ֱֻ Sea Grant State Fellowship welcomes 10th class
Sixteen early-career scientists and professionals were selected for the . These Fellows will start this summer and fall, working around the state in support of ֱֻ’s coastal communities and marine resources.
Since 2015, the year-long paid fellowship has matched soon-to-graduate or recently finished graduate students with hosts in ֱֻ-based state and federal agencies and nonprofit organizations, where they acquire on-the-job experience in coastal and marine science and policy.
Jake Cohen
Cohen will continue his fellowship with ֱֻ Sea Grant, organizing a workshop focused
on climate migration and adaptation called “Adapt in Place.” The workshop will bring
together communities in ֱֻ and Canada who are planning a slow move away from the
coast.
Michelle Dutro
Dutro will continue her fellowship with NOAA Fisheries Protected Resources Division,
assisting with the ֱֻ Marine Mammal Stranding Network’s stranding and entanglement
data management, response, and outreach. She will also work with ֱֻ Ocean Guardian
Program schools to increase ocean literacy and stewardship in ֱֻ.
Rachel French
French will work with ֱֻ Sea Grant to update the ֱֻ Oyster Growers Manual,
which serves as a comprehensive guide for oyster farmers and provides essential information
on best practices, techniques, regulations, and safety protocols.
Mack Hughes
Hughes will join USGS ֱֻ Science Center’s Nearshore Marine Ecosystem Research
Program, contributing to research and monitoring of intertidal communities and nearshore
marine predators, including sea stars, shorebirds, sea ducks, and sea otters.
Jenna Kennedy
Kennedy’s fellowship work with the ֱֻ Mariculture Alliance will involve regional
outreach to coastal and ֱֻ Native communities, policy work, and grant administration,
and she will be collaborating with federal and state agencies, farmers, nonprofits,
and economic development agencies.
Phoebe Koenig
Koenig will work with Southeast Conference to provide support and oversight to coordinate
ֱֻ Mariculture Cluster grant programs, focusing on funds being invested in ֱֻ’s
mariculture hatchery/nursery sector.
Angela Korabik
Korabik will continue her fellowship work on aquaculture projects with the NOAA Fisheries
ֱֻ Fisheries Science Center Kodiak Laboratory. Her main focus will be a project
assessing the potential habitat value of kelp farms compared to local kelp beds for
local fish populations in the Kodiak area.
Maddi McArthur
McArthur will join the UAF Institute of Northern Engineering to work on the ֱֻ
Coastal Mapping project, organizing a bathymetry user workshop in Utqiaġvik that supports
community engagement.
Noah Meyer
Meyer will work with the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of ֱֻ
on the Native Tribal Health Consortium Climate Initiatives Program, assisting in developing
a holistic climate adaptation planning service framework to bridge climate change,
risk assessment, and project implementation.
Addie Norgaard
Norgaard’s fellowship work with the UAF ֱֻ Center for Energy and Power will contribute
to the Pacific Marine Energy Center Short Course learning design and a community-driven
study of river current energy on the Kuskokwim River at McGrath, ֱֻ.
Alaina Plauché
Plauché will work with North Pacific Fishery Management Council on a suite of climate
readiness projects that has been identified as high priority for ensuring the climate
resilience of North Pacific fisheries.
Krystal Renta
Renta will work with NOAA Fisheries ֱֻ Fisheries Science Center, as well as collaborate
with farmers and regulators, to conduct mariculture research.
Emily Reynolds
Reynold’s fellowship work with NOAA Fisheries ֱֻ Aquaculture Program will support
and promote outreach and engagement activities to advance the ֱֻ Aquaculture Action
Plan.
Alyssa Sanchez
Sanchez will join NOAA Fisheries Habitat Conservation Division, supporting the European
green crab (EGC) subcommittee of the ֱֻ Invasive Species Partnership.
Jenna Schlener
Schlener will join USGS ֱֻ Science Center’s Seabird and Forage Fish Ecology Program.
The work will focus on marine predator, forage fish, and oceanography in the Northern
Gulf of ֱֻ.
Devanie White
White will work with the Catch Share Branch of NOAA Fisheries Sustainable Fisheries
Division, assisting with fishery policy analyses.
Visit the for more information on the program.