Annual REPORT 2024
Letter from the Chair and Director
DearFriends,
Greetings from the Nahant Campus and Holmes serve as the home of the Department of M Environmental Sciences, the Marine Science Cent and Coastal Sustainability Institute (CSI)! Our suc 2024 come from all members of our community the research and academic pursuits of our unde and graduate students, postdoctoral scholars an and the outstanding community engagement a ouroutreachprogram Thereisofcoursetoomuch
to cover in this short note (please forgive any u somehighlightsbelow,Ihopeyouwilltakesomet alloftheamazingthingshappeninghereinourcommunity!
Ourstudentscontinuetobethedriverofmuchofwhatwedo Theirachievementsincludewinning prestigious fellowships and awards, such as the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, and hosting the Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium. You will also see that many of our students and postdoctoral scholars are authors on the numerous publications that have resulted from the innovativeresearchtakingplacehereontheNahantCampus
I would also like to recognize the exceptional engagement by everyone in our community to promote diversity and inclusion within MES/MSC/CSI via a variety of efforts We continue to conductourAnnualClimateSurvey(nowinits8thyear),andtheBEACHESprogramcontinuesto hoststudentsfromaroundthecountrywhoareinterestedinpursuingundergraduateorgraduate studies The BEACHES program is truly special and is having outsized impacts on communities of students seeking educational opportunities by, among other things, demystifying the application and admissions process My sincere thanks to Randall Hughes, Jen Bowen, Gabriela Garcia and everyone else that works very hard on behalf of this program Finally, I would like to thank Loretta Fernandez and Gabriela Garcia, for co-chairing the MES DEI committee and providing the leadershipnecessarytoensurethatourgoodworkcontinues.
Along these lines, our Outreach Program, led by Sierra Muñoz, continues to provide a variety of programs and activities that enhance ocean literacy, whether via the High School Marine Science Symposium or the Coastal Ocean Science Academy Moreover, Sierra has been central in developing activities that dramatically enhance the broader impacts activities of grant proposal submissionsand,ifitwerenotforSierra,wewouldnothavethisAnnualReport!
IwouldliketoendbyrecognizingProfessorBeckyRosengaus,whoretiredattheendof2024after an outstanding career as an evolutionary and behavioral ecologist Becky’s retirement is particularly impactful to me because we both arrived together as Assistant Professors in the Department of Biology back in 2002 It was a pleasure having Becky as a colleague and we both took great pride in being the two “ecology/evolution” people in the department during our formativeyears.WewillmissyouBeckyandwewishyoutheverybestinthisnextstepoflife!
I remain most grateful to everyone for their hard in creating our supportive and productive communityandthewonderfuldonorsthatsupportourwork!
Cheers,Geoff
Dr. Geoffrey C. Trussell
DohertyProfessorandChair DepartmentofMarineandEnvironmentalSciences Director,CoastalSustainabilityInstitute
OUR YEAR IN REVIEW
RESEARCH
In 2024, our community continued to build interdisciplinary research expertise, leveraging research awards totaling nearly $35 million and a network of global partnerships in academia, industry, nonprofits, and government agencies to explore fundamental issues in environmental, sustainability and marine science and create new knowledge and innovative solutions thatpromotethesustainabilityofhuman-naturalsystems
TEACHING
Thispastyear,webroughtexperientiallearningopportunitiesand courses steeped in real-world applications for ecology and conservation, water resources, and climate change and solutions to over 540 undergraduate students Our graduate students in Marine & Environmental Science (PhD), Human Behavior and Sustainability Science (PhD), Environmental Science & Policy (MS), and Marine Biology (MS) conducted innovative research, received prestigious research awards,andgrewourcapacityforpeerandtieredmentoringacrossclassroomandlabspaces
IMPACT
