Hometown: Rockport, MA

Degree seeking: M.S., Biological Oceanography

Year of expected graduation: 2006

Major professor: Dr. Rolf Gradinger

Previous university: University of New Hampshire

Previous major: Earth Science
 

Briefly describe your graduate project: I am interested in the influence of environmental change on sea ice primary production. Sea ice communities are very sensitive to climatic variation, and changes in sea ice production could impact the entire arctic ecosystem (GC/04-01). My study focuses on the seasonal change in salinity, nutrients, temperature, and light within this ecosystem and the biological response of ice algae to these perturbations. My design consists of a new mesocosm approach and controlled laboratory incubations. I am using fluorescence methods, specifically a Pulse Amplitude Modulated (PAM) fluorometer, to measure photosynthetic rates and photosynthetic efficiency as an indicator of stress. My field site is on the landfast ice of the Chukchi Sea off Point Barrow, Alaska.

Why did you choose UAF? I had always wanted to explore the wild lands of Alaska, and there was a project here that I was extremely interested in.

Favorite pastimes and hobbies: Hiking, sea kayaking, snowboarding, skijoring, painting, and traveling.

Most interesting educational experience so far: I spent the early part of summer 2004 on the Coast Guard Cutter Healy doing sea ice research in the Beaufort Sea as part of the Shelf Basin Interaction (SBI) project. I found that really expensive instruments translate to polar bear toys north of the Arctic Circle.

Future plans: To research and/or teach biological oceanography.

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