Two recent graduates have been selected to work with state agencies and nongovernment organizations over the next year through the UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant State Fellowship. This program places recent graduate students in host offices, offering them hands-on experience in resource management, public outreach, strategic planning, and policy implementation. 

“By partnering with agencies on the coast, we’re able to create valuable learning experiences and foster the professional development of future coastal leaders,” said Mark Risse, director of Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. 

Now in its sixth year, the fellowship, open to both in-state and out-of-state graduate students, has already supported 18 early career professionals. 

The 2024-25 fellows will work with the Jekyll Island Authority and The Nature Conservancy – Georgia.  

Daniel Harris completed his undergraduate studies in geology and zoology from the National University of Ireland, Galway. He went on to pursue a Ph.D. in ecology from UGA where he studied the interaction between Georgia’s salt marshes and oyster reefs along the coast. Harris will be working with The Nature Conservancy – Georgia. At The Nature Conservancy, Harris will be collaborating with underserved communities, aquaculture professionals, academics, and resource managers to develop a Georgia Oyster Resiliency and Management Plan for the state. 

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to speak with Georgians, making connections between people’s lives, healthy oyster habitat and how a management plan could help. It is these conversations that are shaping and guiding the development of the Georgia Oyster Resiliency and Management Plan,” said Harris.

Justin Sanclemente received his bachelor’s in zoology from West Liberty University, West Virginia, where he studied aquatic snakes. He went on to pursue his master’s from Georgia Southern University. There, he studied the evolutionary cause of color polymorphisms in the Florida scrub lizard. As a fellow with Jekyll Island Authority, Sanclemente will help track eastern diamondback rattlesnakes using radio telemetry to obtain valuable data on their ecology and life history as part of a long-term study on the island.  

“I aspire to get into the field of wildlife conservation, education, and research, and working on Jekyll is giving me amazing experiences in those areas to prepare me for my career,” said Sanclemente.

Three recipients of the Marine Education Fellowship and two international fellows from Queen’s University Belfast have joined the education team at the UGA Aquarium on Skidaway Island.

The marine education fellows are participating in a year-long program that offers early-career professionals hands-on experience in environmental education, animal husbandry and coastal extension. Fellows teach a variety of field, lab and classroom programs for visiting school groups while also assisting behind the scenes in the aquarium. Through professional development and networking opportunities, the fellows build connections with marine educators, researchers and conservationists in coastal Georgia over the course of their fellowship.

The two international fellows, joining through a collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast, are part of the university’s Marine Biology and Professional Studies degree program. This program includes a 40-week work placement where students apply their academic knowledge in real-world settings, developing skills in marine science, creative problem-solving, leadership and innovation. While working at the aquarium, the international fellows will engage in marine education and animal husbandry and conduct a short-term research project on Georgia’s coast to support their studies at Queen’s University Belfast.

Together, these five educators will contribute to the UGA Aquarium’s mission to engage the public in marine science education and promote the stewardship of Georgia’s coastal ecosystems.

Meet the 2024-2025 fellows:

Marine Education Fellow

Kira Davis is from Marietta, Georgia. She graduated with a bachelor’s in biology with an emphasis in marine biology from the University of Georgia. Davis gained interest in marine education and outreach after a study abroad program in Australia in 2022, which emphasized the importance of public education on environmental topics. She has experience studying nematode species through UGA’s Marine Science Department and has supported sea turtle research using genetic tagging at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources.

Marine Education Fellow

Taina Sanchez is from Crestview, Florida. She graduated from University of Miami with a degree in marine biology and ecology. In college, Sanchez experienced Miami’s tropical environments, studying corals and coastal resilience, and she spent three months in the Galapagos as part of a study abroad program. Prior to the fellowship, she worked as an educator for a non-profit, serving the local watershed from the bay to the beach.

Marine Education Fellow

John Mark Polk is from Concord, North Carolina. He attended North Carolina State University and majored in fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology. As an undergrad, he completed a minor in environmental education, gaining experience with citizen science projects, common curricula and volunteering with organizations focused on environmental education, such as the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. Before becoming a fellow, he worked at Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge helping with education programs and day camps.

International Fellow

Kate Milne is from Belfast, Northern Ireland. She is currently studying marine biology at Queen’s University Belfast. Milne enjoys sharing her passion for marine ecosystems. Through her degree, she has been involved in various research projects, including zooplankton sampling and habitat fragmentation studies.

