ELIANA BUKAI

MPS Student

I’m Eliana, and I am a graduate research assistant in the Coleman Laboratory and a Master of Professional Science student in the Marine Biology and Ecology Department at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. I graduated from the University of Miami in the spring of 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology and Ecology.

My current research focuses on characterizing larval dispersal pathways in Acanthurus triostegus sandvicensis (Hawaiian convict tang, or manini) through molecular parentage analyses. This project contributes to a longstanding collaboration between the Coleman Laboratory, local subsistence fishing communities in Hawai’i, and conservation partners working to inform sustainable fisheries management and community-based conservation strategies.

I am particularly interested in the intersection of science, communication, and policy, and in how scientific research can inform meaningful conservation action. I am also passionate about field-based research and value the opportunity it provides to connect directly with marine ecosystems, which I believe is among the most powerful tools to inspire public engagement and conservation initiatives.