Danya Awshah is a 1st year Biological Oceanography PhD student from Tampa, FL. She attended the University of South Florida where she completed degrees in Environmental Science and Policy and Chemistry. As an undergraduate, she conducted research on Toxoplasma gondii, utilizing ultra-expansion microscopy to better visualize reproductive structures during the different phases of mitosis.

Here in the Décima Lab, Danya plans on studying the role of zooplankton on deep-sea carbon export dynamics. Additionally, Danya serves as a Scripps Community Outreach for Public Education (SCOPE) coordinator and enjoys crocheting, reading, baking, and running in her free time.