International Fellow

Zoe Stalham is from London, England. She is majoring in marine biology at Queen’s University Belfast. She has a passion for marine research and citizen science and is particularly focused on biological oceanography and plankton studies. Her long-term goal is to pursue a Ph.D. that would allow her to conduct meaningful research and collaborate with communities to foster scientific understanding and effective communication.

Four graduate students from the University of Georgia and Georgia Southern University have been selected to lead year-long coastal research projects through the Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant Research Traineeship. Now in its fifth year, this program has supported 30 students since 2019, providing undergraduate and graduate students with a unique opportunity to tackle real-world challenges facing Georgia’s coastal region. 

The independent projects must align with one or more of Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s four focus areas: healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, resilient communities and economies, and environmental literacy and workforce development.  

Under the guidance of university mentors and in collaboration with Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant specialists, the students not only conduct independent research but also share their findings with coastal communities. 

“The traineeship is an invaluable experience for early-career professionals, giving them the chance to develop essential skills in project management, communication, and problem-solving,” says Mark Risse, director of Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. “By addressing challenges identified by coastal communities, they build a strong foundation for their future careers in research, policy, and environmental management.” 

Jack Robider will graduate with an environmental engineering degree from UGA this fall and will continue for a graduate degree in civil and environmental engineering. His research focuses on developing a hydrodynamic flooding model for Glynn County and Brunswick, Georgia, a region highly susceptible to flooding due to its low elevation and proximity to the coast.  

The model Robider is building will estimate flood depths from storms and overlay them onto Brunswick’s communities, infrastructure, and Superfund sites to assess potential damage brought about by flooding and contamination. This work is important because it helps identify flood-prone areas, supports resilient infrastructure planning, and addresses compounded environmental threats like contamination from septic systems and Superfund sites.  

Mark Hoog is pursuing a Ph.D. in environmental science from Georgia Southern University. His research focuses on studying the genetic diversity and differentiation of American alligators in the Okefenokee Swamp using genetic markers to identify population structures.  

Understanding these genetic patterns is crucial for wildlife management, as it helps determine the overall health and resilience of the population. By combining genetic data with demographic information, the study will offer a comprehensive view of the population’s health, supporting better decision-making for ecosystem management and conservation efforts. 

Skyler Fox is a master’s student working toward a degree in biology at Georgia Southern University. She is studying the impact of human disturbance on restored coastal sand dunes on Tybee Island, Georgia.  

 Sand dunes provide critical ecosystem services like storm protection but are vulnerable to damage from high foot traffic, even on designated footpaths that traverse the dunes and connect parking lots to the beach. Fox is collecting sand movement and vegetation data to compare the health of the dunes at footpaths with undisturbed dune areas. The findings will help inform coastal cities on how to minimize human disturbance and protect dune ecosystems effectively.  

Zachary Gordon is a master’s student in biology at Georgia Southern University. His research investigates the threat of saltwater intrusion on Sapelo Island’s freshwater habitats, which is increasing due to climate change and coastal development.  

 The island’s history of channel modifications, which were dug to drain swamps for agriculture, has facilitated the movement of saltwater inland, impacting freshwater wetlands. Gordon will study these channels as well as freshwater wetlands that are disconnected from these channels using data loggers, leaf decomposition rates, and biological assessments to track water movement, habitat functionality, and ecosystem health. Findings will be shared with the local community experiencing these challenges in hopes of understanding how to address them.  

Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant is excited to announce Georgia Tech student Spenser Wipperfurth as the 2025 finalist for the National Sea Grant College Program’s John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship.

This year-long prestigious fellowship matches current and recent graduate students with hosts in the legislative and executive branches of government. Since 1979, the Knauss Fellowship has supported more than 1,680 early career professionals who have significantly contributed to environmental policy and management and built lasting careers.

2025 Knauss finalist Spenser Wipperfurth.

Wipperfurth received her master’s degree in water resources engineering and an MBA from Georgia Tech, where she studied coastal processes, resilience, ecosystem damage mitigation and community response to climate change. She has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

This past summer, Wipperfurth served as a summer scholar with the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy program. The experience allowed her to apply science and policy in addressing ocean energy and shipping regulations on the U.S. East Coast with Department of Energy officials and policymakers

She also has five years of experience working as a water resources engineer, which helped shape her understanding of how water is modeled and managed by relevant authorities. She now hopes to apply her knowledge and experience by focusing on the future of resource management, opportunities for innovation, and how to best support coastal communities.

