Sara M. Melo Merino is a postdoctoral researcher at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, working with the MarineGEO program under the Life on a Sustainable Planet initiative. Sara received both her MS and PhD in Marine Science from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Her research focuses on the ecology and functioning of coral reef ecosystems at various spatial and temporal scales. Sara is particularly interested in studying the impacts of climate change on coral reefs, with a focus on the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, and its implications for reef conservation and management. 

Sara likes to get involved in community and educational events to raise awareness about the importance of marine ecosystems. She is a diving enthusiast, and her personal interests include reading, spending time with friends, family, and her four-legged, barking best friend Pax.