Age: 25

Hometown: Washington, D.C.

Degree: M.S., Fisheries Biology

Year of expected graduation: 2004

Major Professor: Dr. Anthony Gharrett
 

Briefly describe your graduate project: I am looking at outbreeding depression in hybrids of spatially separated pink salmon. This project is the continuation of work currently in progress, where hybrids were made of salmon from Auke Creek, near Juneau, Alaska, and Pillar Creek, near Kodiak, Alaska. I am looking at how the effects of outbreeding depression increase after several generations, and what potential problems this causes in family size, fitness, reproductive success, as well as the risk of losing the true genetic composition in a population of salmon if it were hybridized. Outbreeding depression is especially important in the management of fisheries and in the preservation of purely wild stocks.

Why did you choose UAF? I chose UAF because I had an incredible research experience during my undergraduate studies working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Kodiak, working on a chum salmon spawning habitat analysis. Through my undergraduate studies I had several opportunities to travel to various places around the world and study some incredible organisms, but I found that I enjoyed my time in Alaska the best. I wanted to return to Alaska to study salmon, and UAF was the ideal school for that.

Favorite pastimes and hobbies: I enjoy hiking, fishing, kayaking, and reading.

Most interesting educational experience so far: During my undergraduate work, I had some amazing opportunities to travel to places like Costa Rica, Tonga, northern Canada, and of course Alaska. Since being in graduate school, my most interesting experience so far has to be working at the hatchery in Auke Bay, and helping to sort through all the different returning fish species as we collected the samples needed for my project.

Future plans: Eventually I would like to obtain a Ph.D. and work as a fisheries biologist, taking what I learn during my research and applying it to the conservation and restoration of fish stocks, particularly salmon, in Alaska.

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