“I have spent most of my life and collected most of my important memories on or near the water, on the rivers and lakes of the Midwest, the waterfalls of Peru, and now the Georgia coast. As a community member, I consider safe access and generational protections of water resources for myself and my neighbors as a critical part of building and maintaining healthy and hopeful lives. Since most humans live near coastlines, protecting, understanding and managing those coastlines are critical for protecting their residents. The Knauss Fellowship will give me a space to dream with those already working on these solutions and help me to further develop a network of mentors and peers to work alongside and learn from.”

Wipperfurth will join a cohort of 88 early career professionals from 70 universities, representing all eligible Sea Grant programs. Knauss Fellowship finalists are chosen through a competitive process that includes several rounds of review at both the state Sea Grant program and national levels. Students finishing Master’s, Juris Doctor (J.D.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees with a focus or interest in marine and coastal science, policy or management apply to their state’s Sea Grant programs. If applicants are successful at the state level, their applications are then forwarded to a national panel of experts who select the finalists.

This fall, the finalists will participate in a placement week to get to know each other and interview with several executive offices to determine where they will spend their fellowship, which begins in February 2025.

On the Jekyll Island pier, Addison Simmons, a rising junior at the University of Georgia, hauls up her crab net, hoping to see a flash of blue. Her excitement builds with the realization that she’s caught a female blue crab.  

With help from Lisa Gentit, a marine resource specialist at UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, she learns how to carefully remove the crab from her net. Gentit points out some of the crab’s distinctive features, like the bright red pinchers that indicate it’s female, before releasing it back into the estuary.  

Addison Simmons takes part in catch-and-release crabbing as part of an immersive, hand-on field study on the coast.

Simmons is one of 11 UGA undergrads exploring the Lowcountry, documenting and celebrating the relationships between people and seafood as part of a service-learning domestic field study course at UGA entitled “Writing and Community at the Georgia Coast.”   

Domestic field studies integrate place-based learning across diverse U.S. locations, and service-learning courses address community needs through partnerships with local organizations and institutions. With these partnerships, students learn new topics through the lens of those who live and work in the community.   

This course was developed through a collaboration between the UGA Office of Instruction and UGA Public Service and Outreach, connecting the Office of Service-Learning, the Domestic Field Study program, and Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. Course instructor Elizabeth Davis spearheaded the initiative following her participation in the first Domestic Field Study Fellows cohort. 

“It’s been incredible. This is what I imagined—learning firsthand what goes on in these communities, what they’re like, what their concerns are,” says Davis, who coordinates the Interdisciplinary Writing Certificate program at UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. “Concerns vary from place to place, yet they are all connected by some very strong threads.”  

Davis developed the concept after teaming up with faculty at Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. The organization’s long history of working with Georgia’s fishing communities made it an ideal partner for connecting students with people whose lives revolve around safe, sustainable seafood.  

During the first half of the trip, the students stayed at South Carolina’s historic Penn Center, immersing themselves in the cultural tapestry of the Gullah Geechee community and gaining insights into its historical significance along the Georgia coast. 

Associate Director of Extension Bryan Fluech gives students a tour of a working waterfront in Brunswick.

The second half took them to various UGA coastal campuses, including Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s facilities on Skidaway Island and in Brunswick, as well as UGA’s Marine Institute on Sapelo Island. They explored the saltmarsh, which is vital to seafood like fish, crabs and shrimp. They participated in activities like crabbing and seining, where they learned how to identify marine life and experience seafood harvesting firsthand.  

The students also engaged with coastal residents with links to seafood—from harvesters and aquaculturists to chefs and conservationists—who shared their expertise and experiences.  

“These opportunities to immerse are key to service-learning,” says Davis. “Understanding what a community is asking you to help them with, as writers, you really need to be on the ground.”   

Students learned about Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s work to bring sustainable oyster aquaculture to Georgia and help commercial fishermen navigate changes to the industry.  

Laura and Perry Solomon, owners of Tybee Oyster Company, spoke with the class about challenges they faced launching the first floating cage oyster farm in the state. They credited Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Shellfish Research Lab, which produces and sells oyster seed and advises shellfish farmers on best practices for growing shellfish, with helping them navigate the oyster farming process.  

