Dr. Wishingrad’s research focuses on understanding how evolutionary history, environmental gradients, and human impacts shape biodiversity from genes to ecosystems. Using environmental DNA (eDNA), population genomics, and spatial ecology, he studies how dispersal and environmental structure influence the assembly and resilience of marine communities, particularly in Hawai‘i’s coral reef ecosystems. His work integrates molecular biodiversity monitoring with ecological and oceanographic data to understand how communities respond to environmental stress and disturbance. The long-term goal of this research is to develop predictive tools that link genetic diversity to ecosystem resilience and support the conservation of Hawai‘i’s marine ecosystems.