NOAA-EPP LMRCSC Doctoral Graduate
Ph.D., Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Science
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Nanushka Mia Bonano-Collazo is from Cataño, the smallest coastal town of Puerto Rico. She earned her M.S. in Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics from the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus, in May 2024, where she worked with Dr. Natasha I. DeLeón-Rodríguez to characterize microbial communities in Puerto Rico’s bioluminescent bays and had the opportunity to present her research work at national and international conferences.
She joined the LMRSCS in September 2025. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences (MEES) at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES)– Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET), under the mentorship of Dr. Tsvetan Bachvaroff. Her research involves studying the ecology of saxitoxin-producing HABs, especially strains of Pyrodinium bahamense in the southeastern U.S., where this toxin increasingly hampers safe shellfish cultivation, aligning with NOAA’s mission to ensure safe seafood. After graduation, Nanushka aims to become a mentor, professor, and researcher in marine microbial ecology.
Research theme: Safe Seafood
NOAA LMRCSC Fellows attain the NOAA Core Competencies detailed in this rubric.
NERTO Project Title: TBD
NOAA Mentor: TBD
Academic Advisors: Dr. Tsvetan Bachvaroff
NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center
University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Lead Institution)
(410) 651-7870
Award numbers: FY 2021 Award #NA21SEC4810005
Funding Agency: NOAA Educational Partnership Program (EPP/MSI)
