Sawyer Balint graduated from Brown University with an Sc.B. in Environmental Science and recently finished a two-year appointment at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education fellow, where he investigated the biogeochemical responses of estuaries to climate change and managed nitrogen reductions. Funded by the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, Sawyer is working to measure benthic gas fluxes through the development of an in-situ underwater mass spectrometer. If you can’t find him in the lab, he's probably sailing in the North Atlantic with his family.
Brenden Blakley is a 4th Year Undergraduate, pursuing a B.A. in Marine Science. He grew up in a small town in Kansas. He chose to study marine science in order to help protect the ocean and the life it harbors. He hopes to eventually figure out what career he wants to pursue in order to obtain that goal. This summer he was funded by the BU Undergraduate research opportunity program to study Si cycling in macroalgae.
Meredith Fritsch is a second year undergraduate student currently pursuing a degree in marine science at Boston University. She grew up on the waters of Southeast Alaska, fascinated by local marine ecosystems and determined to dedicate her life to the study of the ocean. Her interests include biological oceanography, climate change, anthropogenic impacts on the ocean, and marine conservation. Outside of the lab, Meredith can be found researching sharks and whales, reading, skating with the Boston University Synchronized Skating Team, or enjoying the outdoors.
Ilana Jacobs is a 3rd year undergraduate at Boston University pursuing her B.A. In Marine Science. She grew up in Denver Colorado, and spent her summers in Woods Hole, MA. Most recently worked on developing genetic tools to study an anoxic ciliate and the function of the Mitochondrial Related Organelle with Dr. Virginia Edgcomb and Dr. Colleen Cavanaugh at WHOI/Harvard. Ilana is most interested in studying the impacts of microbial communities on biogeochemical cycles in the deep sea. Outside of the lab, Ilana loves scuba diving, skiing, and backpacking!
Carolyn Hagy is a third year undergraduate student at Boston University studying Human Physiology in the Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. She grew up in Pensacola, FL in a family of marine scientists, which fostered her passion for protecting the oceans and other aquatic ecosystems. Because she is concentrating on pre-medical sciences in college, she has a particular interest in environmental justice and the impact of environmental issues on healthcare. Outside of the lab, she is a member of the Boston University Synchronized skating team and teaches swim lessons at the BU swim school.
Melissa Ederington Hagy received a B.S. in Biology from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a M.S. in Marine Science from the University of Maryland College Park. Her graduate research at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory focused on the transfer of biomarkers in a marine food web. Upon graduation, she worked at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science where she was involved in research using biomarkers as indicators of organic matter in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Most recently she was a research associate at the University of West Florida where she participated in projects measuring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Melissa has extensive experience with a variety of analytical instruments such as Nutrient AutoAnalyzer, GC, GC/MS, and HPLC.
Isabela Roy is a second year undergraduate student studying marine science. While I did not live on the coast growing up, I live in a small town in northwest Connecticut, I have always had an interest in the ocean and I hope to study coral reefs and phytoplankton in the future. Outside of classes I am involved in several clubs such as UWise (women in stem) as well as the Marine Science Association.
|
Nia Bartolucci graduated magna cum laude from Mount Holyoke College in 2017 with a BA in Environmental Studies and a concentration in ecosystem science. She is interested in studying how climate change and other anthropogenic impacts are affecting the biogeochemistry and ecosystem function of coastal wetlands. Funded by NOAA Margaret A. Davidson Fellowship and Clare Booth Luce Scholarship, Nia is currently studying how we can make coastal wetlands more resilient to rising sea levels in New England. Specifically, her dissertation research investigates how the salt marsh resiliency strategy thin layer placement of sediment (TLP) impacts salt marsh biogeochemistry.
Lena Champlin is a first-year postdoctoral fellow, funded by the BU Society of Fellows program. She received her doctorate at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Philadelphia, where her dissertation examined estuarine water quality including eutrophication over decadal to millennial scales using biogeochemical proxies in sediment cores and historical shells. During her postdoc, her interdisciplinary research will investigate spatial and temporal patterns of C sequestration in salt marshes and apply her love of using art in science communication about urban marshes.
Zoë Ertürk is a fourth year undergraduate at Boston University pursuing a B.A. in Marine Science with a minor in Biology. She grew up in southern California, picking up trash from the beaches and playing soccer in the sand. Having watched the ecosystem species composition and physical structure change over the past two decades, Zoë wants to help preserve biodiversity in marine ecosystems via research and policy.
Alex Geisser received her B.S in Marine Science with a minor in Environmental Science from the University of New England in 2020. She is interested in exploring the role of macroalgae in coastal biogeochemical cycling, carbon sequestration, and how it may be affected by climate change. Funded by RI Sea Grant, Alex is currently studying the potential for macroalgae to act as a reservoir for pathogenic vibrio bacteria in the context of oyster aquaculture.
Lydia Jefferson holds a BS degree in Environmental Sciences-Water from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Prior to their graduate studies, they focused on land use's impacts on respiration rates in urban streams. At BU, they are interested in studying the intersectionality between urban and coastal water quality and environmental injustice. Outside of the lab, Lydia enjoys spending time with loved ones and eating Thai food.
Cat Mahoney graduated from Maine Maritime Academy in 2021 with a B.S. in Oceanography. During her time at MMA, she completed a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, investigating alternative phosphorus sources for open ocean phytoplankton. She was also a recipient of the NOAA Ernest F. Hollings scholarship and was a data analytics intern for the NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, researching methane sources in Puget Sound. In the fall of 2023, Cat will be transitioning her role within the lab from technician to student to pursue her PhD. Cat is interested in the nitrogen cycle, from nitrogen fixation to DON. Outside of the lab, you can find her reading sci-fi/fantasy or enjoying a walk along the Charles.
Helena Shenk grew up in Connecticut a stone's throw away from Mystic Seaport (two hours away but close enough) with three siblings and two cats. Although I had been considering paleontology or archeology, I ultimately set my sights on marine biology. I recently moved to Massachusetts with my family. I am now major in Marine Science.
|
Rene Yanez is a 4th year Undergraduate student currently pursuing B.A. in Marine Science and minoring in History. Growing up in Mission, Texas, Rene fell in love with the ocean when his father took him to frequent fishing trips to the Gulf of Mexico, which has now unfortunately been damaged by human activity and climate change. Now, he hopes to help and understand marine life and the biogeochemical processes that occur worldwide to better fight climate change and human activity at home and worldwide.