People

Professor, Department of Marine Biology and Ecology

Dr. McDonald is a Professor of Marine Biology and Ecology at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. She is an expert in fish physiology and behavior and her research program most broadly investigates the role of the cortisol, a hormone that is elevated in response to stress, and serotonin, a neurotransmitter most commonly known for its role in depression, in fish during times of environmental stress. The research done by her lab not only advances our understanding of fish, but can also be applied to marine mammal or human health, as fish and other aquatic organisms can sometimes make better health models than other mammals! McDonald is an award-winning teacher and mentor, teaching several senior-level undergraduate courses and mentoring both undergraduates and graduate students in laboratory research. She feels that it is extremely important to communicate science in a fun, accessible way, with the goal of her educational and outreach activities always being the four E’s: to educate, engage, excite and empower.

Danielle's Google Scholar

dmcdonald@rsmas.miami.edu

Ph.D. Student
August 2018 — Present  

John is a second year Ph.D. student researching circulating serotonin in marine teleost fish. John received a B.S from College in Buffalo, NY, where he studied cholesterol synthesis in vascular plants. His M.S. degree is from University at Buffalo, where he studied structural polymorphisms in bear genomes. 

jts199@rsmas.miami.edu

Ph.D. Student
August 2018 — Present

Rumya is a second year Ph.D. student researching the toxicological effects of combined exposure to SSRIs and endocrine disruptors on marine fish. She started with a B.A. in Studio Art (Sculpture) followed by a B.S. in Biological Sciences, both from Indiana University. Following this, she obtained an M.P.S. in Fisheries Management and Conservation from University of Miami. Rumya also has worked in the areas of law, policy, citizen science, and sea level rise. She plans on joining UM’s joint J.D.-Ph.D. program and starting law school in Fall 2020.

rsundaram@rsmas.miami.edu

M.S. Student
November 2018 — Present

Milly completed her B.S. in Wildlife Biology at Missouri State University before coming to Miami. Her current research is dedicated to the continued understanding of glucocorticoid production and its implications for the stress axis in response to oil-induced toxicity. She will be isolating specific receptors hypothesized to be responsible for changes in cortisol production, in order to further understand the mechanisms through which oil affects an organism’s ability to function. When she is not in the lab, she enjoys yoga, cycling, and spending time with friends at the beach or The Wetlab. Additionally, she serves as the Vice President of RSMAS’s Marine Science Graduate Student Organization.

emm248@rsmas.miami.edu