2015            NSF Postdoctoral Fellow in Biology, University of Hawaii, HawaiʻI Institute of Marine Biology

2014            Postdoctoral Researcher, HawaiʻI EPSCoR Ecological Genomics and Metabolomics

2010            NSF Graduate Research Fellow, University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (UM RSMAS)

2008            Graduate Research Assistant, UM RSMAS

2007            Research Assistant, Marine Microbiology Program, Mote Marine Laboratory

 

2013            Doctor of Philosophy, UM RSMAS, mentored by Dr. Andrew Baker.

Thesis: The role of algal symbiont community dynamics in reef coral responses to global climate change

2007            Bachelor of Science (cum laude and with distinction), Duke University. Dual Majors: Biology and Environmental Science

 

13) Cunning R, Yost DM, Guarinello ML, Putnam HM, Gates RD (2015) Variability of Symbiodinium communities in waters, sediments, and corals of thermally distinct reef pools in American Samoa. PLoS ONE 10(12):e0145099. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0145099.

12) Cunning R, Silverstein RN, Baker AC (2015) Investigating the causes and consequences of symbiont shuffling in a multi-partner reef coral symbiosis under environmental change. Proc R Soc B: doi: 10.1098/rspb.2014.1725

11) Cunning R, Vaughan N, Gillette P, Capo T, Maté J, Baker AC (2015) Dynamic regulation of partner abundance mediates response of reef coral symbioses to environmental change. Ecology 96:1411-1420.

10) Cunning R, Gillette P, Capo T, Galvez K, Baker AC (2015) Growth tradeoffs associated with thermotolerant symbionts in the coral Pocillopora damicornis are lost in warmer oceans. Coral Reefs 34:155-160.

9) Silverstein RN, Cunning R, Baker AC (2015) Change in algal symbiont communities after bleaching, not prior heat exposure, increases heat tolerance of reef corals. Global Change Biol 21:236-249.

8) Baker AC, Cunning R (2015) Coral bleaching as a generalized stress response to environmental disturbance. In: Woodley C, Downs C, Bruckner A, Porter J, Galloway S (eds) Diseases of Coral. Wiley-Blackwell.

7) Cunning R, Baker AC (2014) Not just who, but how many: the importance of partner abundance in reef coral symbioses. Front Microbiol 5:400.

6) Cunning R, Glynn PW, Baker AC (2013) Flexible associations between Pocillopora corals and Symbiodinium limit utility of symbiosis ecology in defining species. Coral Reefs 32:795-801.

5) Cunning R, Baker AC (2013) Excess algal symbionts increase the susceptibility of reef corals to bleaching. Nature Clim Change 3:259-262.

4) Meron D, Rodolfo-Metalpa R, Cunning R, Baker AC, Fine M, Banin E (2012) Changes in coral microbial communities in response to a natural pH gradient. ISME J 6:1775-1785.

3) Kenkel CD, Aglyamova G, Alamaru A, Bhagooli R, Capper R, Cunning R, et al. (2011) Development of gene expression markers of acute heat-light stress in reef-building corals of the genus Porites. PloS ONE 6:e26914.

2) Cunning JR, Thurmond J, Smith GW, Weil E, Ritchie KB (2008) A survey of Vibrios associated with healthy and Yellow Band Diseased Montastraea faveolata. Proc 11th Int Coral Reef Symp 1:206-210.

1) Weil E, Ritchie KB, Croquer A, Cunning JR, Smith GW (2008) Inoculation of Vibrio spp. onto Montastraea faveolata fragments to determine potential pathogenicity. Proc 11th Int Coral Reef Symp 1:202-205.

In Revision/In Review:

 

(* = Presentation speaker, § = Poster presentation)

17) Cunning R* (2015) Advances in Symbiodinium community ecology. Moorea Coral Reef Long Term Ecological Research All Investigators Meeting. Santa Barbara, CA, USA.

15) § Cunning R, Baker AC (2014) Not just who, but how many: the importance of symbiont abundance in reef coral symbioses. ASLO Ocean Sciences Meeting, Honolulu, HI, USA.

14) Cunning R*, Vaughan N, Gillette P, Capo T, Maté J, Baker AC (2013) Dynamic regulation of endosymbionts in reef corals to maximize interaction benefit in a changing environment. 1st Panamerican Coral Reef Congress, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico.

13) Cunning R*, Vaughan N, Gillette P, Capo T, Maté J, Baker AC (2013) Dynamic regulation of endosymbionts in reef corals to maximize interaction benefit in a changing environment. 3rd Yosemite Symbiosis Workshop, Wawona, CA, USA.

