Nikki Kostur Email & Phone Number

London, England, United Kingdom

• With my supervisors at the Zoological Society of London, King's College London, and the University of Miami, I am exploring how we can make human-made coastal structures (i.e. seawalls, marinas, and piers) more.
• Background: human-made coastal structures create novel intertidal habitats that attract unusual marine communities. Although poorly understood, this urban marine life (termed 'epifauna') may improve water quality and.
• Overarching goal: to investigate ecology of epifauna on human-made coastal structures, to contextualize the future of these assemblages and inform ways to design for biodiversity on human-made coastal structures in.

London, England, United Kingdom

• Selected by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation as an inspiring technician and spokesperson for the ‘Technicians: We make the Difference’ Campaign
• Interviewed, filmed for, and featured in the Science Museum’s new interactive and permanent ‘Technicians: The David Sainsbury Gallery,’ to educate young people on my Bio-Design work and career in STEM and creative.

• I collaborated with a team to set-up Natural Matters: an interdisciplinary lab that merges biology, chemistry, and design. There I advised postgraduate design students on biomaterial development, biological research.
• Instructed graduate art/design students on biological research protocols, cultivating/bio-engineering bacteria and yeast, and growing mycelium and bacterial cellulose.
• Advised graduate students on the safe development of biomaterials.
• Maintained health and safety in the Natural Matters Lab, in accordance with COSHH and BSL1 regulations.

Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

• Designed experiments and conducted research on sustainable biomaterials.
• Developed educational bio-material kits to teach non-scientists, students, and educators about biotechnology, worldwide.

Davidson, North Carolina, United States

• Conducted novel, self-driven research to discover the effects of pollen availability on sex allocation of Brassica rapa and investigate epigenetics’ role in inherited trans-generational plasticity.
• Acquired experimental and data collection skills through planting, maintaining treatment & control plant populations, taking daily measurements of phenotypic traits of interest.

Portland, Oregon Metropolitan Area

• Gained foundational understanding of research and development process for novel dentin-derived bioinks used in the 3D bioprinting of vascularized tissue to initiate dental regeneration.
• Wrote a proposal for and was awarded the Morehead Family Summer Internship Grant to fund this experience.

Mali Losinj, Primorje-Gorski, Croatia

• Gained field research experience studying the effects of boat traffic on Common Dolphin behavior in the Adriatic Sea.
• Applied R software skills to develop FINFINDR, a novel dolphin fin identification program.
• Presented at public outreach events to engage the Lošinj community in regional marine conservation work.

Portland, Oregon Metropolitan Area

• Honed woodworking and design skills to develop interior décor products.
• Created promotional materials in Adobe Photoshop using digital design skills and developed a social media marketing presence on Instagram and Facebook Ads.
• Selected by Etsy’s Merchandise Team to be featured on Etsy, resulting in increased publicity and sales.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Environmental Science

My PhD project investigates the future of urban shoreline ecosystems in Miami and the ecological performance of green-gray infrastructure.

Bachelor'S Degree, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Senior

Activities and Societies: Davidson Honor Council, Nuances A Capella, Union Station Design Comittee, Rusk Eating House

Polar Biology