We delivered accessible and relevant environmental science experiences to over 5,000 students, teachers, and community members through K-12 outreach programs, grad workshops, MassBays and stakeholder partnerships, internships, and public science events We continue invest in communities across New England and the nation through ongoing field work, stakeholder connections, and research exchanges, bolster local economies and empower residents by engaging them with the science happeningintheirowncommunities
TRANSITIONS
2024 marked the retirement of our colleague Dr. Rebeca Rosengaus. Becky joined Northeastern in 2002, and her steady commitment to interdisciplinary research connecting evolutionary biology, behavioral ecology, immunology, and genetics has embodied the spirit of innovation that defines our institution Her research examined how pathogens and parasites have functioned as selective forces that favored the evolution of complex insect societies This evolutionary question, explored through the lens of termite adaptations to disease resistance, has opened new windows of understanding in evolutionary biology Becky has been recognized as an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, a significant honor thatreflectstheinternationalesteeminwhichsheisheld
Becky has helped shape the educational experiences of countless students through her work as Associate Chair and a member of the Department’scurriculumcommittee Shehasbeena beloved educator and mentor to undergraduates in her Evolution and Ecology classes, to participants in the Biology Department REU Program that she helped create, and to a generation of PhD students Her commitment to making science accessible and engaging and her genuine care for her students' success reflect the values that have defined her career
TEACHING EXCELLENCE
Our 35 faculty includes 10 dedicated teaching professors and 25 tenure track researchers More than half of our faculty are jointly appointed to facilitate collaborative education and mentorship with other disciplines including psychology, civil and environmental engineering, environmental policy, and the humanities We continue to address emerging challenges and questions for over 540 undergraduate majors by developing new courses that focus on stakeholder engagement, statistics and analytical modeling, food security, and the blue-green economy
DanDouglass–COSExcellenceinTeaching
Dan Douglass was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award by Northeastern’s College of Science, which recognizes his exceptional teaching and significant contributions to academic programming Dr Douglass is known for creating experiential learning opportunities to ensure students build a strong and inspired foundation in environmental and climate sciences He consistently incorporates hands-on lab and field-based experiences into his classes and is admired by students and colleagues alike as an accessible, engaging,anddedicatededucator
MarianaValenciaMestre–SustainableAgriculture
Dr Mariana Valencia Mestre is an Assistant Teaching Professor whose work centers on sustainable food systems, agroecology, and the intricate relationships between humans and plants Her hands-on courses in sustainable agriculture and environmental science give students the chance to actively engage in gardening and crop planning, reflectinggrowingstudentinterestinenvironmentalsolutions
KarenAerni–NewTeachingFaculty
Dr Karen Aerni returned to the Department as an Assistant Teaching Professor this year, bolstering our teaching capacity in biostatistics and helping MES provide the essential statistical foundation for students in majors across the College of Science Dr Aerni’s recent postdoctoral research at University of Connecticut used remote sensingandGISmappingtoidentifybroadgeographicpatternsinthe Long Island Sound and a social-ecological systems perspective to understand anthropogenic actions and their consequences for social and ecological communities Dr Aerni completed her PhD in the MES departmentinAugustof2023
OUR RESEARCH
Our interdisciplinary approach combines scientific research, technological advancements, societal insights, and policy analysis Our research and outcomes greatly benefit from collaborative efforts with the Coastal Sustainability Institute and the Marine Science Center, as well as appointments of
joint faculty with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the School of Public Policy and the Department of English
In 2024, our work was supported and championed by diverse entities including the National Science Foundation, The US Department of Energy, The Nature Conservancy, NASA, the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and numerous foundations and research councils