12) Cunning R* (2012) Dynamics of mixed Symbiodinium communities during coral bleaching and recovery. UM RSMAS Graduate Seminar Series, Miami, FL, USA.

11) Cunning R*, Silverstein RN, Baker AC (2012) Dynamics of mixed Symbiodinium communities in corals recovering from bleaching. 12th International Coral Reef Symposium, Cairns, Australia.

10) Silverstein R*, Cunning R, Baker AC (2012) Post-bleaching Symbiodinium clade, not prior stress exposure, determines coral thermotolerance. 12th International Coral Reef Symposium, Cairns, Australia.

9) Cunning R* (2011) The implications of areal versus cell-specific symbiont density metrics in the study of coral-algal symbioses. UM RSMAS Graduate Seminar Series, Miami, FL, USA.

8) Fahsbender EM*, Daniels C, Cunning R, Baker AC, Breitbart M (2011) Bacterial profiling of the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis. Florida Branch for the American Society for Microbiology Annual Meeting, Islamorada, FL, USA.

7) Cunning R* (2011) Symbiodinium community dynamics during a natural warming and bleaching event. UM RSMAS Graduate Seminar Series, Miami, FL, USA.

6) Cunning R*, Baker AC (2010) Symbiodinium community dynamics during a natural warming and bleaching event. International Society for Reef Studies European Meeting, Wageningen, Netherlands.

5) Cunning R* (2010) Exploring Symbiodinium community dynamics within a coral host. UM RSMAS Graduate Seminar Series, Miami, FL, USA.

4) Cunning R* (2009) The use of the actin gene in quantifying densities of multiple Symbiodinium types during a bleaching event. National Center for Coral Reef Research Annual Forum, Miami, FL, USA.

3) Cunning R* (2009) Coral microbial ecology: from pathogens to symbionts. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

2) § Cunning R, Thurmond JE, Smith GW, Weil E, Ritchie KB (2008) A survey of Vibrios associated with healthy and Yellow Band Diseased Montastraea faveolata. 11th International Coral Reef Symposium, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.

1) § Cunning R (2007) Ecology of the cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus at an inshore fringing reef at Florence Bay, Magnetic Island, Australia. Duke University Visible Thinking Undergraduate Research Symposium, Durham, NC, USA.

 

2015            NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology ($138,000)

2015            Experiment.com crowdfunding campaign: Stayin’ Alive: How do microbes help corals recover from bleaching? ($4,225)

2014            UM RSMAS F. G. Walton Smith Prize for best doctoral dissertation ($3,000)

2013            UM RSMAS Koczy Fellowship for doctoral candidate in final year ($5,000)

2013            UM RSMAS Frank J. Millero Prize for best graduate student publication ($2,500)

2012            International Women’s Fishing Association Kathy Holeman Scholarship ($250)

2012            Miami Billfish Tournament Captain Harry D. Vernon, Jr. Memorial Scholarship ($400)

2010            NSF Graduate Research Fellowship ($120,000)

2010            NSF Graduate Research Fellowship International Travel Award ($1,000)

2010            UM RSMAS Small Boats Fund Award ($1250)

2010            UM RSMAS Student Travel Fund Award ($500)

2008            University of Miami Fellowship ($50,000)

2008            NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Honorable Mention

2008            Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences Scholarship for Summer Courses

2007            Mote Marine Lab Anderson Scholarship Award

2007            Duke University Maggie Schneider Award in Marine Biology

2006            Duke University Marine Laboratory Bookhout Research Scholarship Award ($1,300)

 

2015            Course participant: 7th International Dynamic Energy Budget Course and Symposium, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France

2014            Course participant: Strategies and Techniques for Analyzing Microbial Population Structure, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA

2013            Workshop participant: Empowering Capable Climate Communicators, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA

2012            Workshop participant: Presentation Boot Camp, UM RSMAS, Miami, FL, USA

2009            Workshop participant: Development and Application of Gene Expression Biomarkers of Coral Stress and Disease, Mote Tropical Research Laboratory, Summerland Key, FL, USA

2009            Course participant: Light and Photosynthesis on Coral Reefs, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Puerto Morelos, Mexico

2007            Course participant: Coral Reef Ecology Field Course, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, St. George’s, Bermuda

2005            Student researcher: School for International Training, Cairns, Australia

 

2016                         Instructor: University of Hawaii at Manoa, MBIO691l Graduate Seminar in Marine Biology

2012 – 2013            Teaching assistant: University of Miami, MBF518 Graduate Seminar in Coral Reef Ecology and Physiology