Bruce Collins talks with students during their visit to the City Market Dock.

The students also toured City Market Dock in Brunswick, a seafood business that operates one of the few remaining commercial fish houses where fishermen can offload their catch. Bruce Collins, fish house manager, discussed issues facing the commercial industry, including competition with imported shrimp, rising fuel costs and a diminishing workforce.  

In between activities, students spent time in reflective writing workshops, developing pieces inspired by their experiences. 

April Cerritos, a rising sophomore double majoring in English and comparative literature, had never been to the Georgia coast.  

“I didn’t expect to see so many local, smaller fishermen supporting themselves and their families, and smaller communities,” says Cerritos, who plans to go into book publishing.  

April Cerritos shows off the blue crab she caught at the Jekyll Island Pier.

By sharing her experience and what she learned through the course, Cerritos hopes that her writing encourages people to buy local seafood and research places before traveling.    

“One thing I’m going to do before I ever visit a place again as a tourist is research the communities there,” says Cerritos. “That’s what I really want to inspire people to do—learn more about the places they’re going.”  

By the end of the course, the students had crafted insightful texts illuminating the resilience and interconnectedness of coastal communities. Perhaps even more exciting for Davis was seeing the transformative impact of experiential learning on the students and the special bond they cultivated during the trip. 

“I hope they take away the community that they formed here as a group, and the realization that you form communities wherever you go throughout life,” says Davis. “That experience of bonding, as a community, with shared interests and concerns is really important.” 

Students participating in the course break for a photo with their instructor, Elizabeth Davis, and staff from Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant.

Read pieces written by students Addie Simmons and Theron Camp on Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Student Blog at https://gacoast.uga.edu/studentblog.  

The Youth Ocean Conservation Summit (YOCS) has been a driving force in educating students of all ages about environmental conservation. The main goal of YOCS is simple: to equip the next generation with the knowledge and skills needed to protect our oceans. This is achieved through workshops and discussions led by marine scientists and conservationists, where participants collaborate to develop conservation projects for their communities. 

 Since its inception in 2011 at the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida, YOCS has expanded its reach, establishing satellite locations across the United States. In 2014, Sean Russell, the founder of YOCS, spent a year at the UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium in Savannah, Georgia, as part of UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Marine Education Fellowship. During this time, Russell, with other Marine Education Fellows, laid the groundwork for Georgia’s first summit. Since then, the UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium has been hosting the annual event, bringing new themes and workshops each year, tailored by the current cohort of Marine Education Fellows. 

YOCS participants get hands-on in an algae clay activity.

This year marked the 10th anniversary of the Georgia summit and was themed “Leaders in Coastal Resilience.”  The summit welcomes youth ranging from 5th grade through college. This year, 41 participants from all over Georgia gathered to learn from local marine scientists and conservation leaders.   

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund and The Webster Family provided financial support of this year’s summit. Together, with involved community professionals and educators, they have helped to create a platform that empowers young leaders to make a difference in their communities and contribute to the preservation of our oceans.  

The event was a uniquely special occasion as Russell, now serving as the Director of Youth Engagement at EarthEcho International, returned to deliver the keynote address, reflecting on his personal journey and the growth of the youth summit over the past decade. Hands-on workshops led by local experts covered topics such as marine debris and environmental justice, providing participants with practical knowledge to implement in the creation of conservation projects for their own communities.  

Sean Russell returned to this year’s summit as the keynote speaker.

When asked what inspired him to establish a Youth Ocean Conservation Summit in Savannah, Russell said that “bringing the Youth Ocean Conservation Summit to the Savannah area created a unique opportunity to customize the programming to connect youth in the region to the incredibly unique environments of the Georgia coast, the challenges they face, and the power of young people driving solutions to protect this area for the future. It has been incredible to see the continued growth and impact of the Savannah YOCS program over the past 10 years. Returning to the 2024 event was a reminder of the strong connections the community has to the coast, and the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge, tools, and connectivity to become community leaders in coastal resilience at an early age.” 

For many attendees, the summit has become an annual tradition, offering valuable learning experiences and opportunities to connect with peers who share their passion for conservation.  

