​I study the reproductive physiology of corals, the environmental stressors that can disrupt coral reproduction, and aging and senescence in coral and other colonial animals. I am interested in the role of steroids in coral reproduction, and in the effects of rising ocean temperatures and pollutants on coral physiology and lifecycle. I conduct my studies on corals from the Gulf of Aqaba, which can withstand water temperature anomalies that cause severe bleaching in most corals around the world. I also explore how formal and informal diplomacy can support collaborative transnational scientific research and conservation. Previously, I focused on reproductive outcomes in humans. As a physician and researcher, I studied how acute maternal stress and stress hormone levels during pregnancy affect birth outcomes and the long-term health of offspring. I also studied the effects of advanced paternal age on reproduction. This background informs my coral research because certain aspects of reproduction and aging are highly conserved throughout evolution.