Melissa is a postdoctoral fellow joining the FOME lab with a research background in population genomics, specializing in the application of genetics to conservation management. Currently, her research focuses on the genetic response to climate stressors on local Nova Scotian eelgrass populations, specifically the response to thermal stress. Determining the population-level response to projected climate change can aid restoration efforts, as populations that are resilient can be utilized as donor populations. This research is part of the Community Eelgrass Restoration Initiative, and Melissa hopes to share her knowledge of genetics to the local communities.