Tiffany Nicole Cunanan

Experience

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  State of Hawaii

  Jan 2011 - May 2011

  Research Intern

  Department of Land & Natural ResourcesDivision of Aquatic ResourcesInterned for the Sea Urchin Husbandry Project at Anuenue Fisheries Research Center under Dave Cohen. Participated in cultivation and husbandry of collector sea urchin, Tripneustes gratilla. Cleaned and maintained sea urchin raceway tanks and macroalgae tanks. Prepped juvenile urchins to be transferred for placement on reefs affected by invasive algae. Designed and built equipment specifically for use in the project.

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  University of Hawaii

  May 2011 - May 2013

  QUEST Student (2011), Student Leader (2012), Staff (2013)

  Qualitative Underwater Ecological Surveying Techniques2013 - Assisted as Staff Diver and Public Relations Staff. Raised public awareness on QUEST’s purposes and benefits for education, research and conservation.2012 - Worked as a Dive Team Leader, monitored safe diving practices, supervised data collection, trained team on marine life field identification, facilitated written and oral presentations.2011 - Learned various field surveying techniques using SCUBA in a team setting such as visual surveying of fishes, surveying of benthic invertebrates, coral health and disease assessments, rugosity measurements, and video and still photographic surveying of fish, invertebrates and benthos. Covered experimental design, statistical analysis, data reduction and graphic representation. Show less

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  University of Hawaii at Manoa

  Aug 2011 - Aug 2011

  Scientific Diver

  Assisted in obtaining sediment core samples on SCUBA utilizing lift bags under PhD candidate, David Lin (Principal Investigator: Dr. Julie Brock)

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  Laulima A 'Ike Pono Research Program

  Jan 2012 - Jun 2012

  Research Intern

  Worked in a team of interns assisting two graduate students (M. Siple and S. Leon Soon) with their research on dissolved oxygen, infaunal composition, invasive algal cover and mangrove decomposition rates within the historic He‘eia Fishpond in Kane‘ohe Bay, O‘ahu. Aided in fishpond restoration (rebuilding wall, removing mangrove and invasive algae). Led community tours educating guests about fishpond history, native Hawaiian aquaculture, and ongoing restoration projects and research. Presented research to the surrounding community and general public at the culmination of the internship. Show less

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  NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

  Jun 2012 - Jul 2012

  NOAA MUT Scientific Diver

  NOAA Advanced Marine Underwater TechniquesUtilized techniques and handled gear used by NOAA divers to map human-induced coral reef damage which included Photolink, DPV’s, AquaMap, Trimble GPS, dive trackers and ArcGIS.

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  University of Hawaii at Manoa

  Jul 2012 - Dec 2013

  Coordinated educational ocean-related activities (i.e. volunteer events, outreach events, educational tours and events, ocean recreational) for MOP and its students.Engaged and interacted with current and prospective MOP students; made suggestions/recommendations or gave advice regarding the many opportunities MOP has to offer based on personal experience and knowledge. Updated Internships/Scholarships binder, updated bulletin boards with the latest marine news and offerings, maintained student files and other administrative duties. Show less

  • Marine Option Program Student Coordinator

    Apr 2012 - Dec 2013

  • Scientific Diver

    Sept 2013 - Nov 2013

  • Research Assistant

    Sept 2013 - Sept 2013

  • Assistant Divemaster Supervisor

    Jan 2012 - Apr 2013

  • MAST Scientific Diver

    Jul 2012 - Aug 2012
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  Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology at Coconut Island

  Jun 2013 - Dec 2014

  Research Assistant

  Hawai'i Institute of Marine BiologyAssist Dr. Megan Donahue and The Donahue Lab graduate students on various field projects – P. meandrina Metacommunity Project (HUMBuG Project) under M. Donahue & C. Counsell; Bioerosion under N. Silbiger; Coral Disease under J. Sziklay; Coral Disease under C. Couch.Conduct coral health and disease assessments via snorkel/free dive and/or SCUBA.Collect metapopulation data on cauliflower coral on patch reefs in Kane‘ohe Bay by measuring coral height, width, length, canopy size and density, taking photographs in the field, fish count and sizing, and invertebrate count and sizing using SCUBA.Assisted on another project taking photographs of coral heads and using Autodesk 123d to create 3D images to estimate coral volume.Presented research at Albert L. Tester Symposium to scientific community and general public. Show less

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  NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

  Jul 2014 - Sept 2014

  Sea Time: 25 DaysJoined a team of NOAA scientists on a research cruise aboard the NOAA Hi’ialakai R/V to Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument located in the remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (Ni’ihau, French Frigate Shoals, Pearl & Hermes, Midway and Lisiankski).Conducted coral health and disease surveys under Post Doc: Dr. Courtney Couch using SCUBA. Collected fish, coral, reef rubble and algae specimens and processed collections for genetic analyses and taxonomy purposes. Sea Time: 21 DaysJoined a team of NOAA scientists on a research cruise aboard the NOAA Hi’ialakai R/V to Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument located in the remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (French Frigate Shoals, Midway and Lisiankski).Conducted rapid ecological assessments (fish and benthic surveys) using Stationary Point Count method of reef ecosystems and photoquadrat collection using SCUBA.

  • Research Assistant

    Sept 2014 - Sept 2014

  • Scientific Diver

    Jul 2014 - Aug 2014
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  UC Santa Barbara

  Oct 2014 - Oct 2014

  Research Assistant / Scientific Diver

  Assisted PhD candidate, April Ridlon, on her research project investigating the anthropogenic impacts on predator-prey behavioral cascades on SCUBA.Operated Boston whaler (17’ vessel) to travel between reefs in study area.

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  NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

  Nov 2014 - Oct 2015

  Science Communications

  Review NOAA and PMNM images and provide caption information with species identification and information

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  State of Hawaii

  Jan 2015 - May 2019

  Habitat & Fish Monitoring Technician II

  State of Hawaii - Department of Land and Natural Resources - Division of Aquatic Resources• Led underwater fieldwork, conducting fish and benthic surveys using SCUBA and advanced scientific techniques including transect and photoquadrat collection• Proficient in data entry (Microsoft Access) and Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC), database maintenance, map creation (Google Earth, ArcGIS) and digital archiving• Skilled in designing and maintaining field equipment and overseeing boat maintenance• Trained new team members in methodology, fish identification, sizing, and data entry protocols Show less

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  Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research

  Sept 2022 - now

  Deep-Sea Research Associate

  • Assembles and curates data from ROVs, submersibles and stationary camera systems using various annotation platforms (Video Annotation and Reference System [VARS], Tator) and prepares data for submission to national databases• Analyze and annotate imagery and video to extract data on identification, abundance and sizes of fauna found in deep-sea communities• Proficient in all facets of deep-sea logistics and equipment management, deploying and recovering advanced research gear, including baited drop cameras, in collaboration with National Geographic Society Pristine Seas, demonstrating expertise in fieldwork and troubleshooting in challenging marine environments in remote areas Show less