By: Eustoria Marie Borja
BALTIMORE, Md. (May 30, 2025) — Kyarii Ramarui, a young scientist from Palau, has made history in her field, earning a Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Molecular Science and Technology from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.
Ramarui’s research focused on microalgae—microscopic aquatic plants known for producing astaxanthin, a bright red pigment that gives salmon, shrimp and flamingos their distinctive color. Astaxanthin is also a powerful antioxidant with a wide range of health benefits, including promoting eye, joint and heart health.
Her doctoral work explored sustainable cultivation methods for microalgae to develop astaxanthin for medicinal and nutritional use.
Following her graduation, Ramarui joined DSM-Firmenich, a global nutrition and health company, where she now contributes to scientific work related to omega-3 fatty acids for infant formula and other applications.
Ramarui’s interest in marine science was evident from an early stage in her academic career. As an undergraduate at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, she received the Palau Fellowship Award from the Palau National Scholarship Board. The fellowship enabled her to intern twice with the Coral Reef Research Foundation in Palau, where she gained hands-on field experience conducting jellyfish counts and monitoring environmental conditions in the country’s unique marine lakes and coves.
Ramarui is the daughter of Dante and Jennifer Ramarui and the granddaughter of David and Anastasia Ramarui. She currently resides in Baltimore.