About Me
I am a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate at the University of Washington School of Oceanography, originally from California's Central Valley. My research focuses on how our changing oceans and climate are shaped by chemistry. I study trace metal biogeochemistry and organic metal-binding ligands in the marine environment, and I have experience in nitrogen cycling and stable isotopes. Over the past few years, I've participated in several major research cruises, performing trace metal-clean sampling and experiments. Much of my research has applications to the biogeochemistry of icy moon oceans like Enceladus, so I am also a dual-title degree student in the Astrobiology Program at UW.
Check out snippets from my CV below, go to Projects to see what I am currently working on, or click on Publications to see a list of my published work or conference abstracts. You can contact me at pmonreal 'at' uw.edu for more information.
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Education
Ph.D. in Oceanography and Astrobiology, University of Washington (est. completion in 2027-2028)
Dissertation: Refining biotic controls on iron cycling in high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll regions through ligand analyses
General Exam: Sept 2025
Advisors: Randie Bundy and Joe Resing
General Exam: Sept 2025
Advisors: Randie Bundy and Joe Resing
M.S. in Oceanography, University of Washington (2024)
Title: The Scoop on Poop: Characterizing the organic speciation of metals excreted by whales to describe their bioavailability
Advisors: Randie Bundy and Joe Resing
Advisors: Randie Bundy and Joe Resing
B.S. with Honors in Earth Systems and Chemistry Minor, Stanford University (2022)
Honors Thesis: Identifying the sources and drivers of variable nitrous oxide concentrations across the Eastern Tropical North Pacific
Advisor: Karen Casciotti
Advisor: Karen Casciotti
Fellowships & Awards
Graduate School
2026 Lowell K. and Alice M. Barger Endowed Scholarship, University of Washington
2026 Astrobiology Science Conference Travel Award, NASA Astrobiology, AGU
2026 LIFE Travel Grant Award, NASA Astrobiology, LIFE Research Coordination Network
2024 Theodore H. and Marie M. Sarchin Endowed Scholarship in Oceanography, University of Washington
2024 Egtvedt Endowed Scholarship in Oceanography, University of Washington
2023 College of the Environment Travel Award, University of Washington
2023 Ford Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellow, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
2022 Program in Climate Change Graduate Fellow, University of Washington
2022 Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Scholar, ARCS Foundation Seattle Chapter
2026 Astrobiology Science Conference Travel Award, NASA Astrobiology, AGU
2026 LIFE Travel Grant Award, NASA Astrobiology, LIFE Research Coordination Network
2024 Theodore H. and Marie M. Sarchin Endowed Scholarship in Oceanography, University of Washington
2024 Egtvedt Endowed Scholarship in Oceanography, University of Washington
2023 College of the Environment Travel Award, University of Washington
2023 Ford Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellow, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
2022 Program in Climate Change Graduate Fellow, University of Washington
2022 Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Scholar, ARCS Foundation Seattle Chapter
Undergraduate & Earlier
2022 Firestone Medal for Excellence in Undergraduate Research, Stanford University
2022 Dean's Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Academic Achievement, Stanford Earth
2022 Award for Outstanding Service to the Earth Systems Program, Stanford Earth
2020 Ernest F. Hollings Scholar, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
2020 Albert J. Hettinger Award for Scholarship, Athletics, and Service, Stanford Delta Kappa Epsilon
2019 Camille and Henry Dreyfus Chemical Scholar, American Chemical Society
2019 American Chemical Society Scholar, American Chemical Society
2019 Latinos in Technology Scholar, Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley
2018 National Merit and National Hispanic Scholar, College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation
2022 Dean's Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Academic Achievement, Stanford Earth
2022 Award for Outstanding Service to the Earth Systems Program, Stanford Earth
2020 Ernest F. Hollings Scholar, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
2020 Albert J. Hettinger Award for Scholarship, Athletics, and Service, Stanford Delta Kappa Epsilon
2019 Camille and Henry Dreyfus Chemical Scholar, American Chemical Society
2019 American Chemical Society Scholar, American Chemical Society
2019 Latinos in Technology Scholar, Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley
2018 National Merit and National Hispanic Scholar, College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation
Research Roles
2022–present
Graduate Student Researcher
University of Washington, School of Oceanography
Advisor: Randie Bundy and Joe Resing
Graduate Student Researcher
University of Washington, School of Oceanography
Advisor: Randie Bundy and Joe Resing
Sept–Dec 2025
Visiting Research Scholar
Origins & Habitability Lab at NASA JPL
Advisor: Laurie Barge and Jessica Weber
Visiting Research Scholar
Origins & Habitability Lab at NASA JPL
Advisor: Laurie Barge and Jessica Weber
Sept–Nov 2021
Cruise Research Assistant
NOAA Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, & Ecosystem Studies
Advisor: Joe Resing
Cruise Research Assistant
NOAA Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, & Ecosystem Studies
Advisor: Joe Resing
May–Sept 2021
Ernest F. Hollings Scholar
NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory and University of Washington, School Oceanography
Advisor: Randie Bundy and Joe Resing
Ernest F. Hollings Scholar
NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory and University of Washington, School Oceanography
Advisor: Randie Bundy and Joe Resing
Mar 2020–June 2022
Undergraduate Researcher
Stanford University, Earth Systems Science Department
Advisor: Karen Casciotti
Undergraduate Researcher
Stanford University, Earth Systems Science Department
Advisor: Karen Casciotti
May–Sept 2019
Summer Research Intern
Stanford University, Biology Department
Advisor: Elizabeth Hadly
Summer Research Intern
Stanford University, Biology Department
Advisor: Elizabeth Hadly
Research Interests
Chemical Oceanography and Marine Biogeochemistry
Organic Chemistry for the Earth Sciences
Trace Metal Chemistry
Microbes in Extreme Environments
Applying Oceanography to Astrobiology (Ocean Worlds)
Scientific Creative Writing
Publications & Abstracts
For a list of my publications and conference abstracts, please see the Publications page.
