About Priya
I am currently a Science Engagement Specialist with the California Ocean Science Trust. I completed my PhD in Ecology at UC Davis in Ted Grosholz's lab in 2023. During this time, I studied how marine heatwaves and disease affect oyster aquaculture in Tomales Bay, CA, USA. I was a UC Davis Dissertation Year Fellow (2022-2023) and also a California Sea Grant Graduate Research Fellow (2020-2023), studying whether we can induce thermal tolerance in the farmed Pacific oyster, Magallana gigas. And, I was a National Science Foundation Research Trainee (2018-2019) in the Sustainable Oceans Program at UC Davis. I was a Policy Engagement Fellow (2019) and Scientist Sentinel (2020-2021) with COMPASS Science Communication. I also served as the inaugural Lead Mentor (2020-2021) for Marine Science undergraduates at UC Davis. Read more about the curricula and program I developed here.
I am a contributor for Forbes Science, writing about ocean and climate science. I also joined the Point Blue Science Advisory Committee and published a children's book in 2022. Prior to this, I received my Master's in Ecology from Matt Edwards' Lab at San Diego State University in 2015. And, I received my Bachelor's in Environmental Science and Management (with a minor in Oceanography) from UC Davis in 2011. I have also worked as an environmental consultant, high school teacher, policy specialist, public educator, and lab manager.
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
E-mail Address
prishukla.sci [at] gmail.com
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice & Belonging
The lack of diversity in the marine sciences is well-documented. As an able-bodied, cis-het woman of color, I simlutaneously experience privilege and marginalization.Thus, I aim to create environments and imbue a sense of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and belonging in all of my endeavors. Additionally, I actively work to improve the communities I am a part of to create a more welcoming and just marine science enterprise. Towards these goals, I participate in and consult on projects that aim to improve representation in this discipline; a selection are provided below:
