Meet the CoOL Group Members
MIKE WOOD / LAB LEAD
Dr. Mike Wood is the principal investigator of the Computational Oceanography lab. He holds a dual appointment at the Moss Landing Marine Labs and the Department of Computer Science. Mike is interested in using numerical ocean models, remotely-sensed observations, and in situ measurements to understand changes in the global ocean. His main research focus is on glacier-ocean interactions and sea level rise but he is interested in a wide variety of oceanographic topics. When he’s not on the computer, Mike likes to get outside to surf, climb, or go for a run.
BRANDON CASTILLO / GRADUATE STUDENT
Brandon Castillo is a current graduate student in the Computational Oceanography lab. He earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from UC Berkeley, focusing on data modeling and machine learning. Brandon is interested in finding ways to use deep learning with numerical modeling to better predict changes in the ocean. At MLML, Brandon plans to study how to implement deep learning with numerical modeling on glacier-sea interactions for accurately predicting changes in sea rise. Outside of work, Brandon likes to backpack, work out, and go cycling.
MEGAN SHARKEY / GRADUATE STUDENT
Megan Sharkey is a current graduate student in the Computational Oceanography lab. She earned her B.A. in Environmental Studies from Boston College, where she specialized in GIS, environmental justice, and geology. Her passion lies in exploring how marine ecosystems, climate change, and coastal communities are interconnected. At MLML, Megan plans to study the evolving dynamics of the Greenland Ice Sheet using spatial data analysis, remote sensing, and numerical ocean modeling. When she’s not in the lab, she enjoys practicing yoga, hiking, and hanging out at the beach.
SWEET ZHANG / SOFTWARE DEVELOPER
Sweet Zhang is a recent graduate from SJSU’s Computer Science department and a software developer in the CoOL group. She works closely with oceanographers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, writing code to process data from Argo floats and support new ocean model developments. Outside of work, she likes to spend her time in the mountains climbing or snowboarding.
PAST CONTRIBUTORS
Tara Parker – Undergraduate Student Research Assistant – Jan 2023 – Aug 2025
Eddie Nguyen – Undergraduate Student Research Assistant – Summer 2025
Sherine Aldrin – Undergraduate Student Research Assistant – Summer 2025
Basil Darby – Graduate Student Research Assistant – Jun 2023 – Dec 2024
Tyler Morgan – NSF Geobridges – Jun-Dec 2023
Eva Dellea – NSA REU Program – Summer 2023