Education
2024 Master of Science, Biological Sciences
Florida International University, FL, USA
Thesis title: Estimating the Abundance of Threatened Reef Manta Rays Using Capture-Mark-Recapture Methods
2019 Bachelor of Marine Science, Marine Science
Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia
Thesis title: Microplastics Characteristics in the Manta Ray Feeding Ground, Big Manta Bay, Nusa Penida
Biography
Janis was born and raised in Indonesia’s capital city, Jakarta. With limited access to the ocean, her family instead went to the public pool every other weekend and only visited the beach during holidays. Even with the rare chances she had to taste saltwater, her interest in the ocean began. She visited the local ocean aquarium to fulfill her curiosity, was introduced to sea turtles during her first trip to Bali, and eventually took her SCUBA diving course in high school. Obsessed with being underwater, she figured majoring in marine science would be one way for her to dive a lot. Thus, her journey in marine science began.
After several visits to MMF Indonesia during her undergraduate studies in Bali, she joined MMF as its first Indonesian research assistant upon completing her Bachelor’s degree. She spent three years studying and advocating for the manta rays and other marine megafauna of Nusa Penida (Bali), East Kalimantan, and Komodo National Park before pursuing a Master’s degree at Florida International University in Miami as a Fulbright scholar. She then returned to Indonesia as Country Manager and Scientist for MMF Indonesia, where she now leads the operations and projects while continuing the research that first drew her to marine megafauna.
Janis enjoys both being in the field and in the office (or lab!). When she’s in neither location, you can usually find her either watching a movie, munching on something savory, or talking to Kikoman, her dog.
Current research
Leads
- Education and OutreachIndonesiaProject leader
- Indonesia Manta Ray ProjectProject leader
- Indonesia Sea Turtle ProjectProject leader
- The Lesser Sunda Seascape Tracking NetworkIndonesiaProject leader
Past research
Leads
- Microplastics & MegafaunaIndonesiaProject leader
Join Janis in the field
Janis hosts MMF's expedition trips — dive alongside the scientists and support the research directly.
6 – 18 October 2027 · Open for bookingAlor to Ambon
Explore some of Indonesia's rarely-dived reefs across Alor, the Banda Sea, and Ambon while we seek out hammerheads, Rhinopias, and the world's craziest frogfishes.
21 October – 2 November 2027 · 3 cabins availableAmbon to Raja Ampat
From Ambon’s famed macro, north to the world's richest reefs, seeking out hammerheads, manta rays, and walking sharks.
20 – 31 March 2028 · Open for bookingRaja Ampat
Eleven nights aboard Coralia Dua across Misool and the Dampier Strait — manta rays, walking sharks, and the world's richest coral reefs.Media
Asia’s shark and ray hotspots remain poorly protected, study finds | Mongabay
Reef manta rays and whale sharks accidentally ingesting damaging microplastics | Ocean Geographic
The Low Down On Plastic Pollution And How It Affects Sharks | Forbes
Local woman works to protect Indonesian sea life from ocean plastics | CBC Radio
Our work in Indonesia
News featuring Janis
Recent research
- 2026Critical habitats for sharks and rays in Asia remain largely unprotected
- 2025Estimating the abundance and population trends of reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) in Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia
- 2021What's in the soup? Visual characterization and polymer analysis of microplastics from an Indonesian manta ray feeding ground
- 2019Microplastics on the menu: plastics pollute Indonesian manta ray and whale shark feeding grounds