Alaska Sea Grant State Fellowship welcomes 10th class

Sixteen early-career scientists and professionals were selected for the 2024–2025 Alaska Sea Grant State Fellowship. These Fellows will start this summer and fall, working around the state in support of Alaska’s coastal communities and marine resources.

Since 2015, the year-long paid fellowship has matched soon-to-graduate or recently finished graduate students with hosts in Alaska-based state and federal agencies and nonprofit organizations, where they acquire on-the-job experience in coastal and marine science and policy.

Jake Cohen
Cohen will continue his fellowship with Alaska Sea Grant, organizing a workshop focused on climate migration and adaptation called “Adapt in Place.” The workshop will bring together communities in Alaska and Canada who are planning a slow move away from the coast.

Michelle Dutro
Dutro will continue her fellowship with NOAA Fisheries Protected Resources Division, assisting with the Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network’s stranding and entanglement data management, response, and outreach. She will also work with Alaska Ocean Guardian Program schools to increase ocean literacy and stewardship in Alaska.

Rachel French
French will work with Alaska Sea Grant to update the Alaska Oyster Growers Manual, which serves as a comprehensive guide for oyster farmers and provides essential information on best practices, techniques, regulations, and safety protocols.

Mack Hughes
Hughes will join USGS Alaska Science Center’s Nearshore Marine Ecosystem Research Program, contributing to research and monitoring of intertidal communities and nearshore marine predators, including sea stars, shorebirds, sea ducks, and sea otters.

Jenna Kennedy
Kennedy’s fellowship work with the Alaska Mariculture Alliance will involve regional outreach to coastal and Alaska Native communities, policy work, and grant administration, and she will be collaborating with federal and state agencies, farmers, nonprofits, and economic development agencies.

Phoebe Koenig
Koenig will work with Southeast Conference to provide support and oversight to coordinate Alaska Mariculture Cluster grant programs, focusing on funds being invested in Alaska’s mariculture hatchery/nursery sector.

Angela Korabik
Korabik will continue her fellowship work on aquaculture projects with the NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center Kodiak Laboratory. Her main focus will be a project assessing the potential habitat value of kelp farms compared to local kelp beds for local fish populations in the Kodiak area.

Maddi McArthur
McArthur will join the UAF Institute of Northern Engineering to work on the Alaska Coastal Mapping project, organizing a bathymetry user workshop in Utqiaġvik that supports community engagement.

Noah Meyer
Meyer will work with the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska on the Native Tribal Health Consortium Climate Initiatives Program, assisting in developing a holistic climate adaptation planning service framework to bridge climate change, risk assessment, and project implementation.

Addie Norgaard
Norgaard’s fellowship work with the UAF Alaska Center for Energy and Power will contribute to the Pacific Marine Energy Center Short Course learning design and a community-driven study of river current energy on the Kuskokwim River at McGrath, Alaska.

Alaina Plauché
Plauché will work with North Pacific Fishery Management Council on a suite of climate readiness projects that has been identified as high priority for ensuring the climate resilience of North Pacific fisheries.

Krystal Renta
Renta will work with NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center, as well as collaborate with farmers and regulators, to conduct mariculture research.

Emily Reynolds
Reynold’s fellowship work with NOAA Fisheries Alaska Aquaculture Program will support and promote outreach and engagement activities to advance the Alaska Aquaculture Action Plan.

Alyssa Sanchez
Sanchez will join NOAA Fisheries Habitat Conservation Division, supporting the European green crab (EGC) subcommittee of the Alaska Invasive Species Partnership.

Jenna Schlener
Schlener will join USGS Alaska Science Center’s Seabird and Forage Fish Ecology Program. The work will focus on marine predator, forage fish, and oceanography in the Northern Gulf of Alaska.

Devanie White
White will work with the Catch Share Branch of NOAA Fisheries Sustainable Fisheries Division, assisting with fishery policy analyses.

Visit the Alaska Sea Grant State Fellowship Program website for more information on the program.