Jenna Dilworth

Postdoctoral Researcher

My Research

My research focuses on understanding how coral genotypes and the environment interact to shape the phenotypic responses of the coral holobiont to changing environments. In particular, I am interested in the temporal stability and context dependence of genotype-phenotype relationships. I am passionate about answering my research questions in applied coral restoration settings and translating results into actionable conservation interventions to help improve the resilience of coral reefs to climate change.

Education

PhD in Biology (2021-2026): University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

MS in Marine Biology and Ecology (2018-2020): University of Miami, Miami, FL

BSc in Biology (2013-2017): McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada

Publications

Manzello DP, (… 12 authors …), Dilworth J, (… 33 authors …) (2025) Heat-driven Functional Extinction of Caribbean Acropora Corals from Florida’s Coral Reef. Science. https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.adx7825

Timmins-Schiffman E, Khanna R, Brown T, Dilworth J, MacLean BX, Mudge MC, White SJ, Kenkel CD, Rodrigues LJ, Nunn BL, Padilla-Gamiño JL (2025) Proteomic plasticity in the coral Montipora capitata gamete bundles after parent thermal bleaching. Journal of Proteome Research. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jproteome.4c00946

Nunn BL, Brown T, Timmins-Schiffman E, Mudge MC, Riffle M, Axworthy JB, Dilworth J, Kenkel CD, Zaneveld J, Rodrigues LJ, Padilla-Gamiño JL (2025) Protein signatures predict coral resilience and survival to thermal bleaching events. Communications Earth and Environment. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02167-7

Timmins-Schiffman E, Duselis E, Brown T, Axworthy JB, Backstrom CH, Riffle M, Dilworth J, Kenkel CD, Rodrigues LJ, Nunn BL, Padilla-Gamiño JL (2024) Reproductive resilience: pathways to gametogenic success in Montipora capitata after bleaching. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78768-7

Dilworth J, Million WC, Ruggeri M, Hall ER, Dungan AM, Muller EM, Kenkel CD (2024) Synergistic response to climate stressors in coral is associated with genotypic variation in baseline expression. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.2447

Yadav S, Roach TNF (… 5 authors …), Dilworth J, (… 7 authors…), Madin J (2023) Fine-scale variability in coral bleaching and mortality during a marine heatwave. Frontiers in Marine Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1108365

Drury C, Dilworth J, Majerová E, Caruso C, Greer JB (2022) Expression plasticity regulates intraspecific variation in the acclimatization potential of a reef-building coral. Nature Communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32452-4Roach

TNF, Yadav S, Caruso C, Dilworth J, (… 13 authors …), Madin J (2021) A primer for monitoring benthic ecosystems using structure-from-motion photogrammetry. Journal of Visualized Experiments. https://dx.doi.org/10.3791/61815

Roach TNF, Dilworth J, Martin C, Jones A, Quinn R, Drury C (2021). Metabolomic signatures of coral bleaching history. Nature Ecology and Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-01388-7

Dilworth J, Caruso C, Kahkejian VA, Baker AC, Drury C. (2020) Host genotype and stable differences in algal symbiont communities explain patterns of thermal stress response of Montipora capitata following thermal pre-exposure and across multiple bleaching events. Coral Reefs. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-020-02024-3