Knauss legislative fellowships in Congress help build careers — and they're fun and educational. See our video and fact sheet for details.
Current Graduate Fellows
Maryland Sea Grant Research Fellowship
Fellowship at:
Morgan State University, Patuxent Environmental and Aquatic Research LaboratoryProject Title:
Development of Triploid and Tetraploid Eastern Oysters for Maryland AquacultureCool Facts:
Shivish Bhandari is a graduate student in the Bioenvironmental Science Ph.D. program at Morgan State University studying environment-genome interaction in Eastern oysters. Outside of his studies, Shivish enjoys traveling, bird watching, and photography.
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:
NOAA OAR Climate Program OfficeCool Facts:
Shadaesha is a Communication, Education and Engagement (CEE) division fellow in NOAA’s Climate Program Office. In her free time, Shadaesha enjoys spending time with her family, reading, watching movies (binge watching Netflix), and cooking.
Fellowship at:
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Coastal States OrganizationCool Facts:
Cadijah Walcott is the Coastal Hazards and Mitigation Specialists for FEMA and CSO. She enjoys traveling, being outside, especially near water, and reading books. She loves whales and hopes to see one in person one day!
Fellowship at:
NOAA OAR Technology Partnerships OfficeCool Facts:
Suzi Webster is a Stakeholder Engagement and Outreach Specialist in the NOAA Technology Partnerships Office.
Fellowship at:
NOAA NMFS Office of Habitat ConservationCool Facts:
Dani Weissman is a Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program Fellow in the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service's Office of Habitat Conservation. She volunteers with Maryland and DC-based environmental groups to improve water quality in her local streams and the Chesapeake Bay.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:
Discrimination of Phytoplankton Taxa in the Optically Complex Waters of Chesapeake BayCool 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
Shivish Bhandari is a graduate student in the Bioenvironmental Science Ph.D. program at Morgan State University studying environment-genome interaction in Eastern oysters. Outside of his studies, Shivish enjoys traveling, bird watching, and photography.
Featured Research Project
Controlling Fouling and Pests Associated with Water Column Oyster Aquaculture
This project has demonstrated the effectiveness of environmentally benign methods for biofouling control. There are many methods of biofouling control which have been suggested, with varying degrees of effectiveness and commercial applicability. Some may be highly species-specific, while others may target a range of species. In order for a biofouling management technique to be widely adopted, it must have the potential to be applied commercially without adding unreasonable labor demands, and it must be effective in controlling biofouling with disrupting the crop of interest, the oysters.