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT: PLUM ISLAND LTER
The largest remaining tidal wetland complex in the northeastern United States lies just north of Boston – and MSC/CSI scientists play integral roles in its ongoing research and protection Our research teams have built projects at the Plum Island Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research (PIE-LTER) that explore microbial, ecological, and community dynamics in this system
Dr Jen Bowen and Dr Randall Hughes are working with partners at the Marine Biological Laboratory and University of South Carolina to determine whether different forms of nitrogen impact marsh function – ie, supporting plant growth, carbon sequestration, and marsh accretion or stimulating microbial decomposition Understanding the role of nitrogen in its various forms is essential for predicting the long-term persistence of salt marshes in the face of sea-level rise Drs David Kimbro, Geoff Trussell, and Tarik Gouhier continued work this past year on their NSF-funded project exploring how biophysical coupling and ecological subsidies influence the dynamics and functioning of salt marsh habitats
This interdisciplinary research, funded by a mosaic of federal, state, and foundation funds, is helping us better understand the impact of changing landscapes and climate on interconnected coastal ecosystems
It is also providing invaluable community connections and student research opportunities, exponentially broadening the impact of the work Numerous graduate students and postdocs have been supported by these projects over the past 5 years, and student co-ops are working to connect marsh ecology with hundreds of K-12 students in our Outreach programming
RESEARCH FACULTY HIGHLIGHT:
WELCOMING CHENGFEI HE
Dr Chengfei He joined our department as Assistant Professor this year Dr He specializes in climate modeling and dynamics, paleoclimate, and physical oceanography. His interdisciplinary research approach combines climate models, isotope-enabled modeling, statistical and machine learning techniques, and observations/paleoclimate proxies to better understand the physical processes governing climate dynamics past and future
Dr. He's work addresses key questions such as the causes of past and future changes in oceanic and atmospheric circulation and climate variability, and how to quantitatively interpret these changes and their impacts His research has been published in leading journals, including Nature, Science Advances, and Nature Communications, covering topics like multidecadal climate variability, monsoon hydroclimate, and abrupt climate events
RESEARCH FACULTY HIGHLIGHT: JUSTIN RIES IN THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF INVENTORS
Dr Justin Ries was inducted this year into the National Academy of Inventors, a fitting acknowledgement of his outstanding contributions as a scientist and innovator
The National Academy of Inventors is a nonprofit organization founded to recognize and encourage inventors with US patents, enhance the visibility of academic technology and innovation, encourage the disclosure of intellectual property, educate and mentor innovative students, and to create wider public understanding of how its members’ inventions benefit society
Patents inspiring his nomination are resulting from work as scientific advisor to marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) companies Calera and Running Tide Technologies
COASTALSUSTAINABILITY
SECURITY&SUSTAINABILITY OFCOASTALRESOURCES
CLIMATECHANGE SCIENCE&MODELING
ENVIRONMENTALSENSING &BIGDATAANALYTICS
RESEARCH
Human populations and economies depend on the myriad services provided by natural ecosystems The sustainability of this mutualism is increasingly threatened by major environmental challenges including sea-level rise, storm surge, collapsing fisheries, and pollution
The Coastal Sustainability Institute (CSI) and Marine Science Center (MSC), both based on the Nahant campus, seek to explore fundamental questions in marine science and work with stakeholders to enhance the sustainability of coastal communities
HIGHLIGHT: TNC-CSI: SALT MARSHES AND SEA LEVEL RISE
Our partnership with The Nature Conservancy continues to thrive; in 2024, TNC-CSI Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr Jahson Alemu worked with TNC collaborators Alison Bowden and Emma Gildesgame and CSI
