Arrow Goby tumors discovered...

2008 April 29:  SLOSEA researchers are analyzing the effects of pollutants on organisms in Morro Bay such as the possible correlation of high levels of nonylphenol with tumors discovered on gobies.

SLOSEA

 

Graduate Fellows

Nate Hall Education: Cal Poly, B.S. Ecology and Systematic Biology with a concentration in marine biology and fisheries. Current Research: California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program and Cal Poly CPFV Observer Program.  Nate and his group conduct sampling and tagging of nearshore fish species with volunteer hook and line anglers aboard CPFVs (Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessels) and with traps aboard commercial fishing vessels in order to directly assess the effect of California marine reserves on nearshore fish populations.   After completing his Master's degree at Cal Poly, Nate aspires to a job in marine research preferably in California marine fisheries.

	Sarah Johnson Education: Cal Poly, B.S. Biological Sciences 2008 Current Research: Linking organic pollutants to tumor growth in arrow goby, Clevelandia ios, in Morro Bay: Proteomics as a tool for biomarker discovery. After receiving her Master's degree in June 2010 from Cal Poly, Sarah plans to pursue a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology or Biomedical Sciences. She has already been accepted and has interviews at several top institutions, and is in the process of choosing which program to attend. Sarah would like to continue working with proteomics and its application to the understanding and prevention of human cancer and diseases.
	Leslie Longabach Education: UC Santa Barbara, B.S. Aquatic Biology Current Research: CA Collaborative Fisheries Research Program We are monitoring central coast marine protected areas with respect to their effects on nearshore fish populations.   After finishing her Master's degree at Cal Poly, Leslie will look for work with a government agency, nonprofit or NGO.
	Loredana Serafini Education: Cal Poly, B.S. Biological Sciences concentrated on Cell & Molecular Biology Current Research: Characterizing the acute temperature stress response of two ascidian congeners, Ciona intestinalis and C. savignyi, using comparative proteomics in the Environmental Proteomics Laboratory. After graduation, Loredana intends to join the Biotech industry.   Specifically, she would like to research possible applications of proteomics as a diagnostic tool for human diseases.
	Grant Waltz Education: UC Riverside, B.S. Biological Sciences 2005 Current Research: Assessing the effects of human access on rocky intertidal communities. Grant is examining the density of visitors to publicly accessible rocky shores in San Luis Obispo County and experimentally determining the effect current levels of visitation has on rocky intertidal communities.   Additionally, he considers the effectiveness of parking lot size to regulate the density of intertidal visitors at sustainable levels.   The study is designed to provide resource managers with data to balance the demands of access with ecosystem health.   After completing his Master's degree at Cal Poly, Grant would like to continue with a career working to balance human demands with the natural demands placed on the resources of natural communities.