Tyler first discovered his passion for research while studying sediment dynamics within coral reef habitats in the U.S. Virgin Islands as he completed a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of San Diego. He went on to study geomorphologic change of sandy beaches within Monterey Bay, CA, earning him a M.S. in Marine Science from Moss Landing Marine Labs. During this time, Tyler also held a part-time position with Central Coast Wetlands Group where he served as a research assistant and worked on various restoration and environmental monitoring projects. For his Ph.D., Tyler will work with the LTER team at the Virginia Coast Reserve, employing geospatial techniques to study geomorphologic change within the coastal system.