Returning for another successful year on Saturday 17 May, the UW Aquatic Sciences Open House had more than 1,000 attendees, with children of all ages plus their families. Organized by Students Explore Aquatic Sciences (SEAS), the event showcases the breadth of aquatic science taking place at the University of Washington and in the Puget Sound region with partner organizations. Attendees get a chance to get up close and personal with aquatic science to learn more about our watery world—both locally and globally.
During low tide at Padilla Bay on a bright day in early May, you could find a class of UW undergraduates exploring the largest contiguous seagrass ecosystem in the lower 48. Why? To collect data to assess the habitat value of seagrass.
Mark Stone, UW Photography
Undergraduates exploring the largest contiguous seagrass ecosystem in the lower 48 at Padilla Bay.
An estuary in Puget Sound at the saltwater edge of the Skagit River Delta, Padilla Bay has nearly 8,000 acres of eelgrass (a type of seagrass), which becomes totally exposed during low tide. These eelgrass meadows, nestled in the mudflats of Padilla Bay, were the location for a visit by the FISH 312: Aquatic Ecology class, made up of juniors and seniors at UW SAFS.
Mark Stone, UW Photography
Eelgrass meadows act as nurseries for a multitude of species.
Led by Carter Smith, SAFS Assistant Professor, students chose from different datasets compiled during the class to answer a research question of their own choosing. A few of the students chose to use the data collected during the Padilla Bay fieldtrip for their research questions.
Mark Stone, UW Photography
During the FISH 312: Aquatic Ecology class fieldtrip, undergraduate students collected data to assess the habitat of value of seagrass.
For more than 40 years, Padilla Bay has been designated as a National Estuarine Research Reserve because of its unusually large eelgrass meadows. Eelgrass is a vital part of the fabric of the Pacific Northwest for a multitude of reasons: it acts as a nursery for salmon, crab, perch, and herring. It’s home to a range of invertebrates which are a critical food resource for both animals and humans. It also acts as a carbon sink, by trapping the gas in the mudflats.
Tulalip Tribes is hiring a full time temporary Wetland/Ecological Restoration Technician to work as an assistant to the Wetland Program Coordinator. The Wetland Technician will conduct field work in vegetation monitoring and management including developing skills in plant identification, invasive species control, maintaining stream and wetland restoration projects, data collection and management, and use of field data collection equipment including GPS.
High School Diploma or GED required related field.
AND
Two (2) years of college toward a degree in environmental sciences, biology or related field. (Relevant experience may substitute for the degree requirement on a year for year basis.)
OR
Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program
Skills
Must have computer skills and proficiency in MS Office Word, Excel, Power Point, and Outlook
Familiarity with common field gear including how to use tape measures, hand shears, shovels
Familiarity with plant identification strategies
Must be able to work in challenging physical environments, with minimal supervision and cooperatively with others in a team environment
Desired Experience
Experience conducting environmental fieldwork in diverse weather and landscapes such as wetlands, streams, and forests, shorelines, etc.
Experience in wetland, biological or fisheries field methods
Experience in natural resource inventory and assessment
Physical Characteristics and/or Prerequisites
Must be able to work in diverse weather conditions
Mobility to bend, stoop, climb vegetated slopes, walk on uneven or slippery terrain, and soft substrates through heavy brush on a daily basis.
Hand and finger dexterity for the operation of personal computer and routine paperwork.
Must be able to carry equipment and supplies up to 20 lbs.
Specific job performed
The Wetland/Ecological Restoration Technician will work as an assistant to the Wetland Program Coordinator conducting vegetation monitoring and management field work.
This position will be a 60-70% field position to 30-40% office technician to assist the wetland program coordinator in field work and data management.
Conduct field work in forest, streams, and wetland areas, requiring traversing on uneven ground, boggy, and inundated areas.
Assist with maintaining stream and wetland restoration projects, planting, and fencing plantings.
Assist with noxious weeds control projects.
Assist with beaver management projects
Potential for accomplishing capstone project for wetland species surveys.
Congratulations to the four recipients of the SAFS Faculty Merit Award, awarded to outstanding scholars and members of the SAFS community: Emma Meyer (BS), Liz Allyn (MS), Amelia DuVall (PhD), and Kristin Privitera-Johnson (PhD).
Emma Meyer
Graduating this year from the SAFS undergraduate program, Emma Meyer was described by her nominator as excelling in every facet of her education during her time at SAFS. Currently working on a capstone project in the Fish Collection, Emma is using a combination of molecular tools and morphology to determine how many species are present in a group of miniature coral reef fishes.
Liz Allyn
Exceptional academic accomplishments, leadership, and deep commitment to collaborative, community-engaged research—these were some of the reasons Liz Allyn was chosen for the SAFS Faculty Merit Award. A SAFS Master’s student, Liz is exploring pinniped predation on salmon in Puget Sound and the implications for tribal fisheries.
Amelia DuVall
From publishing papers, presenting research at conferences, and obtaining competitive grants, to mentoring undergraduate students and leading complex research projects, Amelia DuVall is in the SAFS PhD program. She is due to defend her dissertation this summer. Her nominator describes Amelia as an incredible biologist, and someone always working to make her community better and give back.
Kristin Privitera-Johnson
Beyond her PhD research, Kristin Privitera-Johnson has contributed to SAFS and the College of the Environment in multiple ways. She co-lead the SAFS Code of Conduct, sat on the College and SAFS Curriculum Committees, was involved in the College Strategic Plan Steering Committee, and was a reviewer for the NMFS-Sea Grant Population Dynamics Fellowship. Kristin’s nominator said she has been one of the most outstanding PhD students at SAFS in recent years.
Shellfish aquaculture is a vital industry in the US, but one which faces mounting challenges threatening both productivity and business viability. Research often fails to align with growers’ immediate needs, so researchers set out to help close this gap in a new study published in Aquaculture Reports, interviewing over 30 commercial shellfish growers across the US Pacific region.
Funded as part of NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program, former Research Scientist at the University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences (UW SAFS) and now a Fisheries Resource Management Specialist with NOAA Fisheries, Connor Lewis-Smith led the research to document how industry participants perceive ocean acidification threats and evaluate emerging adaptation strategies that are actively being researched: parental priming and native species portfolio diversification.
The research team included scientists from NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC), Puget Sound Restoration Fund, UW SAFS, and the University of the Virgin Islands. They interviewed owners, field managers, hatchery managers, and other staff from operations across five states on the Pacific Ocean: Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, and Hawaii. “Operations ranged in scale and included hatchery, nursery, and growout components. We also included tribally managed and tribally affiliated businesses,” Lewis-Smith said.
Connor Lewis-Smith
Bird’s-eye view of an oyster farm.
Taking a step back in time to 2013, concern about ocean acidification among shellfish growers was four times higher than among the general public, a result of the hatchery crisis of the mid-2000s, where hatchery-produced oysters started dying by the billions along the Northwest coast. Today, ocean acidification remains a concern, but less so. Based on interviews among growers in 2023-2024, the team found ocean acidification to be a lower-priority concern compared to other stressors such as temperature, disease, harmful algal blooms, and regulatory constraints.
“Many growers are unsure whether declining survival or productivity is due to ocean acidification, other environmental changes, or a combination,” Lewis-Smith said. “This nuance, where ocean acidification is seen as an ever-present “enemy on the hill,” but not necessarily the most urgent battle, points to the need for research and risk communication that reflects the interconnected nature of aquaculture stressors.”
Enhanced monitoring and adaptation to changing environmental conditions is actively supported across the industry, and this is where research plays a critical role, not only to deliver these adaptations, but to align them with growers’ practical realities and decision-making needs. In the study, the researchers looked at growers’ perceptions of two adaptation strategies to ocean acidification: parental priming and native species portfolio diversification.
Parental priming uses environmental conditioning of the parental generation to enhance the resilience of shellfish offspring. Native species portfolio diversification involves cultivating native species, such as Olympia oysters and geoduck clams, which may offer inherent resilience to ocean acidification.
Connor Lewis-Smith
Shellfish portfolio, including oysters and a geoduck clam.
“Historically along the Pacific coast, the shellfish aquaculture industry has relied heavily on introduced species, such as Pacific oysters originally imported from Japan over a century ago, and they now account for the vast majority of production. Manila clams are another major contributor, also introduced,” Lewis-Smith shared. “These species became dominant in the early 20th century as native oyster populations like the Olympia oyster collapsed due to overharvest and habitat degradation.”
Researchers found higher levels of skepticism towards native species diversification stemming from regulatory hurdles, limited market demand, and slower growth rate of some species. Current regulations restrict the propagation of native species to preserve genetic diversity, while from an economic perspective, native species like Olympia oysters grow more slowly and may not meet market preferences for size, taste, or shucked-meat yield. There’s also an infrastructure concern to address, with restructured farming practices required for some native species. “We found that 69% of respondents cultivated at least one native species, and some are actively expanding their native offerings, however the industry’s core remains centered on introduced species,” Lewis-Smith said.
Connor Lewis-Smith
An oyster farm located on Hood Canal.
On the flip side, parental priming was viewed as a promising, if still experimental, strategy—one that 64% of growers and hatchery operators would consider if backed by strong scientific evidence. By conditioning broodstock to low pH or other stressors during gonadal maturation—to enhance offspring resilience—this strategy doesn’t require overhauling product lines, shifting consumer preferences, or navigating regulatory pathways. Concerns about this strategy were also uncovered during the study, emphasizing the financial and logistical burden of adopting new protocols, and stressing broodstock during critical life stages.
“We found that the relatively high interest in parental priming reflects a broader industry trend toward cautious innovation, where growers are open to new strategies, but only when those strategies are empirically validated, operationally feasible, and financially justifiable,” Lewis-Smith said.
In addition to gathering information on the industry’s perspective on environmental stressors and emerging strategies, the team concluded that collaboration between growers, researchers, and policymakers is essential for co-producing relevant adaptation strategies that are scientifically sound and operationally feasible. “The industry has already shown collaborative success in implementing monitoring and buffering systems after the 2005–2009 ocean acidification induced hatchery shortages,” Lewis-Smith said. “However, sustained engagement and support are needed to develop and scale newer strategies like priming or diversification, especially given the sector’s diversity and regulatory complexities.”
Study Abroad at the University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
Application Deadline: May 26th, 2025
Are you a graduate student interested in advancing your academic and research experience in marine ecophysiology and environmental chemistry while immersing yourself in Italian culture? The University of Washington and the University of Milano-Bicocca (UNIMIB) are excited to announce a fellowship opportunity through the Erasmus+ KA171 program.
This exchange program aims to strengthen international collaboration in marine science by providing a 60-day fully funded research stay at UNIMIB during Fall 2025.
Selected students will work under the supervision of Dr. Francesco Saliu, a leading researcher at UNIMIB. His lab focuses on marine environmental chemistry, chemical ecology, and analytical chemistry with applications in environmental sustainability and pollution research.
Students will gain practical experience in:
Mass spectrometry
Infrared spectroscopy
Chemical analysis of pollutants and microplastics
Advanced techniques in marine chemistry and ecology
Fellowship Benefits
Collaborate with international scientists and peers
Gain experience in multidisciplinary projects associated with plastic pollution, marine ecophysiology and environmental chemistry
Develop practical expertise in cutting-edge analytical techniques
Immerse yourself in the academic and cultural environment of Milan, Italy
Who Should Apply
We welcome applications from University of Washington graduate students who:
Are studying marine biology, environmental science, chemistry, oceanography, chemical engineering, material science, or related disciplines
Are available to travel for 60 days during Fall 2025
Are adaptable, curious, and open to cultural exchange
Have a strong academic background and research interests aligned with the fellowship
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on:
Proposal, 2 pages (40 points)
Curriculum (50 points)
Language proficiency, adaptability, and cultural awareness (10 points)
Key Details
Location: University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
Duration: 60 days in Fall 2025
Funding: Travel and living expenses fully supported by the Erasmus+ KA171 fellowship
Proposal Should Include:
Academic and Research Objectives
Describe your academic background and how this opportunity aligns with your field of study (e.g., marine biology, environmental science, chemistry, etc.).
