As a PhD student of the GEN-Z project, I study the spatial variability of zooplankton, and how it can be quantified using remote sensing. I am cosupervised by Prof. Mariethoz.
During my master’s thesis, I focused on utilizing remote sensing techniques, particularly MODIS satellite data, to analyze the spatial and temporal variability of phytoplankton biomass with chlorophyll as a proxy. To enhance the accuracy of chlorophyll estimation models, I did recalibration and validation using available field data. This work aimed to assess the local precision of satellite data in understanding spatial and temporal dynamics in Manila Bay, Philippines.
For my Ph.D. research, I am transitioning to Lake Geneva and shifting my focus towards modeling. The primary objective will be to explore the application of airborne Green-LiDAR in modeling the spatial and temporal variability of zooplankton. Unlike phytoplankton, zooplankton are transparent and exhibit vertical migration within the lake’s water column daily.
My research will investigate the feasibility of using Green-LiDAR to map the surface distribution of zooplankton. Complementary data from waterborne Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP) sensors, along with environmental data, will be incorporated. The overarching goal is to develop a comprehensive model that captures the 3D spatial distribution of zooplankton in Lake Geneva, predicting its variability across space and time.
Biography:
2024- Present: PhD Student in Environmental Sciences in the Lakes Group of the Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
2021- 2023: Substitute Teacher at the BSc Biology program of the University of the Philippines Cebu.
2019- 2021: International MSc in Marine Biological Sciences (Track: Global Ocean Change), Ghent University (Belgium) & Sorbonne University (France). Thesis Title: Remote sensing the water quality indicators in Manila Bay, Philippines: Spatial and temporal trends of algal and non-algal suspended particulate matter from reconstructed MODIS satellite data.
2016-2018: Instructor at the BSc Biology program of the University of the Philippines Cebu.
2012- 2016: Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of the Philippines Cebu. Thesis Title: Spatiotemporal changes of chlorophyll-a in an oil-spilled affected site in Mactan Island, Cebu Philippines.
Poster:
Sañoza, W & Doxaran, D. Spatial and temporal trends of algal and non-algal suspended particulate matter from reconstructed MODIS satellite data. Poster session at Ocean Optics XXV on October 2-7, 2022. Quy Nhon, Vietnam.
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