researchers Drs Randall Hughes, Samuel Munoz, and Aron Stubbins to quantify ecosystem services in urban salt marshes and to assess vulnerability of urban salt marshes to sea level rise. Their work integrates ecosystem services into a novel ecological risk assessment framework, identifying spatial and temporal variability in ecosystem service provision and calling for restoration strategies to enhance marsh resilience against sea level rise.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Shultz, K. M., Scyphers, S. B., Hughes, A. R., Kimbro, D. L., Kirk, S , & Grabowski, J. H. (2024) Addressing constraints to shellfish aquaculture through quantifying public perceptions and attitudes along the Atlantic coast of the US Ocean & Coastal Management, 253, 107130 https://doi org/10 1016/j ocecoaman 2023 107130
Alemu, J. B., Ofsthun, C., Medley, G., Bowden, A., Cammett, A., Gildesgame, E., Munoz, S. E., Stubbins, A., & Hughes, A. R. (2024) Evaluating ecosystem services in urban salt marshes: Assessing vulnerability to sea-level rise and implications for coastal management Journal of Environmental Management, 371, 123065 https://doi org/10 1016/j jenvman 2024 123065
SELECTED GRANTS
Randall Hughes
The Nature Conservancy
Testing the ecological practicality of assisted gene flow in seagrass restoration
ENVIRONMENTAL SENSING & MODELING
Scientists at CSI/MSC are working to understand and model the dynamic interactions between organisms, water, and the environment Our research teams are building advanced models to explore water and particle fluxes through watersheds in the Dennedy-Frank Lab, how oxygen levels vary below the ocean surface in the Schultz Lab, and how natural structures like vegetation interact with powerful wavesintheChenLab
Other projects explored how marine organisms experience temperature changes over time, and where groundfish species in the Northeast live and how they use their habitats Dr Mark Patterson and Dr Brian Helmuth have been awarded support to develop an underwater soundstage to localize sounds madebyfishesonacoralreef;thetechnologywassuccessfullydeployedforthefirsttimethisyear.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Dennedy-Frank, P J , Visser, A , Maina, F Z , & SiirilaWoodburn, E. R. (2024). Investigating watershed-scale hydrologic connections and water sources with dynamic-flux particle tracking Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, 16, e2023MS003976 https://doi org/10 1029/2023MS003976
Foulk, A., Gouhier, T., Choi, F., Torossian, J. L., Matzelle, A., Sittenfeld, D., & Helmuth, B. (2024). Physiologically informed organismal climatologies reveal unexpected spatiotemporal trends in temperature Conservation Physiology, 12(1), coae025 https://doi org/10 1093/conphys/coae025
Schultz, C., Dunne, J. P., Liu, X., Drenkard, E., & Carter, B. (2024). Characterizing subsurface oxygen variability in the California Current System (CCS) and its links to water mass distribution Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 129(2), e2023JC020000 https://doi org/10 1029/2023JC020000
Zhu, L., & Chen, Q. (2024) Developing closed-form equations of maximum drag and moment on rigid vegetation stems in fully nonlinear waves. Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering, 150(3), 04024009 https://doi org/10 1061/JWPED5 WWENG-2084
SELECTED GRANTS
Cristina Schultz
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration mCDR 2023: Developing a coupled benthic-pelagic biogeochemical model to evaluate the effectiveness of mCDR interventions (continued)
Jonathan Grabowski
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Mapping the spatial footprints of key northeast groundfish stocks and their habitat use
ECOLOGICAL & EVOLUTIONARY GENOMICS
We are working to understand how organisms in aquatic and marine ecosystems are responding to environmental change This year, our work expanded to invasive insect adaptations to climatechangewithanewgrantawardedtoDr KatieLotterhos, and to evolution of tropical marine fishes with genome sequencing work by Dr. Remy Gatins Our researchers are honing cutting-edge machine learning techniques to identify potential pathogens threatening endangered Caribbean corals (Vollmer Lab) and to evaluate and improve genetic forecasts acrossmarinesystems(LotterhosLab)
