UROP Leader Information Submission: Submission #33

First Name: Lena
Last Name: Kury
Full name as you would like it to appear on the website: Lena Kury
Preferred Pronouns: she/her
Hometown, State, and Country (ex: Tallahassee, FL, USA): Gainesville, FL, USA
FSU email : lek19a@fsu.edu
Please check this box if you are willing to be contacted by students interested in UROP: Yes
LinkedIn URL (optional): {Empty}
Major(s): Biology with a focus in Marine Biology
Minor(s): Chemistry and Environmental Science
Graduation Semester and Year (ex: Fall, 2022): Spring 2023
What is your current research focus?:
My current research focus involves butterflyfish grazing patterns on parrotfish grazing scars on hard coral substrate. I am using behavioral analysis software, BORIS, to analyze videos I took in Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands, and identify grazing behaviors in foureye butterflyfish, Chaetodon capistratus.

Are there any other research related activities you participate(d) in?:
I am also assisting a graduate student in my lab with her research that involves using BORIS to analyze videos and identify grazing and grouping behaviors in two different species of fish in Mo'orea, French Polynesia.

Answer one of the following two questions about being a UROP Leader or your UROP background. : How has UROP impacted your time at FSU?
Please answer the question you selected above in the area provided.:
UROP has provided me with amazing opportunities to engage in research at FSU. I joined UROP during my freshman year and participated in research involving cyanobacterial mat coverage in coral reef ecosystems. During my time on this project, I earned my SCUBA certification so I would be able to take the AAUS Scientific Diving class. By taking this class and earning my Scientific Diving certification, I would be able to participate in underwater research. During my sophomore year, I took the class and was offered a position as a researcher for the summer of 2021. I went to Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands to assist with a graduate student's work on parrotfish. During my time there, I was allowed to begin my own research project on butterflyfish grazing. Once we returned, I started a DIS and worked on my own research. Through the graduate student I worked with, I learned about the Darling Marine Center in Walpole, Maine. I spent the summer of 2022 there assisting one of the research assistants with SCUBA-related activities, such as cleaning biofouling off of water quality buoys.

Please list any other hobbies or interests you would like to share:
I am the president for FAEP:FSU (Florida Association of Environmental Professionals at FSU) and the treasurer for Seminole Scuba Club. 

Headshot: https://cre.fsu.edu/system/files/webform/urop_leaders_information/4286/LenaKuryUROPHeadshot1.JPG
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2025Year2025: 2022
Approved: Yes
Update URL UROP Leaders: http://cre.fsu.acsitefactory.com/urop-leader-information-submission?token=FZhA4nv_1SD58BeK-hJeGefF_IZbNG2kQ6GGPjZYpts
Years as a UROP Leader: 2022-2023