I am an ecologist whose research focuses on the impacts of climate change on the physiology and ecology of reef-building corals. I am specifically interested in bridging scales of functional responses of corals and coral reef communities to environmental change using empirical and theoretical approaches. I utilize manipulative laboratory and field experiments across functional scales and life-history stages to determine the impacts of environmental stressors on the physiology and demographics of corals. 

My current research in the Barshis Lab focuses on assessing the response of coral populations to thermal stress, using standardized, short-term experimental assays. Importantly, this experimental approach can be employed in a variety of field conditions, allowing us to quantitatively assess population- and species-specific upper thermal limits of coral populations across a large number of reefs. Through this research, we are also seeking to determine the physiological and genetic mechanisms of stress tolerance in corals to aid ongoing conservation and restoration efforts.

For more information on my work to date, please visit my personal website: https://nicolasevensen.weebly.com/