Eric Sanford

Eric Sanford is a Professor in the Department of Evolution and Ecology within the College of Biological Sciences at the University of California, Davis, based at the Bodega Marine Laboratory, where he contributes to Biology faculty expertise. He received his B.A. in Biology from Brown University in 1990 and his Ph.D. in Zoology from Oregon State University in 1999. After completing his doctorate, Sanford held a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Stanford University from 1999 to 2002, followed by a position as Research Associate at Brown University from 2002 to 2004. In 2005, he joined the University of California, Davis as an Assistant Professor, was promoted to Associate Professor in 2010, and became a full Professor in 2014.

His research program centers on coastal ecology and evolution, investigating how marine intertidal communities respond ecologically and evolutionarily to global environmental changes such as ocean warming, acidification, and heatwaves. Working with mussels, oysters, sea urchins, and other invertebrates along the California coast, Sanford's lab employs experimental field ecology and interdisciplinary approaches to study topics including local adaptation, keystone predation, and benthic-pelagic links. Notable publications include "Local adaptation in marine invertebrates" (Annual Review of Marine Science, 2011), "Regulation of keystone predation by small changes in ocean temperature" (Science, 1999), "Benthic-pelagic links and rocky intertidal communities: bottom-up effects on top-down control?" (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1997), "Evolutionary change during experimental ocean acidification" (PNAS, 2013), "Ocean acidification through the lens of ecological theory" (Ecology, 2015), and "Widespread shifts in the coastal biota of northern California during the 2014–2016 marine heatwaves" (Scientific Reports, 2019). These works have significantly influenced understanding of climate impacts on marine ecosystems. In recognition of his teaching excellence, Sanford was awarded the Naturalist of the Year by the Western Society of Naturalists in 2023 for inspiring students through hands-on field courses and mentoring in natural history. At Bodega Marine Laboratory, he trains undergraduate and graduate students in designing and conducting independent research projects aimed at sustainable management of California's marine resources.

Professional Email: edsanford@ucdavis.edu