 “The Savannah Youth Ocean Conservation Summit provides the space and time for students to meet professionals working in the field, to connect and brainstorm with their peers and to find inspiration on the coast,” said Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Associate Director of Marine Education Anne Lindsay. “It’s a great way for participants and planners alike to connect with the next generation of coastal and ocean stewards.” 

University of Georgia alumna Gabriella Bliss Giordano has been awarded the John A. Knauss Marine Policy fellowship for 2024. Sponsored by the National Sea Grant College Program, the year-long fellowship matches current and recent graduate students with hosts in the legislative and executive branches of government. 

Giordano will spend one year working as a communications and engagement fellow in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR). STAR uses innovative science and applications to transform satellite observations of the earth into meaningful information essential to society’s evolving environmental, security and economic decision-making. She will work with STAR’s communications team to incorporate outreach, user engagement and the scientific community to spread awareness of the center’s work. 

Knauss finalists are chosen through a competitive process that includes comprehensive review at both the state Sea Grant program and national levels. Giordano is among 85 finalists selected from a competitive pool of nominees representing 30 of the 34 Sea Grant programs in the coastal and Great Lakes states and territories.  

Gabriella Giordano, 2024 Knauss fellow.

“I hope the Knauss Fellowship will help guide me to further develop my career goals,” said Giordano. “I know I want to blend my science background with community education and engagement. Policy is just one tool to do that with and may open doors to launch my career.”  

Giordano received her master’s degree in marine science from UGA in 2023. Her graduate thesis explored the influence of salinity-driven plant community changes in Satilla River marshes on the characteristics of soil carbon. She holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and geography from Villanova University.  

UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant is currently accepting applications for the 2025 Knauss fellowship. For information on applying, please visit https://gacoast.uga.edu/knauss-fellowship/  

Four college graduates will work with state, federal and non-governmental agencies over the next year as part of the UGA Marine Extension Georgia Sea Grant State Fellowship. The fellowship places recent graduate students in host offices where they gain hands-on experience in resource management, outreach, planning and policy implementation.

“We’re excited to collaborate with partners to facilitate these learning opportunities and nurture the professional growth and development of the next generation of leaders on the coast,” said Mark Risse, director of UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant.

This is the fifth year that Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant has offered the state fellowship, which is open to in and out-of-state graduate students. So far, 16 students have participated in the program.

The 2023-24 state fellows will work with the following partners: Georgia Conservancy, NOAA Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, The Nature Conservancy – Georgia, and Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve and Sapelo Island Cultural and Revitalization Society.

Nia Burnett has a bachelor’s in environmental studies from Allegheny College. She is currently completing her master’s in marine science at Savannah State University, where she is studying environmental toxicology, namely microplastics in benthic environments and how marine invertebrates interact with them. As a fellow working with Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve and Sapelo Island Cultural and Revitalization Society, she will be developing recommendations for flood mitigation on Sapelo Island, home of the Hog Hammock Gullah Geechee community. These recommendations will be created with the idea of enhancing the resilience of the community to climate change and sea level rise.

“My career goals are to figure out a way to combine my love for, and experiences in, education and outreach with STEM, research, and community engagement. I truly want people to feel like they have all of the knowledge and power to make informed environmental decisions about their communities. With this fellowship, I hope to gain the experience that can give me a blueprint to move forward with,” Burnett said.

Daniel Harris completed his undergraduate studies in geology and zoology from the National University of Ireland, Galway. He went on to pursue a Ph.D. in ecology from UGA where he studied the interaction between Georgia’s salt marshes and oyster reefs along the coast. Harris will be working with The Nature Conservancy – Georgia. At The Nature Conservancy, Harris will be collaborating with underserved communities, aquaculture professionals, academics, and resource managers to develop an Integrated Oyster Resiliency Plan for the state of Georgia.

“I love oysters! For an invertebrate, oysters are amazing little ambassadors of resilient coastal ecosystems. I am excited about this fellowship, as it is a great opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of stakeholders towards the common goal of promoting and protecting these amazing organisms,” Harris said.

Kathy Liu completed her undergraduate degree at Scripps College in Claremont, California, before pursuing a master’s from the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science in Miami, Florida. As part of her graduate degree, she studied bonnethead shark head morphology, sexual dimorphism and diet. As a fellow with Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, Liu will help to advance the scientific research, policy, and planning projects of the sanctuary. She will also support outreach, education and internship programs.

