As a Research Specialist in the MBARI Video Lab, Kyra identifies and describes the organisms and habitat features recorded by MBARI’s ROVs and AUVs, providing our scientists and their collaborators with data and images integral to their efforts to better understand ocean science. Her primary interest is in midwater biology and ecology, and she especially enjoys participating in research expeditions at sea.

Kyra is a core member of the team that developed the Video Annotation and Reference System (VARS) used to create, manage, and retrieve information in MBARI’s extensive deep-sea video database. This valuable resource contains over 13 million expert observations and has contributed to nearly 600 peer-reviewed publications. The VARS team is now building novel machine learning tools and techniques to streamline analysis of our expanding array of video sources.

In addition, Kyra oversees video editing for MBARI’s YouTube channel, which features over 500 deep-sea videos drawing more than 280K subscribers and 97+ million views. The Video Lab collaborates closely with the Sci Comm group to share our research findings, including discoveries like an unusual new sea slug and the mysteries of the Octopus Garden.