Zachary Daniel

Marine Operations Technician

zachary.daniel@noaa.gov

Zach first discovered his interest in marine life in his youth snorkeling in Fort Lauderdale and pursued a career in understanding and protecting the marine world. He received a bachelor's in marine biology from University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and furthered his education with a master's in marine biology from UCSD/Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO). During his time as an undergraduate and graduate, his research focused on microbiology, investigating oyster microbiomes and microbial communities in marine tropical sediments with pharmaceutical potential. In the past year, Zach was a restoration intern at Coral Restoration Foundation and received his PADI Divemaster certification while living in the Florida Keys. Finding a deep connection with the Keys and the reefs, Zach aims to protect and facilitate the exploration and research of this unique ecosystem while contributing to the mooring buoy maintenance program.