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UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH HUB UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH HUB
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  4. Audrey Schneider

I Am a Researcher

Audrey Schneider Profile

Audrey Schneider

Major(s): Marine Biology

College: Seventh College 

UC San Diego graduation year: 2026

Which research programs/experiences have you been a part of?

What are you researching (or did you do in the past)?

I am looking at how the microbial community compositions of Zoanthus sansibaricus change as a function of urbanization gradients across Okinawa, Japan. Urbanization is the development from more rural to urban landscapes, which has a large impact on the surrounding environment. Additionally, The microbiome is an insightful way to study the health of an organism, as it is linked to processes that help with key functions, such as nutrient cycling and protection against pathogens. 

Why and how did you decide to get involved in undergraduate research?

My pursuit for knowledge and decision to become involved in research stems from a fierce desire to be able to protect the environment from human impacts. The research I aim to complete will help ecosystems be more resilient to anthropogenic changes. At the same time, I also am fascinated by the way organisms have adapted to live and thrive in all of the earth’s environments, and want to learn more about what allows them to do so.

Audrey Schneider Diving

What has been the most exciting/interesting thing you've discovered through the research?

I’m really excited to keep researching and learning about how influential the microbiome is of an organism’s host health and how it can be used as a tool to increase host resilience to stressors, including increased temperatures and acidification in the ocean.

What did you gain from the Undergraduate Research Hub?

My scope and insight has been vastly expanded with such an opportunity to travel to the other side of the world to complete my research. I gained an immense amount of perspective into how research can be applied to many different areas and take many different forms, which has also helped me shape a more concrete idea of what type of work I’d like to do in the future. I also was able to see first hand how policies and ideologies can vary from country to country, and how important it is to acknowledge and respect these differences to create global policies and cater to different cultures and audiences.

What advice would you give to students starting research?

I would remind them that they are starting. You are not expected to have everything figured out and be a professional, but you are expected to want to learn. If you want to get into a lab and do research, send an email, introduce yourself, take initiative. I firmly believe that the hardest part of anything is to start, and if you can bring yourself to reach out, send emails, attend seminars, and continue to seek out opportunities, you will find one in no time.

What are your future goals?

I will be writing a paper to summarize my research findings and hopefully getting it published soon! I also plan to pursue a PhD in Marine Biology and will be completing applications this fall.

Pictures

  • Audrey Schneider Profile
  • Audrey Schneider Diving