Sara Kahanamoku-Snelling is a senior at Yale University studying geology and paleontology. She utilizes high-throughput imaging techniques to study morphological trends in fossil assemblages from different time periods and locations. Her research has focused on planktonic foraminifera and Pacific limpets. She has received multiple fellowships for her research studying topics such as body size trends, community structure, and geochemical proxies.

1. Sara Kahanamoku-Snelling (sa–da)
PO Box 204497 New Haven, CT 06520-4497
(808) 225 7858
sara.kahanamoku-snelling@yale.edu
Overview
I am interested in the integration of paleontological and geochemical proxies such as morphology and isotopes and
their combined ability to unconfound the drivers of evolutionary trends in the fossil record. I primarily utilize
high-throughput imaging as a tool to understand morphological trends fossil assemblages, as its efficiency allows for
the large-scale data collection needed to tackle large-scale questions. My research has focused on Cenozoic trends
in communities of widely varying sizes and has taken place on disparate scales; the two groups I have studied most
are recent Atlantic planktonic foraminifera and modern and Pleistocene interglacial (5e) Pacific limpets, and have
approached both with high-throughput techniques.
Education
2012–Present B.S. Geology & Geophysics (Paleontology), Yale University, New Haven, CT.
Expected graduation: 2016; Cumulative GPA: 3.58, Major: 3.78.
2009–2012 Punahou School, Honolulu, HI.
National Merit Finalist; graduated with honors; unweighted GPA 3.8.
Research
2013–Present Hull Paleoceanography Lab, Yale University.
High-throughput 2D and semi-3D morphometric imaging of microfossils.
An attempt to digitize body size and shape trends in coretop planktonic foraminifera. Hull lab
high-throughput imaging software utilization and improvement; curation of ODP cores; creation of
a morphometric database for Cenozoic planktonic foraminifera.
Foraminifer fragmentation as a proxy for Ωcalcite.
Per Henehan et al. 2015 (in review), though fragmentation of foraminifer tests tracks saturation
state well at high values, this relationship falls apart at Ωcalcite < 2.5. Fragmentation data from
sites with varied depth and productivity (as a proxy for organic respiration) collected to further
constrain the proxy at low saturation states, for potential use with δ11
B geochemistry.
Techniques: Microscopic imaging; Hull lab high-throughput software use (e.g. segment, focus, 2D morph)
and improvement; foraminifer and microfossil identification; Unix, R, Python.
2014–Present Finnegan Paleontology Lab, University of California, Berkeley.
Sizing up community structure: a modern and Pleistocene comparison of direct and indirect
measurement.
In collaboration with Pincelli Hull. Hull Lab high-throughput imaging methods utilized on modern
and fossil specimens to analyze the usefulness of size as a proxy for Eastern Pacific patellogastropod
(limpet) community distributions. Modern-fossil comparison used to determine how well size
frequency distributions found assuming a species average for body size track empirical distributions.
Fossils taken from Pleistocene interglacial terraces at isotope stage 5e (130 kya).
The effects of seasonality on patellogastropod growth in the Eastern Pacific.
In collaboration with David Evans. LA-ICP-MS (laser ablation) used to analyze trace elements in
recent Eastern Pacific limpets in an attempt to understand the relationship between seasonality
and shell growth.
Fellowship funding: Yale University STARS II and Von Damm Fellowships.
Techniques: Paleontological and ecological field data and specimen collection; macroscopic imaging;
adaptation of Hull lab software to macroscopic specimens; LA-ICP-MS; Unix; R.
1/4

2. 2015–Present Planavsky Geochemistry Lab, Yale University.
Chromium isotopes as tracers of ocean anoxia during the End-Permian event.
In collaboration with Jonathan Payne (Stanford University Department of Geological and Environ-
mental Sciences). Chromium purified from Taskent and Dajiang sections analyzed to determine
end-Permian δ52
Cr trends.
Paid research position.
Techniques: Clean lab protocol; geochemical columns.
Awards and Fellowships
2014–Present STARS II Scholar, Yale University.
Awarded to minority and underrepresented students for intensive research during the junior and
senior years of undergraduate study.
Award amount: $4,000 term-time salary and $4,500 summer stipend for research with Professors
Pincelli Hull (Yale University Department of Geology & Geophysics and Department of Ecology
& Evolutionary Biology) and Seth Finnegan (University of California, Berkeley Department of
Integrative Biology) on the use of proxies in determining community structure in modern and
Pleistocene California limpets.
2015–Present Karen L. Von Damm ’77 Undergraduate Research Fellow, Yale University.
Awarded by the Department of Geology & Geophysics for the pursuit of intensive undergraduate
research that results in a thesis or publication.
Award amount: $1,500 for summer research with Professors Hull and Finnegan as a supplement to
the STARS II Fellowship.
2015 GSA Geobiology and Geomicrobiology Division student poster award, Geological Society
of America.
Awarded to the best student (undergraduate and graduate) presenter with a geobiological focus at
the GSA annual meeting.
2014 International Summer Award (ISA), Yale University.
Awarded to low-income students for international academic study during a summer term.
Award amount: $8,000 for summer study at the School for Field Studies station in South Caicos,
Turks and Caicos, BWI.
Outreach
2013 MOCHE, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Yale University, Peru.
Implemented public health and community development initiatives near Bello Horizonte, Peru and
performed 6 weeks of construction for an elementary school in the Moche Valley.
Time commitment: 12+
hours per day during 6 full weeks of service.
2011–Present Student Global Leadership Institute, Punahou School, Honolulu, HI.
Collaborated with the Wo International Center as a participant (2011), teacher’s assistant (2012),
and mentor (2013) to facilitate a cohort of students from 7+
countries on issues of energy, food,
and public health.
Time commitment: 100+
hours of service.
2011–2012 RE Project, Kaimuki-Waialae YMCA, Honolulu, HI.
Launched a social media campaign with Hawai‘i Energy to raise awareness for energy conservation
issues. Retrofitted a local YMCA with energy-saving appliances and implemented an elementary
school education program on sustainable energy use.
Time commitment: 100+
hours of service.
2/4

