People

Sustainable Oceans Scholars - 2022

Anna Rothstein

Anna Rothstein

  • MS Student San Jose State University
Anna Rothstein is a Master’s student in Dr. Maya deVries’s lab at San Jose State University. Her research aims to uncover the ecological function of cryptic coral environments, such as crevices and tunnels, to better understand holistic reef functioning. For her thesis, she plans to use classic and modern surveying techniques to better understand the prevalence and function of crustose coralline algae (CCA) residing inside the reef communities of West Maui.
Jessica weidenfeld

Jessica Weidenfeld

  • MS student and CSU Council on Ocean Affairs, Science & Technology Scholar San Diego State University
Jessica Weidenfeld is an Ecology Mater’s student at San Diego State University in Dr. Hentschel’s lab. Her thesis is focused on understanding how a sea urchin’s diet effects its commensal polychaete by examining changes in urchin fecal quality and how that relates to the polychaete’s consumption and growth. After completing her Master’s she hopes to do work in promoting California’s blue economy through waste reduction and reuse in aquaculture.

CMSI-COAST Scholar 2020

Jordan Alejo

Jordan Alejo

  • MS Student and CSU Council on Ocean Affairs, Science & Technology Scholar
  • San Diego State University
Jordan Alejo is currently a Master’s student at San Diego State University in the Public Health department, specializing in Environmental Health. He is interested in the effects of anthropogenic chemicals on coastal systems, the relationship to public health, and interdisciplinary approaches to mitigate the impacts. His thesis project explores the ecological and bioaccumulative effects of tobacco waste on marine life in a coastal natural reserve.
Natasha Ficzycz

Natasha Ficzycz

  • MS Student and CSU Council on Ocean Affairs, Science & Technology Scholar
Natasha Ficzycz is a Masters student in Dr. Eric Bjorkstedt’s lab at Humboldt State University. She is interested in exploring the effects that harmful algae blooms have on coastal marine resources. Her thesis is focused on gathering data on the gradients to which species of the toxic diatom, Pseudo nitszchia, enter Humboldt Bay with the use of clams as an integrated sensor.
Gammon Koval

Gammon Koval

  • MS Student and CSU Council on Ocean Affairs, Science & Technology Scholar
  • Moss Landing Marine Laboratory
Gammon Koval is a Master’s student at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories in Dr. Scott Hamilton’s Ichthyology Lab. His thesis is focused on the surf zone community assemblage and observing how it changes throughout the year as well as how marine protected areas are impacting it. This is also part of a larger, state-wide assessment investigating how marine protected areas are conserving the surf zone.
Allison Payne

Allison Payne

  • MS Student and CSU Council on Ocean Affairs, Science & Technology Scholar
  • San Francisco State University
Allison Payne is a Masters student at San Francisco State’s Estuary and Ocean Science Center with Dr. Ellen Hines. Her research looks at humpback whale entanglement scars off the coast of central California to inform management decisions. She hopes to continue a career doing cetacean research that will impact conservation and policy.
Monica Tonty

Monica Tonty

  • MS Student and CSU Council on Ocean Affairs, Science & Technology Scholar
  • Humboldt State University
Monica Tonty is a Master’s student in Dr. Darren Ward’s lab at Humboldt State University, which focuses on anadromous salmonids within coastal watersheds. She is interested in researching the effectiveness of different habitat restoration projects and incorporating behavioral or life history diversity. She is collaborating with the Scott River Watershed Council to analyze factors influencing juvenile coho salmon survival during freshwater rearing in different types of restored habitats, including side channels, beaver dam analogs, and off-channel ponds.

CMSI-COAST Scholar 2019

Ellie Brauer

Ellie Brauer

Ellie Brauer received her B.S. from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2017 and she is currently continuing her studies at Cal Poly in pursuit of Master’s degree in Biology. She is interested in how variation in ocean conditions affects growth rate in fish and she hopes to pursue fisheries science as a career.
Ms. Fields

Jennifer Fields

Jennifer Fields is currently a Master’s student at California State University, Northridge in Dr. Nyssa Silbiger’s Quantitative Marine Ecology Lab. She is interested in the effects of climate change on ecosystem function in rocky intertidal communities. She hopes to incorporate interdisciplinary, whole ecosystem approaches into her research to help inform conservation management decisions.
Carl

Carl Hendrickson

  • MS Student and CSU Council on Ocean Affairs, Science & Technology Scholar
  • San Francisco State University
Carl Hendrickson is a Master’s student at the San Fransisco State University Estuarine and Ocean Science Center. He studies eelgrass restoration in San Francisco Bay and how ecosystem services offered by Living Shorelines Restoration Projects can help counter climate change impacts.