About Me

Michael is a hard-working, driven student researcher with 3+ years of research experience and excellent academic performance. He is eager to discover more about the ecosystems of our world and the interactions that drive them. He is currently working on a project with Dr. Salvador Jorgensen, Ph.D. to shed light on white shark ontogeny and prey interaction.

Education

California State University, Monterey Bay | Seaside, CA
Undergraduate, Studying for B.S. in Marine Science | 2022 - present

Experience

Project Shark Scar | Undergraduate Data Analyst | February 2023 - present

Research Disseminations

Torrisi, M., Walter, A., Yee, K., Anderson, S.D., Jorgensen, S. “An Examination of the Ontogenetic Shift of White Shark Prey Preference from Fishes to Pinniped Marine Mammals” presented at the Research, Scholarship, & Creative Activity Spring Showcase at CSUMB. April 2024, Seaside, California.

Torrisi, M., Walter, A., Yee, K., Anderson, Andrzejaczek, S., Block, B.A., Chapple, T.K., DiGiacomo, A., Kanive, P.E., Jorgensen, S. “An Examination of the Ontogenetic Shift of White Shark Prey Preference from Fishes to Pinniped Marine Mammals” presented at the Western Society of the Naturalists Research Conference. November 2024, Portland, Oregon.

Torrisi, M., Walter, A., Yee, K., Jorgensen, S. “When Dinner Fights Back: Inferring White Shark Behavioral Adaptations from Prey Handling Injuries” presented at the Research, Scholarship, & Creative Activity Spring Showcase at CSUMB. April 2025, Seaside, California.

Torrisi, M., Walter, A., Yee, K., Jorgensen, S. “When Dinner Fights Back: Inferring White Shark Behavioral Adaptations from Prey Handling Injuries” presented at the Summer Research Symposium at CSUMB. August 2025, Seaside, California.

Honors and Awards

CSU COAST & Jim and Peggy Ryan Marine Science Undergraduate Research Award Recipient (Spring 2025)

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC) Researcher (Spring 2025, Summer 2025)

CSUMB Dean’s List (Fall 2022 - Spring 2025)