Jeana  Drake

Education

• Ph.D. - Rutgers University, Oceanography, 2015 
• M.S. - San Francisco State University, Biology, 2008 
• B.S. - University of Miami, Biology and Marine Science, 2002 
•  No degree - Scott Community College, 1999 

Professional Work

• 2023 - 2024 Associate Project Scientist; Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences; UCLA (USA) 
• 2018 – 2024 Instructor; Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences; UCLA (USA) 
• 2021 - 2023 Assistant Project Scientist; Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences; UCLA (USA) 
• 2019 – 2021 Zuckerman STEM Postdoctoral Fellow; Department of Marine Biology; University of Haifa (Israel) 
• 2016 – 2019 NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Biology; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; UCLA (USA) 
• 2015 – 2016 Associate Research Staff Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences; UCLA (USA) 
• 2010 – 2015 Graduate Research Assistant, Teaching Assistant; Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences; Rutgers University (USA) 
• 2008 – 2010 Laboratory Technician; Department of Biology; Florida International University (USA) 
• 2006 – 2008 Graduate Research Assistant, Teaching Assistant; Department of Biology; Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies; San Francisco State University (USA) 
• 2003 – 2005 Coastal Resource Management Volunteer; U.S. Peace Corps (Republic of Vanuatu) 

Research

• How organisms (mostly aquatic ones) make hard parts… bones, shells, etc…. and how and why those hard parts persist in the geological record.
• I integrate and promote the professional ‘doing’ and ‘enjoying’ of science by students (K-12, undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate) into my research and outreach.

I enjoy perfecting the art of walking and reading at the same time. My two kids are awesome and I love brainwashing them with science knowledge and inquiry, and having them force me to learn about art along the way.