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Vollmer, S., Selwyn, J., Despard, B., & Roesel, C. 2023 Genomic signatures of disease resistance in endangered staghorn corals Science doi:10 1126/science adi3601
Pavlopoulos, G.A., Distel, D. et al., 2023. Unraveling the functional dark matter through global metagenomics. Nature. doi:10 1038/s41586-023-06583-7
Lotterhos K. 2023. The paradox of adaptive trait clines with non-clinal patterns in the underlying genes Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences doi:10 1073/pnas 2220313120
SELECTED GRANTS
Dan Distel Cell Signaling Technology, Inc Ocean Genome Legacy Student Research in DNA Preservation
Katie Lotterhos
National Science Foundation
CAREER: Evaluation of machine learning algorithms for understanding and predicting adaptation to multivariate environments with a Model Validation Program (MVP)
Steven Vollmer
National Science Foundation
Multi-omic bases of coral disease resistance
ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
Ourfacultyareinvestigatinghowcoastalecosystemsfunctionandrespond to environmental change, with a focus on improving their conservation and restoration Drs. Kimbro, Trussell, and Gouhier are examining how physical and biological processes interact across different scales to shape ecosystems in the Plum Island estuary, providing insights into long-term ecological change Dr Jennifer Bowen’s DOE-funded work explores how tides influence sudden shifts in activity and nutrient cycling in salt marshes critical habitats that buffer coastlines and support biodiversity. The Hughes Lab is testing whether introducing genetically diverse or betteradapted seagrass populations can help restore these vital underwater habitats Together, these studies bolster our support for the increased resilienceofcoastalenvironmentsinachangingworld
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Corbett, J.J., & Trussell, G.C. (2024) Local and regional geographic variation in inducible defenses Ecology, 105(1), e4207. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.4207
Davenport, T.M., Hughes, A.R., & Grabowski, J.H. (2024) Landscape metrics predict habitat redundancy of restored oyster reefs for recruitment enhancement of dominant estuarine fish Journal of Applied Ecology, 61(12), 2912–2923. https://doi.org/10.1111/13652664.14811
Unzueta-Martínez, A., & Bowen, J.L. (2024) Persistent tissue-specific resident microbiota in oysters across a broad geographical range Environmental Microbiology Reports, 16(5), e70026 https://doi org/10 1111/1758-2229 70026
SELECTED GRANTS
Jennifer Bowen US Department of Energy Tidal Triggers and Hot-Spot Switches in Coastal Marsh
David Kimbro, Geoffrey Trussell, Tarik Gouhier National Science Foundation The influence of biophysical coupling and cross-scale interactions on ecosystems of the Plum Island LTER (continued)
GEOSCIENCE & BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
SELECTED GRANTS
Jim Chen
Army Corps of Engineers
Weareworkingtobetterunderstandandprotectcoastalandaquatic environments through innovative science and restoration efforts One project, in the Chen Lab, focuses on evaluating restoration outcomes at Deer Island by using advanced computer models to simulate how vegetation affects coastal stability The Ries Lab is investigating whether adding alkalinity to coastal waters can help reduce the harmful effects of ocean acidification on shellfish an important step toward supporting sustainable fisheries Drs Aron Stubbins and Sam Muñoz seek to identify how microplastics accumulate in floodplains, aiming to identify patterns and environmental factors that influence thisgrowingpollutionproblem
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Wiman, C., Harden, T., Shen, Z., Curry, B. B., Reinders, J. B., Beighley, R. E., & Muñoz, S. E. (2024). Large floods on the lower Ohio River inferred from slackwater deposits Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, 48(1), 79–95 10 1177/03091333231208612
Tuttle, E , Wiman, C , Muñoz, S E , Law, K L , & Stubbins, A (2024). Sunlight-driven photochemical removal of polypropylene microplastics from surface waters follows linear kinetics and does not result in fragmentation Environmental Science & Technology, 58(12), 5461–5471 10 1021/acs est 3c07161
Gould, J., & Ries, J. B. (2024) Linear extension and calcification rates in a cold‐water, crustose coralline alga are modulated by temperature, light, and salinity. Limnology and Oceanography, 69(1), 158–172. 10.1002/lno.12474
