About the lab & meet the team
Aquatics Lab
Our unique facility includes a large aquatics lab, coral testing and imaging room, a dry/fabrication lab, and a chemistry/molecular biology lab, along with offices for staff and students. The main aquatics lab is comprised of three systems encompassing over 3000 gallons in capacity. A large refugia tank for algae culturing helps with water filtration and the production of natural plankton for feeding the corals.
Dr. Michael Gerdes Owner & CEO of CapitalCorals INC
Dr. Gerdes holds a Ph.D. in Cell Biology from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX and did his postdoctoral training at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD. He has been issued 27 US patents related to diagnostic technologies for pathology, automation, and image analysis, as well as in the area of human forensics. He has been an adjunct professor at SUNY Albany since 2008 in the Department of Biological Sciences where he teaches and mentors student research interns.
Dr. Gerdes has been growing corals for over 25 years and is passionate about aquaculture and reef conservation as a Jamaican born American.
He is currently focusing his efforts on uses of aquacultured corals for developing biomedical applications and chemical fingerprinting studies for coral health and disease. Additional work is directly aimed at improving restoration efforts with improved approaches for biofouling mitigation in nurseries and out-plant sites.
Check out Dr. Gerdes’ references on Google Scholar, or ResearchGate.
Eric Borneman Chief Coral Scientist
Eric is a graduate of Rice University with 45 years and thousands of hours of diving experience. He became world renowned in the husbandry of corals, authoring numerous books, book chapters, and presenting hundreds of articles and presentations worldwide on the subject, and pioneering many aspects of both asexual and sexual propagation of corals.
He was the recipient of a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship where he investigated apoptosis in coral disease at the University of Houston under Gerard Wellington, a pioneer of coral bleaching using coral coring around the world. He was a founding member of SECORE, a multinational group pioneering sexual gamete collection, fertilization and settlement to aid recruitment in wild corals. Eric also helped found a coral reef conservation and education non-profit,
the Reef Stewardship Foundation and initiated the model systems for living corals for the Coral Health and Disease Consortium.
Working with Andrew Bruckner for the non-profit NGO, Coral Reef CPR, they restored unique and critical reef habitat, including building a snorkel trail and an entire reef structure around an underwater restaurant at several location in The Maldives. He has worked throughout the Caribbean and Pacific, leading or a part of joint research projects on coral monitoring, restoration, reproduction, disease, assessment and climate change in Puerto Rico, the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, Dominica, the Florida Keys, Grand Cayman, Easter Island, Fiji, Mustique, Belize, Indonesia, and The Maldives.
He is currently working as our Senior Coral Biologist at CapitalCorals where he continues his work in advancing coral husbandry, utilizing corals in various research and education capacities and is continuing to work with numerous reef restoration efforts.
You can find many of Eric’s publications through Google Scholar.
Meet the Team
Gary Melius Dive Master & Safety Officer
Gary Melius serves as Dive Master and Safety Officer at CapitalCorals R&R, bringing over five decades of recreational and commercial diving experience to the team. A U.S. Navy veteran and lifelong diver, Gary’s passion for the ocean is matched only by his commitment to safety, precision, and mentorship beneath the surface.
Throughout his career, Gary has led and trained divers across the world. As the owner and instructor at Doc’s Scuba LLC, he has guided countless students toward mastery, emphasizing both skill and environmental responsibility. A PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer and long-standing member of NAUI and the Underwater Society of America, Gary has helped uphold the highest standards in diving education since 1973.
Gary’s experience extends far beyond instruction. He has served as a Marine Inspection and Salvage Diver for Carver Industries and Honolulu Dive Salvage, supported underwater construction projects with Hudson River Contracting, and acted as Dive Master for operations ranging from local rescue teams to international expeditions.
With more than 2,800 logged dives across the Caribbean, Pacific, Atlantic, and Indonesian waters, Gary’s depth of experience brings unmatched safety and expertise to CapitalCorals’ field and restoration work. A steadfast advocate for marine conservation, he continues to inspire divers to protect the underwater world that has defined his life.
Stephen Sheedy Artificial Habitat Enginee/Lead Technician/Extraction Specialist
Stephen Sheedy leads the technical and research operations at CapitalCorals INC, combining engineering and marine science to support the company’s coral aquaculture and biotechnology programs. His work focuses on designing and maintaining advanced systems that enable reliable coral propagation, environmental monitoring, and experimental research.
With an emphasis on precision and innovation, Stephen bridges practical engineering with scientific development—helping advance new methods for studying and cultivating corals in controlled environments. His approach ensures that every project at CapitalCorals is backed by solid data, stable infrastructure, and a commitment to sustainable marine research.After many years in the hospitality industry, Stephen’s commitment to conservation led him to CapitalCorals, where he seamlessly integrates his dual passions into tangible solutions. His primary focus lies in safeguarding the remnants of reefs worldwide. When not immersed in designing and constructing innovative systems, Stephen dedicates time to staying abreast of the latest discoveries or indulging in outdoor pursuits like getting lost in the mountains and diving.
Jenna Downey Research Specialist
Jenna Downey is a Research Specialist at CapitalCorals INC, where she supports research initiatives focused on coral ecology, environmental monitoring, and sustainable aquaculture. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from SUNY Brockport, with a concentration in both aquatic and terrestrial ecology and a minor in Biology.
At CapitalCorals, Jenna contributes to the study of coral resilience, water quality parameters, and environmental interactions that influence coral health and growth. Her interdisciplinary background allows her to bridge ecological principles with applied research, supporting the company’s mission to advance sustainable reef systems through data-driven science.
Jenna is deeply committed to conservation and sustainability, approaching her work with the same discipline and focus that defined her collegiate career—where she served as captain of SUNY Brockport’s varsity softball team from 2021 to 2023.
Current Interns
Jared Kobre-Alessandro
Jared Kobre-Alessandro
Jared Kobre-Alessandro
Biology
Phelisha Napples
Jared Kobre-Alessandro
Jared Kobre-Alessandro
Biology
Manuela Montoya
Jared Kobre-Alessandro
Manuela Montoya
Graduate - Microbiology