PRINCIPLE INVESTIGATORS
Joaquim Goes finished his Master’s Degree in 1992 at the University of Bombay in India. He was then offered a Doctoral fellowship by the Japanese Ministry of Education, and he moved to Nagoya University, Japan. Clueless in a pre-internet age, he dived headlong into a new culture and language, and loved every bit of it from the sashimi and onsen to kanji.
Helga do Rosario Gomes (Maria Fatima Helga do Rosario Gomes) is from the state of Goa in India, famous for its beautiful beaches. Drawn to oceanography from a young age, she received a Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography from Bombay University, and, after research positions in Japan and in Maine, she has been a Research Scientist at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia Climate School since 2010
Dr. Jinghui Wu
Jinghui Wu is an optical oceanographer specializing in ocean optics and ocean color remote sensing. Her work centers on bio-optical modeling and field radiometry with strong quality control standards. Her recent research focuses on modeling phytoplankton physiology and productivity and developing hyperspectral algorithms to map phytoplankton biodiversity.
Cody O'Ferrall
Cody O'Ferrall is a research assistant, holding an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Robotics from Columbia University. His current research focuses on developing low-cost robotic platforms to detect and spatially map harmful algal blooms. He also leads the engineering and early-stage commercialization of AQUAS.
Xiwen (Gia) Wu is a research assistant with a B.S. in Marine Science with a concentration in Marine Biology from the University of Florida and an M.P.H. in Biostatistics from Columbia University. Her current research focuses on algal physiology.
Dennis Deng
Dennis Deng is a master’s student in the School of Engineering at Columbia University. At Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, he conducted research on PET catalytic depolymerization in Dr. Goes’s laboratory, exploring pathways to translate this work into practical applications in civil engineering materials.
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY DATA SCIENCE INSTITUTE STUDENTS
Anushka Agarwal
Anushka Agarwal earned her M.S. in Computer Science from Columbia University. At the Goes-Gomes Lab, she developed deep learning pipelines for phytoplankton microscopy analysis, helping automate image processing for researchers. She is currently working as a Backend Engineer at an AI startup in New York.
Adityaram Kotaremeni
Adityaram Komaraneni is an M.S. in Data Science student at Columbia University. At the Goes-Gomes Lab, he develops the Automated AI-driven Phytoplankton Classification System (CAPCS), creating ML workflows for microscopy image classification using convolutional neural networks for real-time ocean monitoring.
Henrique Schmitz
Henrique Schmitz earned his undergraduate degree in Control and Automation Engineering. He worked for several years at SAP as a software developer and data scientist before moving to New York to join Columbia University’s MSDS. At the Goes-Gomes Lab, he is working on integrating multi- and hyperspectral data.
Annika Hsi
Annika Hsi received her B.S. from Princeton University and completed her M.S. in Data Science at Columbia University. At the Goes-Gomes Lab, she worked on developing image processing models to categorize phytoplankton. She is now an incoming Ph.D. student at Columbia University with the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Yeshitha Bhuvanesh
Yeshitha Bhuvanesh is a Master’s student in Computer Science at Columbia University and previously worked as a Software Engineer at Juniper Networks. She is currently a Research Assistant, where she develops supervised and deep learning models to classify phytoplankton species.
Xiao Wen
Xiao Wen is a student in the Master of Science in Data Science program at Columbia Engineering. She earned her undergraduate degree in Mathematics with a minor in Computer Science and is interested in algorithms and optimization methods, particularly their applications in operations research and data-driven problem solving.
GRADUATE ALUMNI
Xiansong (Angel) Huang
Xiansong (Angel) Huang earned an M.A. in Climate and Society from Columbia University and previously completed a B.Sc. in Geography at University College London (UCL). She worked on geospatial analysis and visualization of Long Island Sound harmful algal bloom (HAB) data. She is currently working as a GIS Specialist.
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Celine Gong
Celina Gong is a graduate student in the M.S. in Climate program at Columbia Climate School. She earned her undergraduate degree in Marine Science with a focus on physical oceanography. Her work examines how ocean dynamics influence marine ecosystems and biogeochemical processes using satellite and oceanographic data.
