James is an oceanographer, physicist and multidisciplinary designer working at the intersection of applied ocean science and nature-based design. He’s currently a PhD student jointly affiliated with MIT and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI), where he combines methods in computational and field-based oceanography to explore complex relationships between our oceans, climate, and the aquatic biosphere.

Before joining the MIT-WHOI Joint Program, he was a Morningside Academy for Design (MAD) Fellow where he investigated oyster reef hydrodynamics and the design of nature-based coastal adaptation, receiving master's degrees in both Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture. He has professional experience in terrestrial and aquatic animal husbandry, working for years as a zookeeper in NYC after graduating from RPI with a B.S. in Applied Physics in 2016.

James strives to bring principles of design to science communication through engaging illustration and interactive media, regularly participating in outreach initiatives for a broad range of audiences. He’s given lectures, led workshops and co-designed curricula both within the MIT Community and beyond, with organizations such as the MIT-Nord Anglia Collaboration, MIT Sea Grant, Cambridge Science Festival and the Staten Island Museum in NYC as a PKG Social Impact Fellow.