Colleen Hansel
Senior Scientist
Colleen earned a BS in Geology from California State University, Sacramento, an MS in Soil Chemistry from University of Idaho, and PhD in Biogeochemistry from Stanford University. Colleen is interested in the relationship between geochemistry and organismal health. Outside of work, she spends time with her three rambunctious daughters, dog, and 6 chickens, and sails with her family (minus the dog and chickens) in the beautiful waters surrounding Cape Cod.
Eric Ryberg
Postodoctoral Scholar
Lina Taenzer
MIT-WHOI JP Student
Lina earned a BS in Earth Sciences and Environmental Studies from Jacobs University in Bremen, Germany, and an MS in Earth Sciences from Dartmouth College. She began her PhD in the MIT-WHOI Joint Program in 2019. Lina is particularly interested in examining chemical interactions and fingerprints of biological stress and their relation to climate change. In her free time she loves to hike and swim, and find new ice cream places.
Kate Lane
MIT-WHOI JP Student
Katherine (Kate) Lane researches marine microbes using chemical, molecular, genetic, and computational tools in Dr. Colleen Hansel’s Lab. She is an NSF-GRFP Fellow and started her PhD in the MIT / WHOI Joint Program in 2021. Kate received her M.Sc. degree in Population Biology from UC Davis in Prof. Jonathan Eisen's Lab, worked as computational staff in Prof. Jill Banfield's Lab at UC Berkeley, and completed her BA in Biology at Macalester College. Outside of the lab, Kate likes climbing, ceramics, and classical music. Website: www. katelane.net, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-lane/, GoogleScholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=M8VrIVgAAAAJ&hl=en, Twitter: @katethecurious.
Erica Herrera
MIT-WHOI JP Student
Erica obtained a BS in Animal Science from New Mexico State University and studied Chemistry and Mathematics at the University of Texas at El Paso. She began her PhD in JP in 2020 and is fascinated by the impacts of trace metal biogeochemistry on large scale ocean dynamics and how these dynamics will respond to a changing climate. She is currently working to understand how chemical processes occurring at the seafloor affect the weathering of hydrothermal metal-sulfide deposits. When she isn’t pondering the mysteries of the deep sea, you can find her playing clarinet as a member of the MIT Wind Ensemble, practicing applied chemistry in the form of baking, or reading fantastical novels about other worlds while she cuddles with her two dogs, Eiyla and Calypso.
Jenn Necker
MIT-WHOI JP Student
Jenn earned her BS from Eckerd College in Marine Science in 2021 before starting in the MIT/WHOI Joint Program in 2022. Jenn is broadly interested in trace metal cycling in the environment with particular interest in microbial controls, hydrothermal vents, and trace metal uptake by organisms. When not in the lab or at sea, Jenn enjoys any water based activities, traveling, puzzling, reading, cooking, and spending time with her English Setters.
Natalie Danek
Research Assistant II
Natalie earned a B.S. in both marine biology and applied mathematics from Roger Williams University. There, she completed a senior thesis on spawning and settlement of the temperate coral Astrangia poculata, which sparked her interest in coral research. After graduating she moved to Florida and worked at the Smithsonian Marine Station studying probiotic treatments for coral disease. Natalie started as a research assistant in the Hansel lab in the fall of 2023 to develop coral nutrient tiles to outplant on reefs to enhance coral resilience and survivorship. In her free time Natalie enjoys paddle boarding, baking, and doing macrame.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-danek-049387189/
Twitter: @danek_natalie
Former Lab Members
postdocs
Chadlin Ostrander (2021-2023); currently **
Kalina Grabb (2017-2023); currently Knauss Marine Policy Fellow in Washington D.C.
Veronique Oldham (WHOI, 2017-2019); currently Assistant Professor at URI
Julia Diaz (WHOI, 2013-2015; Harvard 2011-2012); currently Assistant Professor Scripps Inst Ocean.
Tong Zhang (WHOI, 2012-2015); currently Professor at Nankai University
Peter Andeer (WHOI, 2012-2014); currently Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
Yuanzhi Tang (Harvard, 2011-2012); currently Associate Professor at Georgia Tech
Victoria Parisi (Harvard, 2010-2011); currently Staff Scientist at Occidental Petroleum Corp
Deric Learman (Harvard, 2008-2011); currently Full Professor at Central Michigan University
Cara Santelli (Harvard, 2007-2010); currently Associate Professor at Univ. of Minnesota
Eileen Ekstrom (Harvard, 2007-2009) ; currently Founder/Director at Ecosystems Analytics
graduate students
Hayley Gadol (MIT, 2015-2021); currently a postdoc at Northwestern University
Kevin Sutherland (WHOI-MIT JP, 2014-2019); currently postdoc at Harvard University
Gabriela Farfan (WHOI-MIT JP, 2013-2018); currently Curator and Scientist at Smithsonian
Emily Estes (WHOI-MIT JP, 2011-2017); currently Scientist at IODP
Carolyn Zeiner (Harvard PhD, 2010-2015); currently Assistant Professor at St. Thomas University
Adiari Vázquez-Rodríguez (Harvard PhD, 2008-2014); currently VC Investor at Next47
Chris Lentini (Harvard PhD, 2007-2013); currently Vice President of Acquisition, Zazzle
Nancy Martinez (Harvard SM, 2008-2010)
Lu Sun (Harvard SM, 2008-2010)
undergraduate students
Jennifer Necker (WHOI, May-August 2019)
Shavonna Bent (WHOI, May-August, 2017)
Chloe Wang (WHOI, June-August, 2016)
Rebecca Metivier (WHOI, July-August 2016)
Katie Duncan (WHOI, June-August, 2016)
Dana Johnson (WHOI, June – August 2015)
Caterina Brighi (WHOI, June-August 2014)
Katie Rempfert (WHOI, June-August, 2013)
Anika Petach (Harvard, 2011-2012)
Chantel Mendes (Harvard, 2011-2013)
Renata Cummins (Harvard, 2011)
Rachel Field (Harvard, 2009-2010)
Robyn Worchester (Harvard, 2009-2010)
João Campos (Harvard, 2008-2010)
Arven Sanders (Harvard, 2008-2009)
Greta Friar (Harvard, 2008-2009)
Dana Lazarus (Harvard, 2007-2009)
Jane Eng (Harvard, 2007-2008)