3. Professional Development
Nov 2015 Geological Society of America, Annual meeting, Baltimore, MD.
Poster presenter (“High-throughput semi 3D imaging of macroinvertebrates: a case study using
Eastern Pacific patellogastropods,” session 290) and supporting author (“High-throughput imaging
of recent microfossils from the Atlantic Ocean,” session 270).
February 2016 American Geological Union, Ocean Sciences meeting, New Orleans, LA.
Supporting author (“An ecometric study of recent microfossils using high-throughput imaging.”)
March 2015 Paleoenvironments research trip, Yale University, Barbados, BWI.
10-day geologic survey of Barbados with the Paleoenviroments and Global Tectonic classes. Strati-
graphic sections of Cave Hill and Chalky Mount; performed a reef transect and live-dead analysis
near Holetown; assessed coral health at selected sites between Holetown and Bridgetown.
Techniques: Fossil coral identification, modern Caribbean coral and marine vertebrate identification, logging
stratigraphic sections, reef mapping, live-dead analyses.
June 2014 Center for Marine Resource Studies summer semester, The School for Field Studies, South
Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands, BWI.
Program on Marine Resource Management; tagged and identified megafauna (e.g. Chelonia midas
and Ginglymostoma spp.); assessed coral species for bleaching. Fellowship funding: Yale ISA.
Techniques: Marine benthic transects, field identification, capture and release tagging, field station care.
Languages
Spanish Native speaker (dual citizen: U.S. and Spain).
Pidgin Fluent speaker.
Hawaiian Language basics.
Experience and Interests
2013–Present Freshman Outdoor Orientation Trips (FOOT) Leader, Core head, Yale University.
Lead incoming freshmen on 4- to 6-day backpacking trips along the Appalachian Trail in August;
train new leaders on weeklong trips in May. First Aid Core head; oversee medical training for all
leaders and construct medical kits for 50+
trips.
2014-Present Yale Outdoors (YO) Leader, Social Media Manager, Yale University.
Lead students on day and weekend trips in New England wilderness areas and manage YO Facebook
and Instagram accounts.
2012-2014 Yale Women’s Water Polo (Driver), Yale University.
Freshman starter and 2013 North Atlantic Division Women’s Champions.
2009–2012 Hawaiian Swimming, Kamehameha Swim Club and Punahou School, Honolulu, HI.
Kamehameha Swim Club: state champion and record holder (multiple events, 2009-2012). Elected
Hawaiian Swimming athlete representative (2010-2012) and represented Hawaii at the 2011 USA
Swimming Convention in Jacksonville, Florida.
Punahou School: varsity letter (2008-2012), co-captain (2011-2012), and "most inspirational athlete"
(2012). Two-time Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association state champions (2011, 2012).
2013–Present Certifications.
Wilderness First Aid, Heartsaver CPR, Leave No Trace, TIPS Bartender. Some ocean safety
lifeguard training.
2012–Present Organizations.
Yale Surf Team (founding member, treasurer); Yale Undergraduate Slackliners (founding member,
treasurer); Yale Club Geo; Morse College Fabric Arts Club.
Interests.
Hiking, surfing, skiing, free diving, and other activities involving water in all its states.
3/4

4. References
Pincelli Hull: Yale University Geology & Geophysics (G & G) and Ecology & Evolutionary
Biology; Principal Investigator (PI) and thesis advisor.
Email: pincelli.hull@yale.edu. Phone: (203) 432 5006.
Noah Planavsky: Yale University G&G; PI and research advisor.
Email: noah.planavsky@yale.edu. Phone: (203) 432 9043.
Seth Finnegan: University of California, Berkeley Integrative Biology; PI and thesis advisor.
Email: sethf@berkeley.edu. Phone: (510) 664 9916.
Erin Saupe: Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies Postdoctoral Fellow; mentor.
Email: erin.saupe@yale.edu. Phone: (203) 432 8744.
4/4