Kaitlin (Katie) Mae McConnell

Curriculum Vitae

katiemcconn@gmail.com

 

Education:

2017-2019 - MS Microbiology, Minor: Risk and Uncertainty Quantification in Marine Systems, Oregon State University. Thesis: “Reef Microbiomes of Mo’orea, French Polynesia, a Socio-ecological System”

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2008-2012 - BS Marine Biology, UC Santa Cruz

 

Awards and Affiliations:

• National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Traineeship Fellow (2018-2019)

• Richard and Toshi Morita Microbiology Scholarship (2019) 

• William Trachtenberg Memorial Scholarship, Sustainable Fisheries Foundation & American Fisheries Society (2019) 

• Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Fellow (2017-2019)

• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Honorable Mention (2018)

• National Geographic Explorer / Waitt Foundation Grant Recipient (2017)

• Surf Ambassador, Save the Waves Coalition (2022-current)

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Professional Experience:

2023 - Current

• Substitute Teacher, Hawai’i Department of Education

2022 - Current

• Marine Scientist, YachtAid Global

• Surf Ambassador, Save the Waves Coalition

2020 - Current

• Owner and Surf Instructor, Surf With Katie, California

2022-2023

• Surf Instructor, Jamie O’Brien Surf Experience

2020-2021

• Grant Writer & Project Developer, One People One Reef

2020​

• Research Diver, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Ensenada, México

2019-2020

• Environmental Science Instructor, Wildlands Studies Patagonia Program

2018-2019

• Graduate Research Fellow, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Traineeship Program (NRT), Oregon State University

2017-2018

• Biology Graduate Teaching Assistant, Oregon State University

2017

• Principle Investigator, “Ecosystem Recycling of Whale Carcasses in Golfo de Penas, Chilean Patagonia, after a mass stranding event.” National Geographic Grant CP-067R-17

2016

• Research Diver, United States Antarctic Program

2015

• Research Diver, San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant Mitigation Monitoring Project

2012-2017

• Technical Scientific Assistant & Research Diver, Huinay Field Station, Chile

2008-2012

• California State Beach Lifeguard, Monterey Country

• California State Beach Lifeguard, North San Diego County

• California State Beach Junior Lifeguard Instructor

 

Selected Publications: 

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• Howe-Kerr, L.I., Grupstra, C.G.B., Rabbitt, K.M. et al. Viruses of a key coral symbiont exhibit temperature-driven productivity across a reefscape. ISME COMMUN. 3, 27 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43705-023-00227-7

• Häussermann V, Gutstein CS, Bedington M, Cassis D, Olavarria C, Dale AC, Valenzuela-Toro AM, Perez-Alvarez MJ, Sepúlveda HH, McConnell KM, Horwitz FE, Försterra G. Largest baleen whale mass mortality during strong El Niño event is likely related to harmful toxic algal bloom. PeerJ (2017) 5:e3123 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3123

• Feliza Ceseña, Roland Meyer, Christian P Mergl, Verena Häussermann, Günter Försterra, Kaitlin McConnell, Roland R Melzer. Decapoda of the Huinay Fiordos-expeditions to the Chilean fjords 2005–2014: Inventory, pictorial atlas and faunistic remarks. Spixiana 39, 2 (2016). https://www.pfeil-verlag.de/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/spix39_2_04.pdf

• McConnell, K. "Mystery Whale Deaths: Is Climate Change the Cause?" Patagon Journal, 2016

 

Athletic Awards:

2024

• Winner, Thriller at Killers Big Wave Contest, Islas Todos Santos, Mexico

2023

• Prequalifier for 2024 Red Bull Magnitude Women’s Big Wave Competition

• 5th Place, Red Bull Magnitude Women’s Big Wave Competition, Hawai’i, USA

• 2nd Place, International Bodysurfing World Tour, Polynesia Regionals and Finals Qualifier

• 3rd Place, Thriller at Killers Virtual Big Wave Competition, Todos Santos, México

2022

• Zicatela Bodysurf Competition, 3rd Place Overall and Reyna de la Competition, Puerto Escondido, Mexico

• Mexpipe Warriors en Memoria de Oscar Moncada Surf Competition, 2nd Place Women, Puerto Escondido, Mexico

• Lobos Por Siempre Big Wave Invitational, 1st Place Women’s, Punta de Lobos, Chile

• Santos del Mar Big Wave Invitational, 1st Place Women’s, El Buey, Arica, Chile

• Itacoatiara Big Wave Competition, 7th Place Overall Paddle, Niteroi, Brasil

• Mavericks Surf Awards Finalist for Biggest Wave, Ride of the Year & Performer of the Year, California, USA

• Red Bull Magnitude Women’s Big Wave Competition, Rookie of the Season and 3rd place overall, Hawai’i, USA

2021

• Quicksilver 2021 Jaws Big Wave Championship invited alternate

• Torneo de Bodysurf Zicatela, Quarterfinalist & 9th overall, Puerto Escondido, México

• World Bodysurfing Championships, Women’s Grand Champion and 1st place Women 30-44, Oceanside, CA

2020

• Mavericks Surf Awards, highlighted surfer

2017

• Longest noseride winner, Women’s division, Cape Kiwanda Longboard Classic, Oregon

• World Bodysurfing Championships, 5th place Women 18-29 

2012

• World Bodysurfing Championships, 2nd place Women 18-29 

 

Certifications:

Wilderness First Responder (inc. CPR/1st Aid), National Outdoor Leadership School  (NOLS, 10/2024)

Scientific Diver (AAUS), Rescue Diver & Master Diver (NAUI), Dive Master (PADI)

California Small Boat Operator’s License

Hawaii Boating, Thrillcraft  and Towsurfing License

Big Wave Risk Assessment Group Surf Responder 1
 

Languages:

English, First language

Spanish, Fluent

Portuguese, Basic