Paula Spiniello

Paula Spiniello is an ecologist with expertise in marine and freshwater systems, particularly plankton and seagrass ecology. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology and her Ph.D. in Ecology from the Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV), and a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of Connecticut.

From 1997 to 2010, Dr. Spiniello served as Associate Professor at UCV, where she taught courses in freshwater and marine ecology and developed the university’s line of research in plankton ecology. During this time, she also held key leadership roles, including Coordinator of the Graduate Program in Ecology, Director of the Plankton Laboratory, Chair of the Ecology Department, and member of the School Council. Her research contributions focused on marine plankton ecology and baseline studies for the conservation and management of coastal ecosystems, engaging in both national and international projects.

She later held adjunct faculty positions at Golden West College in California (2010–2012) and State College of Florida (2017–2019), before joining St. George’s University in 2019 as Assistant Professor. At SGU, she teaches courses in ecology, marine and freshwater ecology, biology, and environmental issues, while continuing her research on marine plankton and seagrasses.

Throughout her career, Dr. Spiniello has advised 16 undergraduate honors theses, three master’s theses, and one doctoral dissertation. She has secured eight research grants and contributed to the field through two peer-reviewed journal articles, one co-authored book, two book chapters, and three technical reports.

Dedicated to advancing ecological research and education, Dr. Spiniello combines teaching, scholarship, and service to support the sustainable management of marine and coastal ecosystems.