Knauss legislative fellowships in Congress help build careers — and they're fun and educational. See our video and fact sheet for details.
Science Serving Maryland's Coasts
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Current Graduate Fellows
Maryland Sea Grant Research Fellowship
Fellowship at:
Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental ScienceProject Title:
Advancing Monitoring and Management of Mid-Atlantic Alosine Fishes with eDNA AnalysisCool Facts:
Chelsea Fowler is a master’s student in the Marine Estuarine Environmental Science graduate program. Her research seeks to investigate how population monitoring techniques using environmental DNA (eDNA) compare to traditional fish count assessments in river herring populations.
Fellowship at:
University of Maryland, College ParkProject Title:
What Happens After the Phragmites Is Killed? The Role of Native Plantings in Accelerating Post-treatment Recovery of Tidal WetlandsCool Facts:
Sylvia Jacobson studies native plant restoration in tidal wetlands dominated by the invasive plant Phragmites australis (common reed). In her free time, she enjoys hiking, playing music, and reading.
Fellowship at:
University of Maryland, College Park, Department of GeologyProject Title:
Assessing the Impact of Freshwater Salinization Syndrome on Mobilization of Nutrients and Metals in Urban Streams and RiversCool Facts:
Carly Maas is a Ph.D. student studying the impacts of salinization on urban streams. In her free time, Carly enjoys running, traveling, and watching the Carolina Hurricanes hockey team.
Fellowship at:
Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental ScienceProject Title:
Evaluating Consequences of Alternative Harvest Policies for Atlantic Menhaden and the Impacts on their Predator Atlantic Striped BassCool Facts:
Samantha Schiano is a master’s student studying the impact of harvest control rules on the Atlantic striped bass fishery. Outside of science, she enjoys running, drawing, cooking, and baking.
Fellowship at:
Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental ScienceProject Title:
Quantifying Nitrogen Removal Potential in Oyster Reefs Versus Aquaculture in Response to Hydrodynamic Setting and Water QualityCool Facts:
Stefenie is a master’s student studying at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in the Marine Estuarine Environmental Science program. Her work is aimed at modeling the ecological, chemical, and physical aspects of restored oyster reefs. She is equally as interested in environmental education as she is marine science.Competitive Graduate Research Fellowship
Fellowship at:
Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Baltimore CountyCool Facts:
Mariah Kachmar is a master’s student in the Marine Estuarine Environmental Science graduate program at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Her work seeks to determine the susceptibility of economically and ecologically important Maryland shellfish species to a virus.
Fellowship at:
Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental ScienceCool Facts:
Megan is a master’s student studying policy options of user conflicts in Chesapeake Bay. Outside of research, she loves to cook, garden, and volunteer, regularly organizing around climate change issues.Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship
Fellowship at:
The Office of Congressman Alan LowenthalCool Facts:
Laura Almodóvar-Acevedo is serving as a legislative fellow for the office of Congressman Alan Lowenthal of California’s 47th District. She is also researching habitat use of juvenile black sea bass in the Chesapeake Bay for her Ph.D. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and playing guitar.
Fellowship at:
National Marine Fisheries ServiceCool Facts:
Katie Hornick is a Habitat Restoration Specialist in the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service's Office of Habitat Conservation. She studied the genetic impact of large-scale hatchery-based restoration of oysters in Harris Creek, Maryland. Katie enjoys making jewelry, kayaking, hiking, and exploring new places with her pug, Oliver.
Fellowship at:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceCool Facts:
Amanda Lawrence is a 2020 Knauss Fellow with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in the National Wildlife Refuge System for the Coastal and Marine Program. She loves being near the water in any capacity, be it researching, kayaking or diving.
Fellowship at:
NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, Climate Program OfficeCool Facts:
Wenfei Ni uses models to understand the impacts of human activity and climate change on the long-term change of summer low oxygen condition in the Chesapeake Bay water. Aside from work, Wenfei enjoys reading crime novels, watching soccer games and hanging out with friends.
Fellowship at:
Oceanographer of the NavyCool Facts:
Caroline is serving as the Knauss Marine Policy Fellow in the Office of the Oceanographer of the Navy. She enjoys running, music by Johnny Cash, and really bad puns.Graduate Research Support Grants
Fellowship at:
Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University System of MarylandProject Title:
Natural Algaecides: Compounds Produced by Barley Straw to Reduce Harmful Algal BloomsCool Facts:
Taylor Armstrong is studying the toxins produced by algae and identifying natural algaecides to reduce harmful algal blooms. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to audiobooks, running, and painting.
Fellowship at:
Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental ScienceProject Title:
Linking Stormwater BMP Implementation and Mosquito Infestation to Resident Socioeconomic Status, Knowledge, and Attitudes in Two Suburban WatershedsCool Facts:
Brendan Campbell is looking at novel ways of understanding the physical environment associated with shellfish aquaculture gear and its relation to growth and production of shellfish. Aside from work, Brendan can be found hiking, fishing, or cooking.
Fellowship at:
Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental ScienceProject Title:
Understanding Molecular, Energetic and Physiological Responses of Crassostrea virginica to Aerial Desiccation RegimesCool Facts:
Shannon Hood is examining potential drivers of a growth penalty that is often observed among oysters which regularly undergo desiccation, a management practice which has been successful in controlling biofouling on oyster farms. She also enjoys traveling and exploring new places.
Fellowship at:
University of Maryland, College ParkProject Title:
Assessing the Ecohydrological Performance of Stormwater Green Infrastructure (SWGI) Treatment Trains at the Subwatershed Scale in Montgomery County, MDCool Facts:
Matthew Wilfong investigates the hydrology and pollution retention of different stormwater green infrastructure designs in Maryland to better understand stormwater pollution in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. He enjoys fly fishing, trail running, and backpacking.
Fellowship at:
Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental ScienceProject Title:
Continuous Mapping of Channel Features for Monitoring Aquatic Habitat and Sediment Flux in Coastal SystemsCool Facts:
Anna Windle uses satellites and drones to study water quality in Chesapeake Bay. In her spare time, Anna enjoys swimming, biking, and running to train for triathlons.NMFS-Sea Grant Joint Fellowships
Fellowship at:
Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental ScienceProject Title:
Impacts of Misspecification of Spatial Structure of Assessment and Stock on Reliability of Reference PointsCool Facts:
Reed is studying the population dynamics of black sea bass (Centropristis striata) in the Mid-Atlantic Bight region of the Atlantic seaboard. In his free time, Reed enjoys kayaking, fishing, and crabbing in the Patuxent River and the Chesapeake Bay.Program Announcements
News and Blogs
Featured Fellow
Anna Windle uses satellites and drones to study water quality in Chesapeake Bay. In her spare time, Anna enjoys swimming, biking, and running to train for triathlons.
Featured Research Project
Discrimination of Phytoplankton Taxa in the Optically Complex Waters of Chesapeake Bay
A spectral library of remote sensing reflectance for major phytoplankton taxonomic groups in the Chesapeake Bay will be developed using measured and modeled inherent optical properties as inputs into radiative transfer equations (HydroLight TM). The spectral library will be used to develop a phytoplankton discrimination algorithm in order to distinguish major phytoplankton taxa and sediment types in Chesapeake Bay waters.
