435118.
  11. Innis T, L Allen-Waller, KT Brown, W Sparagon, C Carlson, E Kruse, AS Huffmyer, CE Nelson, HM Putnam, KL Barott. Marine heatwaves depress metabolic activity and impair cellular acid-base homeostasis in reef-building corals regardless of bleaching susceptibility. Global Change Biology 27: 2728-2743.
  12. Huffmyer AS, C Drury, E Majerová, JD Lemus, RD Gates. 2021. Tissue fusion and enhanced genotypic diversity support survival of juvenile Pocillopora acuta corals under thermal stress. Coral Reefs 40(2): 447-458.
  13. Roach TNF, S Yadav, C Caruso, J Dilworth, CM Foley, JR Hancock, J Huckeba, AS Huffmyer, K Hughes, VA Kahkejian, EMP Madin, SB Matsuda, M McWilliam, S Miller, EP Santoro, M Rocha de Souza, D Torres-Pulliza, C Drury, JS Madin. 2021. A field primer for monitoring benthic ecosystems using structure-from-motion photogrammetry. Journal of Visualized Experiments. 170: e61815.
  14. Hancock J, A Barrows, T Roome, AS Huffmyer, SB Matsuda, S Rahnke, N Munk, C Drury. 2021. Coral husbandry for ocean futures: leveraging abiotic factors to increase survivorship, growth, and resilience in juvenile Montipora capitata. Marine Ecology Progress Series 657:123-133.
  15. Matsuda S, AS Huffmyer, EA Lenz, J Davidson, J Hancock, A Przybylowski, T Innis, RD Gates, KL Barott. 2020. Coral bleaching susceptibility is predictive of subsequent mortality within but not between coral species. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 8:178.
  16. Huffmyer AS, SB Matsuda, AE Eggers, JD Lemus, RD Gates. 2020. Evaluation of laser scanning confocal microscopy as a method for characterizing reef-building coral tissue thickness and Symbiodiniaceae fluorescence. Journal of Experimental Biology 223(6): jeb220335. Cover image contribution.
  17. Huffmyer AS and JD Lemus. 2019. Graduate TA teaching styles impact student achievement in a research-based undergraduate science course. Journal of College Science Teaching 48(3):56-65.
  18. Meltvedt AM and C Jadot. 2014. Progression of the coral – algal phase shift in the Caribbean: a case study in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean. Marine Technology Society Journal: 48(6):33-41.

RESEARCH GRANTS

Funded

2022-2024 National Science Foundation Ocean Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship ($370,100)

2022-2023 UW eScience Data Science Postdoctoral Fellowship ($7,000)

2016-2020 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow ($114,000)

2016-2019 Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology Lord Scholarship Fund ($8,500)

2016-2019 University of Hawaii at Manoa Edmondson Research Fund ($3,850)

2018-2019 Philanthropic Education Organization Scholar Award ($15,000)

2019 University of Hawaii at Manoa Graduate Student Organization Mentorship Award ($5,000)

2012-2014 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ernest Hollings Scholar ($27,000)

Honorable Mention

2022 Graduate Women in Science National Fellowship

2015 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS (7 of 35 total)

  1. Huffmyer AS et al. Holobiont composition and seasonal plasticity in physiology are key to understanding reef building coral resilience. Moorea Coral Reef Long Term Ecological Research All-Investigators Meeting. Virtual. December 2024.
  2. Huffmyer AS, J Ashey, E Chiles, E Strand, X Su, HM Putnam. Thermal stress reduces photosynthate metabolism and disrupts nitrogen cycling in coral larvae. Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology. Seattle, WA, USA. January 2024.
  3. Huffmyer AS. Understanding shifts in symbiotic and physiological state in reef-building corals across developmental and environmental gradients. Old Dominion University Biology Seminar Series. Virtual invited seminar speaker. December 2022.
  4. Huffmyer AS. Multi-omic approaches to understand reef coral development and symbiosis. University of Washington eScience Postdoctoral Fellows seminar. Seattle, WA, USA. November 2022.
  5. Huffmyer AS. Physiological and multi-omic signatures of shifts in symbiotic nutritional exchange in reef-building coral early life history. University of Technology Sydney Climate Change Cluster (C3). Virtual invited seminar speaker. June 2022.
  6. Huffmyer AS, K Wong, DM Becker-Polinski, E Strand, T Mass, HM Putnam. Physiological and multi-omic signatures of shifts in symbiotic nutritional exchange in reef-building coral early life history. Benthic Ecology Conference. Portsmouth, NH, USA. March 2022.
  7. Huffmyer AS, T O’Neill, JD Lemus. Supporting professional science identity for science students. STEMS2 Symposium. Virtual presentation. June 2020.

SELECTED POSTER PRESENTATIONS BY MENTORED STUDENTS (3 of 8 total)

  1. Baird M, Huffmyer AS, Roberts S. Application of metabolic assays to characterize thermal tolerance in Pacific Oyster (Magallana gigas) early life stages. University of Washington Undergradaute Research Symposium. Seattle, WA, USA. May 2025. Population Health Reconigtion Award
  2. Elvrum C, Roberts S, Huffmyer AS. Analyzing oysters response to environmental stressors using a resazurin assay. University of Washington Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation symposium. Seattle, WA, USA. August 2024.
  3. Essington E, Roberts S, White S, Huffmyer AS. Environmental hardening in Pacific oysters across multiple life stages. University of Washington Department of Biology undergraudate research symposium. May 2024.

SELECTED OUTREACH, SCIENCE COMMUNICATION, AND BROADENING PARTICIPATION

  1. (2025) Empowering Discovery: The Role of Education in Scientific Resilience. Speech to the Philanthropic Education Organization of Oregon. Seaside, OR, USA.
  2. (2023-2025) AGU LANDInG Postdoctoral Professional Development Program (3 years, 80+ hours)
  3. (2024-2025) Undergraduate student mentor, University of Washington (9 students)
  4. (2023-2025) Editor, Reva Atea science communication journal, French Polynesia
  5. (2020-2025) Graduate student mentor, Univ. of Rhode Island, Univ. of Washington (12 students)
  6. (2024) Outreach events and hands-on engagement activities, Maritime High School 10th grade (35 students)
  7. (2024) Guest scientist presentation, REU-Blinks/DDCSP “Meet a Scientist” program
  8. (2023-2024) Science Communication Advisor, Reva Atea organization, French Polynesia