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Underwater Photographer in School of Fish

Experience

Chief Science Officer

Cordelia Biosciences

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Cordelia Biosciences was founded by Dr. Jessica Tittl-Neilsen and Dr. Monica Schul with the goal of reducing chemical pollution through innovations in marine biotechnology. They focused on harnessing marine microorganisms to develop sustainable bioactive compounds that could replace harmful ingredients in cosmetic products. As Chief Science Officer, Dr. Schul built the research department from the ground up, managing laboratory space and a scientific team, coordinating research projects, and engaging with stakeholders across sectors to raise funds and secure R&D contracts. She also wrote and secured several grants and awards, obtaining more than $85,000 in funding and over $100,000 in in-kind services to support their work in marine bioprospecting and sustainability. Please visit the Media page to see some of their accomplishments.

 

Key Skills

  • Team Building and Mentoring

  • Stakeholder Engagement

  • Grant Writing and Pitch Deck Development

Graduate Research Assistant

University of Florida

Monica earned her Ph.D. in Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences at the University of Florida. During her tenure, she served as an NSF Graduate Research Fellow, participated in the NSF INTERN program, and received the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering Dean’s Research Award. Monica applied molecular and microbial techniques to address ecological questions regarding marine invertebrate microbiomes and the transmission dynamics between corals and their macrosymbionts. She led extensive field expeditions in Panama and the Cayman Islands, where she collected samples from various marine invertebrates and abiotic sources, conducted hundreds of dives as an AAUS Scientific Diver, and designed and implemented field experiments. Monica is also a member of the International Coral Reef Society and the American Society for Microbiology, and has presented her research at over 20 conferences and symposiums. She regularly shared her passion for ocean conservation through college seminars, Skype a Scientist classroom sessions, and as a participant in the Cedar Key School Guardians of the Gulf Youth Symposium.

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Key Skills

  • Experimental Design

  • Fieldwork

  • Data Analysis

  • Science Communication

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Dive Safety Board Member

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University of Florida

Monica had the honor of serving on the University of Florida Dive Safety Board, overseeing scientific diving operations across the university. She contributed to reviewing and revising the UF diving safety manual, ensured compliance with safety policies, approved diving projects, reviewed insurance and risk management protocols, and supported safe and effective research dives across multiple departments.

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Key Skills

  • Risk Management

  • Scientific Diving Expertise

  • Insurance Policy Review

Science Communicator

Monica has extensive experience translating complex scientific research into accessible content for diverse audiences. She has presented at over 20 events, including conferences, classrooms, and K-12 programs such as Skype a Scientist and the Cedar Key School Guardians of the Gulf Youth Symposium. Her experience spans scientific talks, poster presentations, panel discussions, web series, podcasts, and college-level teaching. Currently, she is focusing on enhancing outreach through nature photography and videography to maximize clarity, engagement, and public understanding of marine science.

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Key Skills

  • Public Speaking

  • Storytelling

  • Data Visualization

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Affiliate Faculty - Lecturer

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Florida Atlantic University

Monica was appointed affiliate faculty lecturer at Florida Atlantic University as part of the Biotech Bridge Program. Alongside her co-founder at Cordelia Biosciences, she delivers lectures in a seminar series, presents at graduate events and panels, and inspires students and faculty to contribute to Florida’s Blue Economy through education and engagement. Check out their latest panel discussion for the FAU Inaugural ECOS Retreat.

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Key Skills

  • Presentation Building

  • Student Mentorship

  • Public Speaking and Teaching

Biotechnology Scientist - Intern

HOPO Therapeutics

Monica was awarded funding through the National Science Foundation INTERN program to pursue a research internship with HOPO Therapeutics, a biotechnology company in Berkeley, CA. She assisted in designing experiments to study how macroalgae absorb rare earth elements and utilized HOPO’s unique technology for extracting rare earth elements from macroalgae. Monica prepared samples for chemical analyses, interpreted LCMS and ICP-OES data, and used Benchling and R for statistical modeling and data visualization. Her contributions supported ARPA-E quarterly reports and optimized workflows as part of a multidisciplinary team. For more information on this project, check out the Discover in Berkeley news article.

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Key Skills

  • LCMS and ICP-OES Analyses

  • Experimental Optimization

  • Technical Reporting

Image by Oleksandr Sushko

Biological Scientist and Laboratory Manager

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University of Florida

Monica investigated the effectiveness of coral probiotics in collaboration with the Smithsonian Marine Station, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and other academic and NGO partners. She applied molecular and microbial techniques including bacteria culturing, DNA and RNA extraction, PCR, ddPCR, and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to study shifts in coral microbial communities and probiotic proliferation within treated corals. For more on her research, see the DEP reports or the latest publication. As laboratory manager, Monica also oversaw hazardous waste management, mentored student interns in molecular and microbiological workflows, and developed SOPs and protocols for laboratory users.

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Key Skills

  • Laboratory Management

  • Student Mentorship

  • Molecular and Microbial Workflows

Chemical Ecologist - Intern

Smithsonian Marine Station

Monica had the unique opportunity to intern with the Smithsonian Marine Station’s Coral Health and Marine Probiotics (CHAMP) lab. She collaborated across institutions to contribute to finding a potential pathogen for stony coral tissue loss disease, understand the effectiveness of probiotic treatments in both aquaria and field settings, and extract secondary metabolites from healthy and diseased coral tissues. Beyond the lab, Monica authored a scientific paper (read paper here), contributed to a CHAMP lab web series (link here), and illustrated scientific concepts for talks and videos.

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Key Skills

  • Coral Sample Preparation

  • Scientific Writing

  • Multidisciplinary Team

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Scuba Instructor

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University of Florida

Monica is a highly trained advanced scuba diver with multiple certifications in leadership and technical diving. She is a certified scuba and CPR/First Aid instructor with NAUI and served in the University of Florida Scientific Diver Development Program as both Dive Master and Instructor. In these roles, she trained and certified university students in open water, advanced, scientific, and rescue diving.

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Key Skills

  • Dive Instruction

  • University Teaching

  • Dive Equipment Maintenance and Repair

Scientfic Illustrator and Graphic Designer

Monica combines her artistic skills and scientific knowledge to create illustrations and media that clarify complex scientific concepts. She is proficient with Canva, Procreate, and Adobe Lightroom. Her work was featured on the May 2019 cover of Nature Machine Intelligence "Going Against the Current", in presentations for the Smithsonian Marine Station, and in personal and lab publications.

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Key Skills

  • Data Visualization

  • Creative Design

  • Science Illustration

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