“This fellowship allows me the opportunity to continue exploring my interests in marine science while being able to translate the work done by the sanctuary to the public. I am passionate about conducting research on marine organisms and ecosystems and the fellowship will give me the opportunity to learn about the connectivity of Georgia’s ecosystems and see the long-term monitoring work done by Gray’s Reef,” Liu said.

Monét Murphy graduated from Savannah State University with a bachelor’s in marine science and environmental science. As part of her undergrad, she studied benthic foraminifera in the Savannah River Estuary, which are tiny, single-celled organisms that can serve as bioindicators of environmental conditions in marine environments. Murphy is currently pursuing her master’s in marine science at Savannah State University. As a fellow with the Georgia Conservancy, Murphy will work with partners and regional stakeholders to advance the South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative (SASMI) in Georgia. SASMI is a multi-state coalition working to conserve the 1 million acres of salt marsh in the South Atlantic region. Murphy will also support efforts to raise awareness among recreational boaters about threats to North American right whales.

“My dedication to environmental justice drives my enthusiasm to engage in research, conservation, and restoration efforts that ensure equitable access to the benefits of a thriving ecosystem, particularly for marginalized communities. I am eager to contribute to the development of a sustainable and diversified local economy, responsible urban planning, and community engagement strategies that foster a deeper connection between residents and the coastal environment,” Murphy said.

Three recent college graduates have been awarded one-year marine education fellowships with University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. Based at the UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium on Skidaway Island, the fellowship provides early career professionals with experience in environmental education, animal husbandry and coastal extension.  

Throughout the year, the fellows will teach field, lab and lecture classes that are offered to visiting school groups. They will work behind the scenes at the aquarium and collaborate with Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant staff to incorporate information about community-based research and extension projects into educational programming.  

The fellows will also participate in professional development opportunities and build a network of environmental educators, marine researchers and conservationists working in coastal Georgia.  

Meet the 2023-2024 fellows:  

Virginia Hawkins is from Pinetops, North Carolina. She graduated with a bachelor’s in environmental science from Western Carolina University. Prior to the fellowship, Hawkins worked as an assistant park ranger on the coast of North Carolina and served in AmeriCorps in coastal Maine. Hawkins will be collaborating with Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s extension specialists during her fellowship, finding ways to enhance community programming and sharing the impact of extension work with Georgia’s coastal communities.

Huxleyann Huefner is from Salt Lake City, Utah. She graduated from Scripps College, one of the Claremont Colleges in California, with a degree in biology. In college, Huefner participated in a study abroad program with Sea Education Association, where she engaged in research on humpback whales, bottlenose dolphins, and deep-sea coral. This experience also provided opportunities to interact with students, which she really enjoyed and is what drew her to the marine education fellowship. Heufner will be teaching marine science and coastal ecology classes at the aquarium and participating in outreach events along the coast. 

Lindsey Thomas is from Savannah, Georgia. She attended Georgia Southern University and graduated with a degree in marine biology and a minor in psychology. Before becoming a fellow, Thomas served as a volunteer at the UGA Aquarium for two years and also interned with Savannah Wildlife Rescue Center. Her passion for marine animals and the ocean is what drew her to this fellowship. She will be gaining skills in animal husbandry at the aquarium as well as educating visitors about Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s efforts to improve the health of the coast.  

Five graduate students from the University of Georgia, Georgia Southern University and Georgia Tech have been selected to lead year-long coastal research projects as part of the Georgia Sea Grant Research Traineeship. This marks the sixth year of the traineeship, which has supported a total of 36 students from universities across Georgia since its launch in 2018.

“The research traineeship allows students to apply their knowledge and identify solutions to real world issues in collaboration with coastal experts in marine science and coastal ecology,” says Mark Risse, director of UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. “The traineeship gives students the opportunity to design and execute their own projects, preparing a diverse workforce for jobs in the future.”

As part of the traineeship, students conduct independent research projects that address one of UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s four focus areas: healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, resilient communities and economies, and environmental literacy and workforce development.

The students conduct these projects while being advised by university mentors. They are also encouraged to work with extension and education specialists at Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant to collaborate and share their research with coastal communities.

Anna Carnes

Anna Carnes is an undergraduate student in biology at Georgia Tech where she’s studying marsh restoration, particularly the use of native versus nonnative Spartina alterniflora species in Georgia marshes.

