Brief Biography

Mikaila grew up in Tucson, Arizona where the desert environment made aquatic life all the more mysterious and elevated her curiosity for fish. This curiosity led her to study Marine and Coastal Science at the University of California, Davis where she initially began researching aquaponics and soon dove into learning about the health of fish in the Aquaculture Cooperative Extension Lab. She explored the impacts of diet on disease susceptibility in farmed white sturgeon as well as how alternative care protocols may improve welfare for laboratory zebrafish. As a Cornell student, she hopes to apply a translational approach through a much broader background in livestock disease mitigation for multiple species to improving health and welfare in aquaculture.

Education

B.S. in Marine and Coastal Science, University of California, Davis, 2026

Research Interests

Mikaila’s background in studying both health and animal welfare lead her to an interest in exploring the connection between both in aquatic animals. She has previously explored how chronic inflammation from suboptimal diets can minimize immune function alongside wellbeing. A linkage she is further interested in exploring as a method of reducing infectious disease outbreaks. As a combined degree student she is interested in translational medicine, leveraging new technologies for minimally invasive health assessment and disease detection in fish.

Publications

Suárez-Cáceres GP, Lokuhitige S, Kaufman NT, Alghaithy A, Hishaw MB, Donis-Gonzalez IR, Fernández-Cabanás VM and Gross JA (2025) Suitability of walnut and pistachio shells as soilless substrates for producing Genovese basil in aquaponic systems. Front. Hortic.
4:1486312