Education

M.Sc. in Oceans and Fisheries
Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries,University of British Columbia (2020–2022)
Thesis article: Environmental heterogeneity plays a bigger role than diet quality in driving divergent California sea lion population trends

B.Sc in Biology
University of British Columbia (2015–2020)
Minor in Applied Animal Biology, Co-operative Work Experience Program

Professional Experience

Communications Specialist & Research Assistant
Nippon Foundation Ocean Nexus and Simon Fraser University (2022–2025)

Laboratory Technician
Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada and University of British Columbia (2021-2022)

Teaching Assistant
First Year Seminar in Science (SCIE 113), The University of British Columbia (2020 – 2021)

Project Assistant and Communications Coordinator
Nippon Foundation Nereus Program (2020–2022)

Social Media Manager
Resilient Central America, The Nature Conservancy, Mexico (2019–2020)

Fisheries Project Assistant & Photographer
The Nature Conservancy, Mexico (2019)

Science Communication & Marketing Assistant
Applied Biological Materials (2019)               

Clinical Research Assistant
BC Children’s Hospital, Paediatric Cardiology (2018)

Academic Publications: Google Scholar

Pozas Franco, A. L. Visual storytelling for inclusive and equitable research communication. A Field Guide to Ocean Equity and Justice: Politics, Practices, and Possibilities. University of Georgia Press. (In press)

Pozas-Franco, A. L., Rosen, D. A., Trites, A. W., García-Rodríguez, F. J., & Hernández-Camacho, C. J. (2025). Environmental heterogeneity plays a bigger role than diet quality in driving divergent California sea lion population trends. PLoS One, 20(11), e0324108.

Bossier, S., Ota, Y., Pozas-Franco, A. L., & Cisneros-Montemayor, A. M. (2025). How much time and who will do it? Organizing the toolbox of climate adaptations for small-scale fisheries. Frontiers in Marine Science, 12, 1521526.

Cisneros Montemayor, A. M., Gutzmann, S., Pozas Franco, A. L., Frías Hernández, L. E., Ayala Bocos, A., & Becerril García, E. E. (2025). Valoración económica de los servicios ecosistémicos del Parque Nacional Revillagigedo, México. In Diagnóstico de la acuacultura en México. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana.

Montelongo Alfaro, I., Vázquez-Vera, L., Garza de Yta, A., Pozas Franco, A. L., Torres Origel, J. F., & Walther Mendoza, M. (2022). Situación de la acuacultura en México. In L. Vázquez-Vera & P. Chávez-Carreño (Eds.), Diagnóstico de la acuacultura en México. Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza, A.C.

Languages

• English (academic level)

• Spanish (native speaker)

• French (fluent)

Certifications

• Knowledge Mobilization Certification (SFU)

• PADI - Rescue & Dry Suit Diver

• AIDA 1 - Freediver

• Vancouver Film School Certificates: Introduction to Directing, Introduction to Cinematography

• CPR/AED/First Aid (2022)

• Dog Walker Certificate - Good Dog Academy

Volunteer Experience

• Co-founder of the Vancouver Ocean Collective

• Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival (VIMFF)

• Vancouver Aquarium

• Beaty Biodiversity Museum

• The B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA)

• Canadian Red Cross

• Granville Island Veterinary Hospital

• Southlands Therapeutic Riding Society (STaRS)

• Consulate General of Mexico in Vancouver

• Kleider Veterinary Services

Values

• Equity & Justice

• Intersectional Feminism

• Multiculturalism

• Empathy & Compassion

• Environmental Stewardship

• Community & Connection