UNDERGRADUATE ALUMNI
Christy Jenkins was an undergraduate at Columbia University. She worked on validating NOAA’s VIIRS ocean color satellite products and mapping phytoplankton functional types along the east coast of the USA. Now, she is the Executive Pastry Chef at L’Artusi and also co-owns Bar Fiasco with her husband Evan.
Joe Zeno
Joe Zeno was part of the LDEO summer NSF-funded REU in 2023, where he researched the effects ocean acidification has on marine phytoplankton populations along the U.S East Coast. He recently graduated from the University of Maine with a B.S in Botany and Ecology, and is interested in urban ecology research.
Jessey Kreinik
Jessey Kreinik graduated with a B.S. in Biology from Skidmore College. She was an REU student at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, studying the combined effects of CO2, O2, and the presence of prey on the proliferation of Noctiluca scintillans. She is now a PhD student in the Rutgers' Graduate Program for Oceanography.
Rebecca Miller
Anxhela Mile
Rebecca Miller, one of the first two interns in the Goes-Gomes Lab, was an undergraduate at Yale University. She developed an empirical model using ocean color satellite radiometry to detect Noctiluca scintillans blooms in the Arabian Sea. She is now a Curriculum Development Specialist in Science at New Visions for Public Schools.
Yue (Winnie) Wen
Winnie Wen was an undergraduate intern, studying science at Macalester College in the Twin Cities. Winnie really enjoys working at Lamont with Dr. Goes, Dr. Gomes, and all other interns since she loves interacting with people and discussing scientific matters.
Sarina Malik
Sarina Malik is a student at Barnard College, studying Environmental Science and Sustainability and dance. She worked on the Goes-Gomes Lab’s website and outreach initiatives, helping communicate climate change science and its impacts on vulnerable ecosystems and coastal communities.
Christy Jenkins
Odin Diniz
Odin Diniz was a Biology Major at Boston University who worked at the lab as a part of the LDEO Undergraduate Intern program during the summer. He studied photosynthesis and respiration rates of Noctiluca over day-night cycles, researching the relationship between Noctiluca and Protoeuglena Noctilucae that allows them to form massive algal blooms.
Anxhela Mile graduated with a B.S. in Environmental Geoscience and International Studies from Boston College. She studied the dual feeding behavior of the mixotroph Noctiluca scintillans. She later earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. Anxhela is now an environmental and energy attorney.
Antonio Tung
Antonio Tung is a Columbia University undergraduate who is developing a model to predict hypoxia in the Long Island Sound.
Remy Olivo
Remy Olivo is a student at Syracuse University studying mechanical engineering. He worked in the Goes-Gomes Lab, analyzing Dunaliella and Kawagutti to determine their peak growth conditions and glycerol production, and exploring how that glycerol could be harnessed for biofuel and other renewable energy applications.
Jennifer Acosta
Jennifer Acosta was an Environmental Science Major at the East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. On NOAA’s third East Coast Ocean Acidification Cruise (ECOA-3) with the team, she investigated how ocean acidification is affecting phytoplankton communities along the eastern coast of the United States. Following graduation, she was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army.
Brandon Lopez
Brandon Lopez researched mitigating algae in the Morningside Park Pond at Columbia. He currently studies astrophysics as an undergraduate at Columbia University.
HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI
Mira Agarwal
Mira Agarwal is a junior at The Brearley School. She is investigating natural, non-toxic approaches to identify effective and scalable treatments for harmful Microcystis blooms in local ponds.
Alexandria Ang
Alex Ang, from the Bronx High School of Science and one of the first HS Goes-Gomes interns, studied Noctiluca scintillans, bringing her research with her to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) as a finalist in 2018. She later graduated from Macalester College with a B.A. in Creative Writing and Environmental Studies.
Leonah Esteves
Leonah Esteves, from Peekskill High School, researched phytoplankton blooms in the Arabian Sea. She and her twin sister, Leysha, won the Leason Ellis Team Project Award at Regeneron WESEF in 2022, and Leonah went on to place 3rd at WESEF in 2023, while also winning the Association for Women Geoscientists Award and the Creative Approach to Research Award. She is now a junior at Barnard College studying Economics.