Field Experience, Workshops, & Trainings
2025: NASA Astrobiology Mission Ideation Factory on Ocean Worlds
2025: UW Astrobiology Annual Workshop on the Olympic Peninsula, focused on plant adaptations to unique environments and human spaceflight
Dec 2024–Feb 2025: 53-day cruise to Australian-Antarctic Ridge aboard R/V Nathaniel B. Palmer, exploring hydrothermal sources of iron to a phytoplankton bloom
Sept 2024: Astrobiology Workshop at Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, thinking about ultraoligotrophy and designing missions.
Sept 2023: Astrobiology Workshop in New Mexico, thinking about White Sands National Park as an analogue for Mars and Carlsbad Caverns as extreme environments.
Jan–Feb 2023: 28-day cruise aboard R/V Thomas G. Thompson cruise, studying biogeochemical transitions in the North Pacific
July 2022: GEOTRACES Summer School in Bremerhaven, Germany, focused on polar parameters
Apr–Jun 2022: Docent training at Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve
Sept–Nov 2021: 52-day cruise to Southern East Pacific Rise aboard R/V Roger Revelle, investigating trace metal stabilization in hydrothermal plumes.
Jun–Aug 2019: soil and invertebrate sampling at Jasper Ridge Biological Station over a 10-week internship.
Laboratory Skills & Experience
Instruments/Methods
High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES)
Electrospray ionization Orbitrap mass spectrometry (ESI-MS)
Competitive ligand exchange cathodic stripping voltammetry (CLE-CSV)
Gas chromatography isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS)
Trace metal clean procedures
Sampling and conducting experiments at-sea
Conducting labwork in an anoxic glovebox
Some familiarity with mineral characterization (Raman, SEM, XRD, etc.)
Data
High proficiency with R
Processing mass spectrometry data (ICP-MS, ESI-MS, and FT-ICR-MS)
Profiency with oceanographic data software (ODV, SeaDAS, etc.)
Basic familiarity with MATLAB and Python
Familiarity with using remote sensing data
Outreach & Leadership
Have mentored 3 undergraduate students while in graduate school, two of whom started PhD programs in oceanography since.
Current other roles:
Feb 2026–present
Communications Director
Future Leaders of Ocean Worlds (FLOW)
Communications Director
Future Leaders of Ocean Worlds (FLOW)
Nov 2025–present
Representative
UW College of the Environment Academic Grievance Committee
Representative
UW College of the Environment Academic Grievance Committee
Feb 2023–present
Member
ARGO
graduate student leadership board at UW oceanography
Member
ARGO
graduate student leadership board at UW oceanography
Oct 2022–present
Radio Host & DJ
SPACE 101.1FM
Radio Host & DJ
SPACE 101.1FM
Oct 2022–present
Habitat Interpreter
Seattle Aquarium
Habitat Interpreter
Seattle Aquarium
Past roles:
July–Sept 2024
Question Writer
National Ocean Sciences Bowl
Question Writer
National Ocean Sciences Bowl
Jan–June 2022
Peer Advisor
Earth Systems Program, Stanford Earth
Peer Advisor
Earth Systems Program, Stanford Earth
Oct 2018–June 2022
Radio DJ and Board Member
90.1FM KZSU Stanford
Radio DJ and Board Member
90.1FM KZSU Stanford
Oct 2018–June 2022
Managing Editor of Satire and Editorial Board Member
The Stanford Daily
Managing Editor of Satire and Editorial Board Member
The Stanford Daily
Oct 2018–May 2020
Student Worker
Stanford Undergraduate Advising & Research
Student Worker
Stanford Undergraduate Advising & Research