Identify what you hope to learn or achieve during your time at UNIMIB.
Proposed Research Focus
Briefly outline a research interest or question you would like to explore.
Connect your goals with UNIMIB’s strengths in marine ecophysiology, environmental chemistry, chemical ecology, or pollution analysis.
Relevance to Career Goals
Explain how this international exchange experience fits into your future academic or professional plans (e.g., graduate school, international research, environmental policy).
Adaptability and Cultural Preparedness
Reflect on your interest in working abroad, your adaptability, and any past cross-cultural or travel experiences.
How to Apply
Submit your application (including your proposal, CV, academic transcript, and mobility plan) to: jpgamino@uw.edu
Application Deadline: May 26th, 2025
Questions?
For more information, please contact Jacqueline L. Padilla-Gamiño at jpgamino@uw.edu
For many students about to embark on their undergraduate journey at university, they plan to study one thing but end up studying something completely different. This was the case for SAFS undergraduate, Ryan Luvera. “Coming into UW, I, along with many of my peers, thought I would go into medicine. However, my blue-collar fishing family genes had other plans. My love for fisheries has devoted me to protecting Washington and Alaska’s waters, which have fed and clothed my family for three generations,” Ryan said. “The SAFS undergraduate degree was an obvious choice for me. The coursework, capstone, and connections I have gained have been invaluable.”
One of the goals of the SAFS degree is to prepare students through classes, lab work and fieldwork, to undertake and lead their own research project as the final requirement of the major – it’s called a capstone. Ryan, who’s in his junior year, decided to get started on his capstone early, using the skills he’s already learned.
Ryan collecting eDNA water samples in Happy Creek.
Storing the eDNA samples taken from the river.
“I’ve always been a fan of practical science. Environmental DNA is a blossoming field which has applications for management of invasive, endangered, and commercially important species. After being accepted to the Alaska Salmon Program for the summer of 2024, I decided to contact Wes Larson from NOAA Fisheries who had done an environmental DNA project already within the Alaska Salmon Program watershed. My capstone focuses on improving the salmon abundance estimation models that he had created,” Ryan shared.
The Alaska Salmon Program hosts UW students each summer to spend a month or more at the field camps to live and work in a diverse ecosystem which supports one of the world’s most important fisheries. For Ryan, he used this time to work on his own capstone research under the guidance of Wes, building on an existing, larger project. Wes happened to be in Alaska at the same time, teaching an eDNA section during the Aquatic Ecological Research in Alaska (AERA) Class for the Alaska Salmon Program, so the timing worked out perfectly for Ryan’s research.
Ryan Luvera
Sockeye Salmon pooled in Hansen Creek.
“The larger project aims to use environmental DNA samples (collected in water) which are taken from the mouth of streams (where the stream enters the lake) to estimate the abundance of salmon within the stream,” Ryan said. “My project is focused on samples taken at several points while walking approximately 1km up two streams. At these set points going up the streams, we counted all the DNA copies that were present. From this, we want to hopefully see an increase in eDNA as water flows past salmon swimming in the stream. Ultimately, this data will help make our models better for estimating salmon abundance with eDNA samples taken at the mouth of streams as we understand how much eDNA is actually making it there, not just settling on rocks or being eaten by microbes.”
Sampling two streams that feed into Lake Aleknagik—Happy and Eagle Creek—Ryan worked with the AERA 2024 class, carrying roughly 120 pounds of water down Happy Creek “It was a rough day. I stayed up all night filtering water and putting the filters into preservative solution which allowed us to store the eDNA at room temperature. We then run a quantitative PCR to count the abundance of DNA within each sample and use that data to understand how eDNA is flowing within these streams. Preliminary results suggest that eDNA is better at flowing to the mouth of streams when there are lots of salmon and even with a higher flow of water.” Ryan said.