As part of her traineeship, she will compare the genetic diversity of Spartina alterniflora populations from natural Georgia ecosystems to those of nurseries from adjacent states. She will also look at the success rate of planting native spartina versus the nonnative varieties. There are currently no nurseries in Georgia that supply native Spartina. Carne’s research will help determine the need for local sources at plant nurseries and will inform future marsh restoration practices.

“I am excited to collaborate with people who are as enthusiastic about the marsh and restoration as I am. This opportunity will help me to grow as a research scientist by providing feedback on my work and connecting me with mentors to learn from,” Carnes said.

Alejandra Daniel

Alejandra Daniel is a master’s student in biology at Georgia Southern University. She is studying corals found along the southeastern coast of the U.S., specifically Oculina arbuscula.

Oculina arbuscula has been found to be resilient to the negative effects of climate change, including ocean acidification. Unlike most corals, Oculina arbuscula can continue to produce its skeleton when exposed to ocean acidification. Daniel’s project will involve studying the mechanism behind the coral’s resilience to ocean acidification.

“My professional goal is to pursue a career where I can both perform marine research and help develop programs that not only strive to eliminate societal pressures that deter K-12 children from developing a baseline knowledge of science, but also spark a curiosity about science that results in a desire for continued knowledge. The traineeship will assist me in reaching these goals,” Daniel said.

Julia Frees

Julia Frees, a master’s student in biology at Georgia Southern University, is studying the impact of contaminants, including microplastic fibers and pharmaceutical chemicals, on oysters.

Her project will involve studying whether microplastic fibers increase the uptake of synthetic estrogen by eastern oysters. She will survey the levels of pollutants in oysters in coastal Georgia and conduct lab experiments to examine how microplastic fiber exposure affects synthetic estrogen concentration in oyster tissue, oyster growth and reproduction. The findings will be valuable to recreational and commercial oyster harvesters.

Frees will be working with Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Water Resource Specialist, Katy Smith, to deliver educational workshops to the public and the aquaculture community.

“As I interact with these groups to increase awareness of microplastic fiber and synthetic estrogen contamination, I will build rapport and gain a better sense of their needs. Ultimately, the skills that I will develop through the traineeship will equip me to accomplish my goal of applying research to improve conservation by working for a non-governmental organization, private conservation group, or federal/state environmental department,” Frees said.

Diane Klement

Diane Klement, a master’s student at the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, is studying migratory bird populations, particularly those experiencing rapid declines, like the painted bunting.

Her project seeks to understand which plants provide high-quality habitat for migratory birds to inform conservation efforts. Her research will use new tracking technologies and corresponding space-use estimates to accurately quantify habitat quality for the painted bunting. Findings will be shared with coastal resource managers and homeowners to inform these groups about which plant species provide preferred bunting habitat.

“I applied for the Georgia Sea Grant Research Traineeship due to the program’s commitment to serving coastal Georgia through integrated research, extension, and education programs in collaboration with the local community. Working with [the organization] in the past allowed me to grow as a science communicator, introduced me to partners conducting innovative coastal research, and ultimately led me to attend UGA for graduate school, and I am so grateful to continue this partnership through the research traineeship,” said Klement, who served as a 2022 marine education fellow for UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant.

Mallory Mintz

Mallory Mintz is a master’s student in the University of Georgia Department of Marine Sciences. Based at UGA’s Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, her research focuses on harmful algal blooms on the coast.

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are increasing due to warming waters and increased nutrient runoff. In Georgia’s Skidaway River, HABs are largely unreported despite their potential impact on oyster aquaculture. Mintz’s research involves collaborating with UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant volunteers who participate in NOAA’s Phytoplankton Monitoring Network to document the abundance of a HAB-forming red tide species, Akashiwo sanguinea. She hopes to determine the drivers of Akashiwo blooms and enhance understanding of HAB dynamics in coastal Georgia to improve monitoring efforts.

“The traineeship not only provides financial support to allow me to continue research for another year, but it fosters invaluable professional connections with the Georgia scientific community. I look forward to collaborating with peers and mentors to continue my ongoing research and contribute to the broader scientific community,” Mintz said.

The Georgia Sea Grant Research Traineeship program is funded by Georgia Sea Grant, part of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant College Program, a network of 34 Sea Grant programs located in coastal and Great Lakes states and territories.