This story was originally published in the UF Center for Coastal Solutions Coastal Edges newsletter.
In August, we proudly celebrated the graduation of two outstanding students: Yiyang Kang and Nick Chin. Congratulations to these inspiring young leaders and we can’t wait to see what you accomplish next!
How a love of mangroves inspired Calvin Kang’s career
Yiyang “Calvin” Kang has always been fascinated by how resilient mangroves are, especially their ability to handle the constant tides, salty water and powerful coastal storms. He appreciates how they’ve carved out a unique niche along the shoreline, thriving as one of the most productive ecosystems on Earth.
As a Ph.D. student in the University of Florida’s School of Natural Resources and Environment (UF SNRE) and Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment (ESSIE), Kang researched how mangroves are spreading farther north, a shift caused by rising global temperatures.
“I saw my Ph.D. as a chance to work on my own ideas and generate knowledge that nobody else had before,” Kang said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I knew it would push me to become more independent, to take responsibility and to solve problems in real-world settings.”
Kang originally planned to begin his studies at UF in 2020, but pandemic travel restrictions delayed his arrival by a year. During that time, he joined the Mangrove Conservation Foundation, a nonprofit where he guided research projects, helped maintain a mangrove city park and participated in educational outreach. Once restrictions were lifted, Kang arrived at UF eager to dive into diverse coursework, from hands-on ecological work in the Coastal Policy Lab, which was co-led by the UF Center for Coastal Solutions (CCS), UF College of Law and Florida Sea Grant, to advanced applications of artificial intelligence.
“Florida has been an epicenter of global mangrove studies, so coming to the University of Florida to study them has been a dream come true,” said Kang.
Fieldwork pushed Kang far outside his comfort zone. He had to learn to drive just to access remote research sites, some of which were several hours away from campus. He remembers hauling 70 to 100 pounds of equipment through Florida’s sweltering heat with a teammate. On other days, sudden thunderstorms forced him to wait out the downpour in a kayak — only to jump right back into the work as soon as the skies cleared.
“The field is full of surprises, and can sometimes be daunting, but that’s also where the fun is,” Kang said. “That’s where the real knowledge lies. I studied mangroves that had newly expanded into northern Florida, in places few had explored or documented before. Discovering mangroves that only you know about is something special – an exploration of the limit of mangrove range, knowledge and myself.”
These challenges helped shape Kang into a well-rounded researcher — independent, resilient and collaborative — qualities he’s determined to carry into the next stage of his career.
After graduation, Kang will join Amazon as a software engineer, where he’s eager to apply his problem-solving abilities, programming expertise and communication skills in an industry setting.
Looking back, Kang says every challenge and triumph became an essential piece of his doctoral experience.
“There were moments after fieldwork when I’d be covered in mangrove soil but happy to have great data in my notebook. Moments when I’d finally fix a stubborn coding bug and finally make sense of my results. There was the fun of sharing food and jokes with my lab, and the satisfaction of contributing to something meaningful,” Kang said. “They’re all irreplaceable — like Lego pieces that made up my Ph.D. journey. Whether I was nervous, afraid, exhausted or feeling pure happiness, I wouldn’t trade any of it. I’d keep every bit.”
In coastal science, Nick Chin finds both purpose and community
For Nick Chin, earning a Ph.D. in environmental engineering at the University of Florida was as much about the people as it was about the science.
Chin started out as a civil engineer, but soon realized he wanted work that felt more creative and meaningful. That led him to connect with David Kaplan, Ph.D., a professor of environmental engineering sciences. Under Kaplan’s mentorship, Chin studied what causes coastal events like red tide (Karenia brevis). His research combined machine learning, which helps spot patterns and makes predictions, with physics-based models that simulate how the environment works, creating new ways to detect and track harmful algal blooms.
“My biggest roadblock as a Ph.D. student was coming up with a research question that was impactful, new and interesting,” Chin said. “I originally wouldn’t have considered myself a chemist or physical oceanographer, but those were exactly the areas I had to dive into, and it was a fun challenge.”
His research quickly turned into a steady cycle: gathering available data, reviewing previous studies and zeroing in on what mattered most to resource managers and government agencies. Along the way, Chin found a supportive community at the CCS and in Kaplan’s Watershed Ecology Lab.
Kaplan described Chin as a supportive and uplifting lab mate who helps foster a strong sense of community within the lab. That spirit extended beyond academic work, whether co-building a garden with lab mates, cooking meals to share or inspiring younger students through outreach events.
“My network during my Ph.D. was one of the most fulfilling, genuinely caring and fun groups of people I’ve ever worked with,” Chin said. “You get what you put in, and the people at the Center for Coastal Solutions and the Watershed Ecology Lab will always be there to support you, personally and professionally. My proudest achievement is the relationships I built.”
David Kaplan, Ph.D., CFW director, echoed that sentiment.
“I’ve learned so much from serving as Nick’s advisor. I’m extremely proud of him, not only for his scientific achievements, but for being such a kind and generous human being. I can’t wait to see what he will accomplish as a postdoctoral researcher with the UF Water Institute.”