During their time at SAFS, undergrads are encouraged to seek out opportunities to enhance their experience at conducting research. Ryan not only found useful opportunities within UW—such as the Alaska Salmon Program field season and SAFS classes—but he also worked with external agencies to gain valuable research experience.
Ryan Luvera
AERA Class of 2024 taking flow measurements of the water.
“Doing any sort of field sampling has been very helpful for my capstone. Not just the experience with field sampling, but also the troubles that come with it. It has really shown me that being prepared for anything is key. As for my degree, the writing classes, like FISH 290, have been pivotal as you create a mock capstone project and learn foundational knowledge in scientific writing and presentation. Doing a quantitative science minor has also been very beneficial, and I think the QSCI series really should be required for the fisheries degree,” Ryan said.
One key thing Ryan would share with other undergraduates is to take those opportunities that may seem strange or a bit of a long shot in the moment. “In terms of external experience, I had no degree specific experience before undergrad, unless you count making tuna sandwiches at Subway as fisheries. As an undergraduate, work snowballs fast. My freshman year, I applied to be an intern at King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) which was a long shot, but it worked out,” Ryan shared. “Taking strange opportunities is important. I got a job with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game because of a conversation with my nurse. Applying and working in a variety of positions has also been key for not only figuring out my path, but it also helps with future applications. Once you work in a position and talk to your mentor/advisor, you will start to understand what these positions are looking for. From there you can apply that knowledge to the next position to exceed their expectations. Working for Alaska Department of Fish and Game was hard, but I learned so much about management and fisheries from different stakeholders. Seeing the fishery from many different angles (research, management, family) has allowed me to become more attractive to employers.”
Ryan Luvera
Makeshift eDNA filtering station which couldn’t be in the lab due to contamination concerns.
A frequently asked question for prospective students thinking of applying to university is about scholarships, and it remains an important question even when working your way through an undergraduate degree. Ryan applied for the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship while in high school. “I would recommend anyone in their undergraduate experience who meets the qualifications to apply as the benefits are vast. It’s not only about the money, but the scholarship also allows you to build skills while making connections with potential employers,” Ryan said. “I give credit to the scholarship for giving me a start at King County. They notified me about the opportunity and provided resources, such as peer mentors, who could help with application materials. Now, I am one of their peer mentors for students in their first and second years at UW and Western Washington University. Being able to relay resources that are available specifically through the scholarship, provide support and mentorship, and share information on opportunities such as internships, to other undergrads who were in the same position that I was two short years ago, has been very rewarding.”
So, what’s next for Ryan, once he graduates from SAFS? “I am hoping to go to graduate school here at UW, but we’ll see! Government work is my end goal, probably locally at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) or the Washington Department of Ecology (WDOE). That’s where I see myself making the most impact on my community here in Washington.”
Want to learn more about other undergraduate research?
Big Water Consulting is pleased to offer a unique opportunity for an internship with a private, but public interest-oriented, consulting firm working on dynamic and evolving projects directly focused on enhancing the ability of tribal governments, housing authorities, and service providers use data to plan for the future and improve the communities they work for and in. One such project, the Northern Cheyenne Health and Housing Needs Assessment, is helping a tribe in rural Montana exercise its tribal data sovereignty by facilitating the tribe’s collection of data that accurately describes community conditions and preparation of reporting materials that will properly tell the community’s story and enable tribal leaders and program staff to plan for the future and attract the funding that their community needs.
Under the direct supervision of Big Water Consulting staff, the intern will assist in transforming complex data sets into clear, engaging written narratives and designing visually compelling materials that accurately reflect analytical findings. Report writing will include working with both qualitative and quantitative information collected during Big Water Consulting’s surveys and studies and translating data findings into well-structured, technically accurate written reports and briefs for internal and external stakeholders. The visual presentation of data will include designing professional, high-quality visual materials (e.g., infographics and presentations) that summarize project findings in clear, accurate, and aesthetically engaging ways.
You can see the full position description here, including instructions how to apply by May 23, 2025.
“Being a part of the College of the Environment, QERM, and SAFS communities is something I am very proud of, and I have loved being a part of it, so it is nice to be recognized for my contributions towards this community,” Zoe said.
