Shawn M. McLaughlin, PhD is a research microbiologist at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s Cooperative Oxford Laboratory in Oxford, MD. She currently investigates the impacts of land use on coastal ecosystem health. Previous research was focused on the effects of disease and other stressors on aquatic animal health. Dr. McLaughlin holds a B.A. from Notre Dame of Maryland University, a M.S. in Microbiology from the University of Maryland, and a PhD in Biology from Abo Akademi University. She is a graduate of the Department of Commerce’s Executive Leadership Development Program.

Shawn currently serves as Chair of the Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Committee, which provides strategic guidance to ensure the Foundation’s work is grounded in sound science and aligned with its mission to develop science-based solutions to protect and restore ocean health. The committee also supports efforts to archive and share data from the Foundation’s Global Reef Expedition, helping to make this valuable resource available to advance marine science and conservation worldwide.