NOAA Omics Contact
Krista Nichols, PhD
NOAA Omics Working Group Chair
krista.nichols@noaa.gov
Krista Nichols is the Program Manager for the Genetics and Evolution (GE) Program in the Conservation Biology Division at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center. As the GE Program Manager, she leads a portfolio of research focusing on the genetics, genomics, and adaptation of aquatic organisms. She concurrently serves as the Chair of the NOAA Omics Working Group and the Lead for the NOAA Fisheries Omics Strategic Initiative. In these leadership roles, Krista coordinates communication, alignment, and projects across the agency to modernize data collection for surveys, stock, and protected species assessments. Her work drives the strategic integration and application of eDNA, population genomics, epigenetic ageing, and other advanced omics tools to support NOAA’s mission and operational impact. Prior to her current roles, Krista was an Associate Professor at Purdue University, where she led an active research program in the ecological genomics of aquatic organisms. She holds a Ph.D. in Zoology from Washington State University, a Master of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science from the University of South Carolina.
Zachary Gold, PhD
NOAA Omics Working Group Vice Chair
zachary.gold@noaa.gov
Dr. Zachary Gold is the Ocean Molecular Ecology Program Lead at the NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in Seattle and the Vice Chair of the NOAA Omics Working Group under the NOAA Science Council. His research seeks to leverage the advances in molecular biology to scale eDNA approaches alongside physical and chemical measurements to provide higher resolution inventories of marine biodiversity, increasing monitoring comprehensiveness as well as frequency in time and space. Zack's research portfolio includes developing large scale eDNA ocean biodiversity time series on the West Coast Ocean Acidification cruises, EcoFOCI (Ecosystems & Fisheries-Oceanography Coordinated Investigations) cruises, and CalCOFI (California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations); innovating novel technologies for eDNA applications like mooring based eDNA samplers and quantitative metabarcoding; enhancing bioinformatics software resources to ensure trust in eDNA data products; and improving data management, standards, and provisioning of eDNA results. Zack holds a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from UCLA and a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology with a minor in Environmental Engineering from Stanford University.
Nicole Miller, MSc
NOAA Omics Coordinator
nicole.miller@noaa.gov
Nicole Miller joined NOAA Ocean Exploration and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Cooperative Programs for the Advancement of Earth Systems Science in January 2023 as the NOAA Omics Coordinator. In this role, she leads and coordinates complex, agency-wide omics initiatives, driving strategic alignment, cross-program integration, and optimization of omics and eDNA data assets to maximize scientific and operational impact. Nicole manages stakeholder engagement across NOAA line offices, facilitates interagency collaboration, and contributes to the development of programmatic frameworks that advance data standardization, accessibility, and scalability. She also plays a key role in the strategic planning and implementation of omics and eDNA technologies within NOAA Ocean Exploration, ensuring alignment with mission priorities, advancing innovation, and supporting informed decision-making through data-driven approaches. Her work includes portfolio coordination and the establishment of best practices for integrating emerging omics capabilities into federal science operations. Prior to joining NOAA, Nicole worked in the medical device industry, where she contributed to cross-functional project execution and regulatory-aligned product development. She holds a Master of Science in Ecology and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, both from the University of Florida.