Andrea Paz Lacavex

Andrea Paz-Lacavex is a 4th-year Ph.D. student in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, co-advised by Dr. Mark Carr and Dr. Peter Raimondi. Her research focuses on identifying the ecological and geomorphological attributes that promote the persistence and recovery of kelp forests. Combining long-term monitoring data, manipulative field experiments, and spatial analyses, Andrea investigates how grazer dynamics, substrate complexity, and disturbance regimes influence kelp recruitment and community structure across the Californias.

Andrea brings eight years of experience working in marine conservation and restoration initiatives in Mexico and the U.S. She is the founder of SPORA, a community-led kelp restoration program in Baja California, and co-founder of ACCESSdiving, an initiative to expand equity in scientific diving. Beyond academia, she has led workshops on climate change and ocean stewardship for fishing communities and contributed to regional policy efforts as part of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Kelp Restoration and Management Plan Community Working Group.