Dr. Camille Gaynus
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Chief Science Officer
Dr. Camille Gaynus is the Chief Science Officer at Black in Marine Science (BIMS). She attended Hampton University, where she majored in Marine and Environmental Science. In undergrad, she had a transformative experience that cemented her commitment to marine science with The Diversity Project, where she received multiple SCUBA certifications in Bali and conducted research in some of the world's most biodiverse reefs.
Dr. Gaynus earned her PhD in Biology from UCLA, focusing on turf algae's impact on coral reefs in French Polynesia. Her research was further developed during postdoctoral work at UC and UPenn, where she explored the environmental factors driving changes in coral reef ecosystems, which are crucial for fisheries, economies, and coastal protection. She currently employs environmental DNA to assess how biodiversity is shifting along our coastlines and the future implications of these shifts. As a Black woman in STEM, Dr. Gaynus is dedicated to creating inclusive spaces. She co-founded A WOC Space and co-organized #Blackinmarinescience week. As Chief Science Officer at BIMS, she has secured over $3 million in funding and manages programs connecting Black communities with ocean science. Dr. Gaynus also leads the NSF-funded Tidal Wave program, bringing Black scholars to ocean science conferences, further demonstrating her commitment to diversity and inclusion in marine science. As a marine scientist, she believes that our global conservation and research efforts will not meet their maximum potential if communities are excluded and she continues to dismantle systems that upload this exclusion. |
