Nathalia Delgadillo
Postdoctoral Associate
Affiliation: NYU Abu Dhabi
Education: BA Biology, Universidad Nacional de Colombia; MA Environmental Science and Engineering and PhD in Marine Science, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Research Websites: Burt Marine Biology Lab
Research Areas: Coral restoration, climate change, assisted evolution
Nathalia Delgadillo is a marine scientist specializing in coral reef restoration and marine conservation, with a strong focus on innovative solutions such as coral probiotics to support coral health and resilience. She holds a PhD in Marine Science from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), where her groundbreaking research on coral probiotics contributed to advance coral restoration in the Red Sea. She co-invented a patented probiotic consortium aimed at coral rehabilitation and was a pioneering student in the creation of the Coral Probiotic Village, an underwater laboratory designed for real-world coral rehabilitation studies.
Delgadillo's research spans coral microbiomes, marine bioremediation, and environmental consulting, with practical applications in coral restoration and marine monitoring. She has collaborated with international institutions such as Aarhus University and Purdue University, contributing to diverse fields ranging from pollutants degradation to microorganisms in extreme environments.
Recognized for her contributions to climate action, Delgadillo was named one of the V60 Women in the Middle East by Boston Consulting Group. Her academic excellence has also been acknowledged with the KAUST Academic Achievement Award and several international recognitions for her contributions to coral microbiology.
Research Summary
Selecting thermotolerant coral genotypes for coral reef restoration in the UAE.