GoKawiilASU professor combines coral microbiome research with professional surfing career
An assistant professor at Arizona State University's School of Ocean Futures, based in Hilo, Hawaii, studies coral microbiomes while working as a non-competitive, sponsored professional surfer. Under a nine-month faculty appointment, she allocates roughly 85% of her work year to research and teaching and 15% to surfing-related work, which includes producing sponsored social media content.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The arrangement illustrates how some academic institutions permit faculty to pursue outside paid activities alongside research, provided they don't conflict with university duties. It also suggests a growing trend of professionals blending seemingly separate identities—in this case, ocean science and surf culture—where each discipline can inform and enrich the other, as she describes in her own account.
- She splits her work year roughly 85% research/teaching and 15% surfing-related endorsements.
- Her academic research on coral microbiomes connects directly to understanding surf break ecosystems.
- Her university appointment structure explicitly allows time for non-conflicting outside business activities.
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See GoPro HERO12 Black Waterproof Camera on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: nature.com — Kapono, 2026-11-11
Published there as: “How I balance my life as a professional surfer and a university researcher”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.