News

The Women in Ocean Science Award (WIOSA) seeks to recognize outstanding early-career and mid-career scholars who are advancing the frontiers of marine science and are becoming world-leading professionals. The Central Caribbean Marine Institute’s (CCMI) President and CEO, Dr. Carrie Manfrino, and the WIOSA Advisory Council are pleased to announce the first WIOSA scholar, Dr. Sarah Gignoux-Wolfsohn, who is studying the effects of bivalve community diversity on the distribution of pathogens and related microbial communities at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Centre.

Dr. Manfrino founded CCMI in 1998, and developed the Little Cayman Research Centre while she was an assistant professor in oceanography in the US. She established the award last year stating, “whilst progress has been made over the last 30 years in terms of women’s representation within the scientific community, the discipline of ocean science remains hugely unequal in terms of women entering at professional levels vs their progression to key positions within academia. WIOSA seeks to create a network and mentorship for researchers and interns who will collectively help find solutions to some of the greatest questions facing the ocean and our society today. What was remarkable in the applications was that many of the challenges I had 30 years ago when I was a graduate student and over the last 25 years as a professional have unfortunately not changed.”

Dr. Gignoux-Wolfsohn’s winning application, which was selected by the WIOSA panel that includes Dr. Carrie Manfrino, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Dr. Amy Apprill, Dr. Christine Ferrier-Pages, Dr. Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley and Dr. Hollie Putnum, outlined a project to examine the effects of coral reef community diversity on coral health, Dr. Gignoux-Wolfsohn is the first WIOSA scholar and has set a high bar.

She said, “I am very excited to be the first recipient of the WIOSA. I am honoured to have been chosen by the amazing scientists at CCMI and WIOSA advisors. I am looking forward to contributing to the amazing woman-led research programmes at CCMI and to help mentor the next generation of female scientists. This award will greatly advance my research programme, integrating theory and ideas from other systems with my PhD work on coral health and disease. Infectious disease is one of the greatest threats to corals and the coral reef ecosystems they build. By testing methods to improve the resilience of coral communities, my work at CCMI will advance our understanding of community ecology, disease, and microbial community composition with implications for coral restoration and the creation of resilient coral reefs.”

Dr. Gignoux-Wolfsohn was chosen for the WIOSA Scholarship through a competitive application process that included applicants from more than 10 countries and some of the best research labs in the world. Dr. Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley, Director of Research and Distinguished Scientist at CCMI, has been impressed by the range and calibre of applicants, resulting in Dr. Gignoux-Wolfsohn being identified as the wining scholar stating, "We are thrilled to be giving the first WIOSA Scholar to Dr. Gignoux-Wolfsohn. She is a shining example of productivity in the face of hardship; with an excellent publication record and strong determination, she is sure to become a leader in ocean science. Her focus on coral disease transmission is timely and relevant, and it perfectly complements the current research programmes at CCMI. We are excited to begin a long-lasting collaboration with her.”

The WIOSA internships will also soon be announced, with an equally impressive number of excellent applications currently being assessed by the panel. CCMI would like to thank the Brian Melito and Jessica Colker Trust for supporting this programme.