Ishaan Bharadwaj
Ishaan Bharadwaj, from Millburn High School, investigated the effects of ocean acidification on phytoplankton in Long Island Sound and polystyrene biodegradation using waxworm saliva. He will be a student at Rice University.
Tegan Fung
Tegan Fung, from the Bronx High School of Science, studied the effects of high CO₂ on phytoplankton to better understand the impacts of ocean acidification. She recently earned her DO degree from Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine and is currently an Emergency Medicine resident.
Rachel Lobo
Rachel Lobo investigated the effects of carbon dioxide levels and hypoxia on phytoplankton cell growth. She earned her B.S in Biological Sciences from the University of Pittsburgh, then her M.S. in Biological Sciences at Duquesne University. She is currently a second-year medical student at Duquesne’s Nasuti College of Osteopathic Medicine.
William Kuster
William Kuster, from the Collegiate School in NYC, studied the effects of oxygen and CO₂ on Noctiluca scintillans, contributing to efforts to better understand harmful algal blooms. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and is currently an Analyst at Societe Generale Corporate and Investment Banking.
Alisa D’Souza
Alisa D’Souza, from Peekskill High School, studied the behavior of Noctiluca scintillans to various environmental conditions. She recently graduated in Environmental Sciences from Stony Brook University.
Hazel Scharlatt
Aviva Schwarz
Aviva Schwarz, from the Bronx High School of Science, worked on projects related to climate change mitigation. She later graduated from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs, and is now a master’s student at Tel Aviv University.
Christina Yan
Christina Yan, from Clarkstown High School, studied carbon-driven algal blooms and chemical and enzymatic degradation of PET microplastics. She is a biochemistry student at Columbia University and now conducts metabolomics and gene sequencing research on breast cancer risk at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Ahren Alberto
Ahren Alberto, from the West Essex High School, studied the impacts of low oxygen on Noctiluca scintillans blooms. He holds B.S. and M.S. from the University of Pennsylvania, and is now a medical student at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Stephanie da Costa
Stephanie da Costa was from Upper Dublin High School, PA. She recently graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.S. in Computer Engineering
Sarah D’Souza
Sarah D’Souza was one of the earliest interns at the Goes-Gomes Lab. She received a B.S. from Pennsylvania State University Schreyer Honors College, a medical degree from Marian University, and will be continuing graduate medical education at the University of North Carolina.
Julian Jacobs
Julian Jacobs, from Hastings High School, contributed to research on Noctiluca blooms and their ecological implications. He recently graduated from Hamilton College with a B.A. in Environmental Biology.
Asya Surphili
Asya Surphili, a former student at Dobbs Ferry High School conducted research on microplastics and their impacts on marine organisms and ecosystems at the Goes-Gomes Lab. Her projects examined microplastics in Atlantic sturgeon and their interactions with Noctiluca and zooplankton, contributing to broader efforts to understand plastic pollution in the ocean.
Aidan Alberto
Aidan Alberto, from the West Essex HIgh School, investigated the effects of carbon dioxide levels and hypoxia on phytoplankton cell growth using samples from Long Island Sound. He is now a student in the Honors College at Rutgers University.
Leysha Esteves
Leysha Esteves, from Peekskill High School, investigated how climate change, natural disasters, and pollution affect the Arabian marine ecosystem and the communities that rely on it. She and her twin sister, Leonah, won the Leason Ellis Team Project Award at Regeneron WESEF in 2022. She is now a student at Barnard College.
Chloe Kim
Chloe Kim, from Stuyvesant High School, worked to mitigate harmful algal blooms in the Morningside Park Pond in NYC, evaluating low-cost, non-toxic mineral treatments. She is now a student at Cornell University, majoring in Biometry and Statistics.
Marwa Al-Azri
Marwa Al Azri investigated eco-friendly enzymatic methods to degrade household plastics for potential use in laundry systems and plastic processing facilities. She is now a neurosciences student at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.