Scripps Student Spotlight: Steffaney Wood

Steffaney Wood is a fifth-year PhD student researching marine chemical biology at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. She grew up primarily in San Clemente, Calif., and Silver Spring, Md. Wood received a bachelor's degree in environmental studies with a minor in chemistry from Davidson College in North Carolina. While earning her bachelor’s, Wood worked with NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center as a NOAA Hollings Scholar researching the prevalence of harmful algal blooms, or HABs, along the U.S. West Coast. Upon graduating, Wood received a U.S. Fulbright Student Program grant to research cyanobacteria HABs in the northern Baltic Sea at the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) Marine Research Centre in Helsinki, Finland. During this time, Wood earned a master's degree in microbiology and microbial biotechnology from the University of Helsinki. Wood is currently advised by Scripps marine biologists Bradley Moore and Andrew Allen. Wood is also a recipient of the Rita L. Atkinson Fellowship and a two-time recipient of the UC San Diego Brython Davis Endowed Fellowship.

explorations now (en): Why did you choose to attend Scripps?
Steffaney Wood (SW): I chose Scripps because I was inspired by a discovery made by researchers in the Bradley Moore and Andrew Allen lab groups. The researchers discovered domoic acid biosynthesis, which is produced during harmful algal bloom (HAB) events by Pseudo-nitzschia, which is a type of algae. After studying Pseudo-nitzschia blooms as an undergraduate, I was amazed by the Scripps scientists’ work. I met the study’s lead authors at the International Conference on Harmful Algae in Nantes, France, and after our conversation, I knew I wanted to join the project. I wanted to learn the skills necessary to explain biosynthetic pathways, or the production of a chemical compound by a living organism, of HAB toxins to answer how and why phytoplankton produce these toxins.

en: What are you researching at Scripps?

SW: I study how specific photosynthetic ocean microbes, or single-celled algae and bacteria, produce a neurotoxin, which is a substance that can damage the nervous system. Specifically, I focus on HABs of Pseudo-nitzschia, which produce the potent neurotoxin domoic acid. These blooms are dangerous because domoic acid can contaminate shellfish, poison marine mammals and seabirds, and threaten human health. Acute domoic acid intoxication can cause neurotoxic symptoms and death in marine life and amnesic shellfish poisoning in humans. My research explores the environmental and genetic factors influencing domoic acid production during Pseudo-nitzschia blooms and the evolution of domoic acid biosynthesis across diatom genera and species. 

en: How did you become interested in science and your field of study?
SW: Growing up in Southern California, I have been fascinated by the ocean since I was young. I remember collecting my first phytoplankton sample at a marine science summer camp and being mesmerized by the invisible microbes in the ocean water. In college, my interest shifted to environmental health, particularly the relationship between ocean and human health. This led to an internship in Vera Trainer’s lab at the NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, Washington, where I studied Pseudo-nitzschia blooms along the U.S. West Coast. This experience propelled me into a career in marine biology research.

en: What’s life like as a Scripps student? Describe a typical day.
SW: In the morning before starting lab work, I like to go for a beach run along La Jolla Shores or paddle board if the conditions are calm! I have spent the majority of my PhD culturing phytoplankton in the lab. On my weekly culturing days, I go to the lab and make media — the solution with nutrients necessary to grow a microorganism — using amended natural seawater pumped from Scripps Pier. Next, I check the health of my cultures under the microscope and transfer a small amount of my existing culture to a new flask with fresh media. This process is like transferring a plant to a new pot with fresh soil. 

en: What’s the most exciting thing about your work (in the field or in the lab)?
SW: The most exciting part of my work has been conducting fieldwork during an active, toxic Pseudo-nitzschia bloom. In the spring of 2023, we sampled a developing Pseudo-nitzschia bloom in Monterey Bay in collaboration with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) and many others. We also sampled a major domoic acid event in the Santa Barbara Channel last summer, which caused many California sea lion strandings to make national news. Fieldwork is always a pleasant reminder of why I love what I do, and during a toxic bloom, I'm reminded of how important research is. I’m excited to share the results of this fieldwork soon!

en: Are there any role models or mentors who have helped you along the way?
SW: I am grateful to many mentors who have guided me along the way. I want to thank Vera Trainer, David Backus, Sanna Suikkanen, and Anke Kremp for fostering my interest in research and marine biology. I am deeply appreciative of Bradley Moore, Andrew Allen, Scripps postdoctoral scholar Vikram Shende, and Scripps biological oceanographer Clarissa Anderson for their support during my PhD here at Scripps.

en: What are some of the challenges you face as a student?
SW: As a PhD student, balancing research and life outside the lab can be challenging. Additionally, managing multidisciplinary projects across different labs at Scripps and collaborating with various other researchers adds complexity. However, I’m grateful for the diverse skills I’m acquiring during my PhD, as I believe they will be valuable in addressing environmental challenges in my future career.

en: What are your plans post-Scripps?
SW: I hope to work at the intersection of research and environmental management, applying the skills I’ve learned at Scripps.

You can find Wood on X @steffwould.