Daniel Zhen

Research Associate I

Daniel received his B.S in Marine Biology from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego. He participated in research at the Jennifer Smith Lab where he conducted a comprehensive analysis on the trends in coral reef populations from remote islands. His primary interests include coral reef ecology, zoology, microbiology, and sustainability. 

After graduating in 2020, he began working at Algenesis Materials where he conducted studies on the biodegradation process of biobased/biodegradable polyurethane materials across different environments. His focus was to distinguish the key elements in the breakdown process of biodegradable materials in the ocean and identified organisms that are contributed to the biodegradation process. While working with an incredible team of scientists, he published a peer-reviewed paper in Science of the Total Environment, titled: “Biodegradation of Renewable Foams in Marine Environments Occurs Through Depolymerization by Marine Microorganisms.”

Daniel is passionate about the ocean and is mission-aligned with BlueNalu. He has 2 beautiful cats and during his free time, he enjoys surfing, diving, and exploring new restaurants. He’s excited to be a team member at BlueNalu and is thrilled to work towards a more sustainable future.