Maine Sea Grant announces 2022 undergraduate scholarship recipients

Maine Sea Grant is pleased to announce 11 students will receive a 2022 Maine Sea Grant Undergraduate Scholarship in Marine Sciences to support tuition or other academic or research-related expenses.

Scholarship recipients will join a statewide network of undergraduate scholars doing exemplary academic work on marine and coastal issues. Awardees will have the opportunity to connect with the network at Sea Grant-sponsored workshops, conferences, and other events related to marine and coastal science, policy, resource management, community outreach, and education.

“Our 2022 undergraduate scholars are already engaged in a wide variety of research, from zooplankton to coastal community heritage,” said Jessica Jansujwicz, Maine Sea Grant’s assistant director for research. “They have demonstrated a passion for science and commitment to education. We hope these awards will support their studies and help provide opportunities as they consider their future careers.”

This award is made possible through a matching grant program with the scholars’ home institutions. The 2023 cohort includes students from College of the Atlantic, Maine Maritime Academy, University of Maine, University of Maine at Machias, and University of New England.

Meet the 2022 scholars!​​

Ruhika Bhattacharya smiling in a boat holding a fish water in the background

Ruhika Bhattacharya, University of New England 

This scholarship will help fund Ruhika’s research on maternity in Spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias), specifically focusing on trace elements.

Evan Busch in front of a dinosaur skeleton

Evan Busch, University of Maine at Machias

This scholarship will help support Evan as he prepares for graduate and post graduate studies. Evan is pursuing a career in research centered around large marine vertebrates such as whales and sharks.

Ben Capuano in a boat

Ben Capuano, College of the Atlantic

Ben will use this scholarship to support a series of settlement plate biofouling surveys he is conducting at the Edward McBlair Marine Research Station.  Ben looks forward to meeting other undergraduates pursuing research in marine sciences in Maine through Sea Grant.

Andrea Casey at night in a headlamp holding a fish in gloved hands water in the background

Andrea Casey, University of Maine 

Andrea’s scholarship will help support her participation in the Semester by the Sea program at the Darling Marine Center in the fall of 2022. She also looks forward to participating in workshops, conferences, and working with Maine Sea Grant.

Katie Culp in a boat holding a fish water in the background

Katie Culp, College of the Atlantic 

Katie Culp applied for the Maine Sea Grant to support her study of coastal communities and hopes to continue collecting oral histories of the fishing community of San Crisanto on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.

Eleanor Gnam standing in front of a birch tree with blue sky in the background

Eleanor Gnam, College of the Atlantic

This scholarship will support Eleanor’s work at the Alice Eno Research Center on Great Duck Island, where she is investigating the population dynamics and nesting ecology of the Leach’s storm-petrel.

Wriley Hodge standing in front of a tree in wintertime

Wriley Hodge, College of the Atlantic

This scholarship will help Wriley continue to work with seabirds and explore opportunities to work with other marine scientists in Maine. This scholarship will directly support their tuition and research.

Allie Ouimet in a boat water in the background

Allie Ouimet, University of Maine

This scholarship will fund Allie’s semester at Bigelow Laboratory, where she will gain hands-on lab and field experience. Under the mentorship of Doug Rascher, she’ll study benthic ecology in Maine. She is also excited for opportunities with Sea Grant, such as attending workshops and meeting those in the Sea Grant network.

Rachael Smith surrounded by trees holding a camera

Rachael Smith, University of Maine at Machais

Rachel will use this scholarship to support tuition costs and prepare for graduate school. She is exploring the possibility of a PhD focused on how climate is affecting coastal ecology.

Shreya Vinodh smiling on a boat with water in the background

Shreya Vinodh, College of the Atlantic 

This scholarship will help Shreya study Gulf of Maine productivity by looking at the health and abundance of copepods, a type of zooplankton.

Jennifer Zdrojowy holding a starfish

Jennifer Zdrojowy, Maine Maritime Academy 

Jennifer will use this funding to support her tuition costs. She looks forward to any opportunities she can be a part of through Sea Grant. 

 

Posted 29 November 2022