EDUCATION

 Stanford University PhD Student, Biology (2021-Present)

 Duke University B.S. Biology, Magna Cum Laude (2020)

 Oxford University Lord Rothermere Fellow (2017)

ACADEMIC HONORS

Graduate Fellowship in Science and Engineering (Stanford University, 2021-2026) Awarded to outstanding Stanford graduate students pursuing science and engineering

Hopkins Marine Station Community Service Award (Stanford University, 2023) Awarded for ongoing service to the community

Irene Brown Summer Fellowship (Stanford University, 2023) Research grant to support womens advancement in natural science research 

Friends of Hopkins Grant Awardee (Stanford University, 2023) Research grant awarded to fund collaborative drone projects   

Graduation with High Distinction in Biology (Duke University, 2020) Awarded by Duke Biology faculty to top 10% of  Biology theses

Angier B. Duke Scholar (Duke University, 2016-2020) Full tuition undergraduate merit scholarship and research funding

Rachel Carson Scholar (Duke University, 2018-2020) Research funding awarded for excellence in marine science

Maggie Schneider Award in Marine Biology (Duke University, 2020) Awarded by Duke Marine Lab faculty for service to the community

Bass Connections Student Research Award (Duke University, 2019) Research funding grant for salt marsh ecology work 

Shaw-Worth Memorial Scholarship  (Humane Society, 2016) Recognized by the Humane Society for conservation outreach work

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Stanford University PhD Candidate (2021 - Present)

Examining the spatial ecology and population dynamics of highly mobile pelagic predators in the Pacific Ocean. Researching how shifting fitness considerations across ontogeny drive spatial habitat partitioning in Northeast Pacific white sharks using biologging, remote sensing, and eDNA techniques. Boat-based field work includes sampling (tag deployment, fin ID photography, drone photogrammetry, eDNA samples) white sharks in Monterey Bay, CA.

Duke University Marine Robotics & Remote Sensing Lab Research Technician (2020- 21)

Algorithm development in Python and R to quantify ecologically relevant properties of salt marsh, oyster reef, and mangrove habitats. Provided technical advising for undergraduate and M.S. students, and responsible for custom computer builds designed to support computing tasks. 

South Fork Natural History Museum Field Assistant, Shark Research Program (2021)

Tagged juvenile and Young-of-Year (YOY) white sharks in a known nursery habitat off of Long Island, New York. Boat-based fieldwork collecting individuals via hook-and-line to perform full work-ups (measurements, biopsies, fin clip) and deploy pop-up satellite archival tags (PSATs).

Duke Biology Department Senior Thesis Research Intern (2019 - 20)

Piloted UAS surveys of coastal shorelines to analyze shark abundance dynamics in the Rachel Carson Reserve estuary in Beaufort, North Carolina. Novel use of UAS to understand elasmobranch use of temperate estuarine landscapes. Responsible for project conception, experimental design, team management, and publication.

Duke University Marine Robotics & Remote Sensing Lab Research Intern  (2018-19)

Developed a Python GUI interfacing with ArcGIS to model S. Alterniflora canopy height from UAS-SfM photogrammetry. Secured additional grant funding through Duke Bass Connections program and managed UAS field operations.

Duke University Bass Connections Coastal Biodiversity Field Assistant (2019)

Surveyed mangrove habitat via boat-based UAS deployments to assess coverage and biodiversity with local NGOs in Belize. Analyses focused on habitat classification, employing supervised classifications techniques on spectral data. 

Oceans Research Field Intern (2017)

Assisted field work operations studying white shark population structure and dynamics at Seal Island in Mossel Bay, South Africa. Participated in photo identification, tag deployment, active acoustic tracking, and BRUV deployment studying local shark populations.

Other: Norwalk, CT Maritime Aquarium (2016), Wildlife Sense (2016), Stony Brook University Marine Lab (2015)

PUBLICATIONS

DiGiacomo, A.E.; Giannelli, R.; Puckett, B.; Smith, R.; Ridge, J.T.; Davis, J. 2022. Considerations and tradeoffs of UAS-based coastal wetland monitoring in the Southeastern United States. Frontiers in Remote Sensing 2022

DiGiacomo, A.E.; Harrison, W.E.; Johnston, D.W.; Ridge, J.T. Elasmobranch Use of Nearshore Estuarine Habitats Responds to Fine-Scale, Intra-Seasonal Environmental Variation: Observing Coastal Shark Density in a Temperate Estuary Utilizing UAS. Drones 2020.  

DiGiacomo, A.E.; Bird, C.N.; Pan, V.G.; Dobroski, K.; Atkins-Davis, C.; Johnston, D.W.; Ridge, J.T. Modeling Salt Marsh Vegetation Height Using UAS and Structure from Motion. Remote Sens 2020.*

*Named one of ten Most Notable Articles for the Journal of Remote Sensing (Fall 2020)  

Ridge, J. T.; DiGiacomo, A. E.; Rodriguez, A. B.; Himmelstein, J. D.; Johnston, D. W. Comparison of 3D structural metrics on oyster reefs using unoccupied aircraft photogrammetry and terrestrial LiDAR across a tidal elevation gradient. Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation 2023.

MENTORSHIP & TEACHING

Undergraduate Research Advisor Primary Mentor, Stanford HI-SURF Internship (2023), Stanford Co-Terminal Masters in Biology (2023-Present), Stanford REEFS Internship (2022), Duke University Honors Thesis in Biology (2019)

High School Research Mentor Santa Catalina High School (2021-Present)

High School Classroom Assistant Durham School of the Arts (2019-2020), North Monterey High School through Future Leaders in Marine Science (2021-23)

Teaching Assistant: Taking the Pulse of the Ocean (BIOHOPK 170H, 2023), Introduction to Research in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (BIO46, 2022), Introduction to Data Science (STAT199, 2018)

OUTREACH & COMMUNITY

Stanford Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Graduate Student Representative in Biology (2021-22), Graduate Liaison in School of Sustainability (2022-23)

Graduate Representative Stanford Admissions Committee, Stanford Faculty Liaison, Stanford Friends of Hopkins Liaison, Stanford Graduate Students Advisory Council, Monterey Bay Area Research Institutions Network for Education (2023-Present)

Minorities in Shark Science (MISS) Friend and mentor supporting diversity & inclusion in elasmobranch research (2020-22)

Duke Marine Lab Community Science Program Volunteer educator for Carteret County Boys & Girls Club students (2018-21)

Duke Sustainable Oceans Alliance President and Executive Board of undergraduate club (2016-20)

Girl Scout Gold Award Authored & published children’s book “A Familiar Fin” to dispel negative myths about sharks (2016)

CERTIFICATIONS & SKILLS

Programming and Data Science (R, Python, Matlab, Java, SQL, ArcGIS-Python tool development), Remote Pilot License (Part 107, Awarded by the FAA, 100+ hrs piloting experience), Scuba Diver (Rescue Diver), Custom PC Hardware Builds