Our team

The people behind Plankton Base.

About the team

Working at the intersection of polar research, education, and expedition tourism.

At Plankton Base, our team has spent 10 years pioneering participatory science programs in the most remote corners of our planet — bringing marine scientists, educators, and expedition guides together around a shared mission.

We build frameworks that are both scientifically rigorous and deeply human. The Plankton Base team knows what it takes to translate complex research into inspiring, engaging field experiences for travelers — while better understanding our oceans to protect them for generations to come.

Leadership

Founding Team

Dr. Allison Cusick

Executive Director & Co-Founder

Allison is a US biologist and oceanographer with a background in research, genetics, and conservation, holding degrees from the University of Washington and a PhD from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. She has spent more than 20 years working in labs, studying phytoplankton since 2010, and focusing on polar ecosystems with a special interest in Antarctica since 2013. Through her outreach platform Woman Scientist and her work directing citizen science initiatives since 2016, she connects the public directly to the wonders of marine science and climate research. Allison is a Fellow National of The Explorers Club (San Diego chapter) and a certified rescue scuba diver.

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Dr. Martina Mascioni

Co-Founder

Martina is an Argentine polar biologist and researcher with a PhD in Natural Sciences from the Universidad Nacional de La Plata. She has spent more than a decade studying marine microalgae and polar phytoplankton ecology. As a passionate advocate for ocean literacy, science diplomacy, and public engagement, Martina co-founded Plankton Base to leverage her extensive background in international citizen science, global research networks, and environmental education, bridging the gap between scientific discovery and global ocean conservation.

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Governance

Board of Advisors

Kristina Ciari

Board Chair

Kristina is a strategic communications leader with extensive experience helping mission-driven organizations deepen audience engagement, build scalable systems, and grow with intention. She is the Chief Communications Officer at Occasionally Epic Communications, and has served on multiple nonprofit boards (including as Chair for SheJumps). A skier, climber, runner, and biker based in Seattle, Kristina brings brand strategy, nonprofit governance, and storytelling expertise to help Plankton Base scale its participatory-science framework across global polar regions.

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Cindy Cusick

Secretary / Treasurer

Cindy Cusick oversees the financial stewardship and operational governance of Plankton Base, bringing 35 years of expertise in organizational leadership, robust project management, and meticulous documentation. Over the course of her distinguished career, she has spent more than two decades managing high-performing teams using lean process methodologies to optimize workflows and drive operational excellence. As the Secretary and Treasurer of the Plankton Base board, Cindy ensures the nonprofit operates with complete transparency, fiscal responsibility, and the structural integrity required to support multi-year research commitments and funding program expansion. Her rare blend of strict administrative mastery and strategic lean leadership provides the stable foundation Plankton Base needs to scale its global scientific and educational impacts.

Editt Vartanian

Board Member

Editt Vartanian is a human‑centered design practitioner and marketing strategist with 20 years of experience helping organizations bridge the gap between customer needs and business goals. Her career spans enterprise environments and dynamic startups, where she has built persuasive marketing narratives and facilitated teams toward processes that deliver customer‑centered products and services. On the Plankton Base board, she helps translate complex marine science into clear, compelling stories that expand awareness, engagement, and impact, strengthening the organization's reach across science, education, and expedition collaborations.

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Love this work? Help keep Ocean Science Flowing with your gift.

Plankton Base is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with an ambition to reimagine the global ocean data pipeline and scale ocean stewardship through participatory science.

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