Katey Lesneski is a Marine Biology PhD Candidate in the Kaufman and Finnerty Labs at Boston University. Via physiological and transcriptomic approaches, she studies wound healing and variation in heat stress resistance in the endangered staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis, in the context of applications for coral reef restoration. While mainly focused on work that benefits the Belize Fisheries Department and the Belize-based non-profit Fragments of Hope, she is also interested in the potential for coral restoration in Florida, specifically in Biscayne National Park and the Florida Keys, after taking part in a 12-day research cruise to assess damage to reefs from Hurricane Irma.