The Graduate Dean’s Medalist award recognizes graduate students based on outstanding academic achievement, as well as outstanding leadership or service, on or off campus. Zoe ticks all of these boxes, with Zoe’s nominator sharing that Zoe excelled in so many different dimensions that it was hard to list only a few for the nomination letter: “Seven peer-reviewed publications, six assessment documents, two best poster awards at conferences on marine mammals and on seabirds, multiple heavy duty service assignments, undergraduate mentoring, teaching at high schools, and through all of this, a fabulous attitude overcoming all obstacles with a level, mature attitude and an infectious laugh.”
Zoe uses mathematical and statistical models to study the population dynamics of baleen whales, using primarily historical data from whaling records, looking at questions related to movement, population size, and demographic rates. In relation to population assessments for Antarctic blue whales, Zoe’s method was two orders of magnitude more efficient than previous methods, and Zoe is now working to expand this model to produce the first integrated assessment that fits directly to the available mark-recapture data from photo-ID.
Zoe Rand
Zoe stands next to a blow up whale at the Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center, located in Hawaii, in Summer 2024.
Serving in a wide variety of leadership and service roles while at UW, Zoe was a mentor for the Identity Belonging and Inquiry in Science (IBIS) Program, mentoring undergraduate Ashley Rendon during a project looking at growth rates of Antarctic blue whales in utero. “Mentoring Ashley was a great experience. Her passion and excitement for the project was inspiring, and I think I learned to more deeply understand my own research in the process of answering her questions and guiding her in her project,” Zoe shared.
Zoe Rand
Zoe presents research at the 25th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals in Australia in November 2024.
These acts of service for the UW community also involved running the SAFS Quantitative Seminars for a whole year and participating in the College of the Environment Student Advisory Council and the SAFS Curriculum Committee. “Being involved in the Student Advisory Council and the SAFS Curriculum Committee gave me a deeper appreciation for the inner workings of the UW and the work that goes into making the College and the department what it is,” Zoe said. “I’ve also had booths or volunteered at the SEAS Open House during my time, and that’s one of my favorite events of the year, just to see the community so excited about our work.”
As a student in the QERM program and a member of a SAFS lab, Zoe has appreciated being able to build community within both. “I really value the SAFS and QERM graduate student communities. Everyone really supports each other, and I couldn’t have made it through graduate school without them,” Zoe said.
Are you interested in applying to the NSF GRFP this fall? This five-year fellowship funds three years of your graduate education. Both undergraduate and graduate students can apply.
We are hosting an information session on the NSF GRFP to explain what it is, who is eligible for it, and a new structure for the workshop. We will also discuss the results of the most recent GRFP competition, and implications for future applicants. This session will be offered in person and online on the following dates:
Graduating this year from the SAFS undergraduate program, Emma Meyer was described by her nominator as excelling in every facet of her education during her time at SAFS. Currently working on a capstone project in the Fish Collection, Emma is using a combination of molecular tools and morphology to determine how many species are present in a group of miniature coral reef fishes.
Exceptional academic accomplishments, leadership, and deep commitment to collaborative, community-engaged research—these were some of the reasons Liz Allyn was chosen for the SAFS Faculty Merit Award. A SAFS Master’s student, Liz is exploring pinniped predation on salmon in Puget Sound and the implications for tribal fisheries.
From publishing papers, presenting research at conferences, and obtaining competitive grants, to mentoring undergraduate students and leading complex research projects, Amelia DuVall is in the SAFS PhD program. She is due to defend her dissertation this summer. Her nominator describes Amelia as an incredible biologist, and someone always working to make her community better and give back.
Beyond her PhD research, Kristin Privitera-Johnson has contributed to SAFS and the College of the Environment in multiple ways. She co-lead the SAFS Code of Conduct, sat on the College and SAFS Curriculum Committees, was involved in the College Strategic Plan Steering Committee, and was a reviewer for the NMFS-Sea Grant Population Dynamics Fellowship. Kristin’s nominator said she has been one of the most outstanding PhD students at SAFS in recent years.
