Hometown: Wethersfield, CT

Degree seeking: M.S., Marine Biology, Fairbanks

Year of expected graduation: 2005

Major professor: Dr. Rolf Gradinger

Previous university: University of Oregon

Previous major: Biology
 

Briefly describe your graduate project: I've been working on a project involving carbon and nitrogen stable isotope enrichment experiments with amphipods from the nearshore waters of the Chukchi Sea off Barrow, Alaska (R/101-04). Amphipods are a major food source for higher trophic levels in the region, and I'm interested in how the changing sea ice conditions might affect them and the arctic food web as a whole.

These amphipods rely, at least in part, on algae and invertebrates within seasonal sea ice as a food source, and this ice-based food tends to be enriched in ¹³C and ¹⁵N compared with food derived from the water column. I have been looking at how foods with different isotopic ratios are reflected in the amphipod tissues through controlled feeding experiments in the lab. I am hoping that this will allow me to collect amphipods in the field and be able to say something about where these amphipods are feeding at different times of the year, and how much they rely on ice-derived material.

Why did you choose UAF? I was impressed by the level of research being done at UAF, and I was interested in staying in Alaska while working on my degree. UAF has been a great choice for me.

Favorite pastimes and hobbies: Staying active and taking advantage of what the Alaskan outdoors has to offer is my biggest pastime. I ski as much as possible through the winter months and hike, paddle, and get out on the ocean when I can during the summer.

Most interesting educational experience so far: I have had many opportunities to travel for my own research, and have joined other teams for projects very different from my own. My work has introduced me to the community of Barrow and to the sea ice environment offshore, an experience that changed the direction of my research focus. I have joined research cruises to the Bering Sea to study whales, and to the Gulf of Alaska. I've been to remote islands off the Alaska Peninsula for seabird and seal studies, and so many points in between. Traveling to remote areas in Alaska that would otherwise be out of reach has been an education in itself and collectively this has been the most interesting experience thus far.

Future plans: After this degree I plan to stay in Alaska and pursue a position in which I can continue arctic research. I hope to contribute to better understanding of climate change in high latitudes and how this may affect the biology in these regions.

back to students home page