Assessment and simulation of Deer Island restoration using CSHORE-VEG
Justin Ries
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
MIT Sea Grant Award: Investigating the Efficacy of Alkalinity Addition in Mitigating the Effects of Ocean Acidification on Commercial Shellfish
Samuel Munoz, Aron Stubbins
National Science Foundation
CAS-MNP: Evaluating patterns and controls on microplastic accumulation in floodplains
HUMAN-NATURAL SYSTEMS
This past year, our researchers explored how people adapt, learn, and share knowledge in systems ranging from inland croplands to coastalmarshes Dr JohnColeyandDr Brian Helmuth are delving into the cognitive underpinnings of environmental science education, particularly how human exceptionalism influences our perception of marinesocial-ecologicalsystems
Dr. Gabriela Garcia and Dr. Damon Hall continue to use innovative, stakeholder-engaged practices to address critical environmental issues building on the collaboration between The Nature Conservancy and our Coastal Sustainability Institute to explore the overlapping socio-ecological interactions impactingmanagementdecisionsinariversidecommunity
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Garcia, G. M., Crone, E E , Kuhl, L , & Orians, C M (2024) Intrinsic yield fluctuations interact with environmental shocks to threaten the socio-ecological resilience of perennial crop systems One Earth, 7(8), 1362–1372 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2024.07.007
Hall, D. M., Avellaneda, P M , Ficklin, D , Knouft, J , & Lowry, C S (2024) How to close the loop with citizen scientists to advance meaningful science Sustainability Science, 19(5), 1527–1542 https://doi org/10 1007/s11625024-01532-3SSRN+1SpringerLink+1
Garcia, G.M., Orozco-Ramirez, Q., Balvanera, P. (2024). La Huerta Revuelta: las múltiples funciones de una parcela agroecológica. Boletín de la Sociedad Científica Mexicana de Ecología, 4(6), 28-36.
SELECTED GRANTS
John Coley, Brian Helmuth
National Science Foundation
Cognitive Foundations of Environmental Science Education: Exploring Impacts of Human Exceptionalism on Marine Social-Ecological Systems Thinking
Gabriela Garcia, Damon Hall
The Nature Conservancy
Mill River Human Dimensions and Socio-ecological Synthesis
Damon Hall
National Science Foundation
Collaborative Research: Exploring the Influence of Agricultural Tile Drainage on Streamflow and Water Temperature in the Midwestern US using a Stakeholder-driven Approach
GRADUATE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Graduate education is at the heart of our mission, and our graduate students continued to excel this year, co-authoring 19 publications, presenting at numerous US and international conferences, and contributing to STEM pathway and outreach programmingforthousandsofK-12andundergraduatestudents
PHDS AWARDED IN 2024
Helen Cheng
Brian Donnelly
Mackenzie Fiss
Aubrey Foulk
Johanna L’Heureux
Savannah Swinea
Charlotte Wiman
STUDENT AWARDS
Meghan Ford (Trussell Lab) NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Award
Mya Darsan (Bowen Lab)
Emily Trytten (Vollmer Lab)
Camille Rumberger (Lotterhos Lab) NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Honorable Mentions
Marcella Heineke (Kimbro Lab) Research Award: Phycological of Society of America
Neida Villanueva Galarza (Grabowski Lab) Research Award: MIT Sea Grant
GRADUATE PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
Our innovative Master of Science in Environmental Science and Policy program, led by Dr. Ben Dittbrenner, emphasizes a broadly interdisciplinary and synthetic approach that integrates environmental and social sciences In 2024, ESP matriculated 54 students, an all-time high for the program
ESP works with many regional community partners to engage in conservation discussions and learning as well as direct hands-on efforts, including a cleanup of Muddy River with partner Save the Bay The studentled ESP LiFE group continued to grow and organize fantastic community-building events, including a snowy owl beach hike near Plum Island, led by ESP student and bird enthusiast Andrew Marden.
ESP Alumni Wells Howes (ESP ’24) works at The Blue Carbon Initiative, a venture born from a historic discovery in The Bahamas Howes describes his focus as “putting nature on the balance sheet, quantifying and valuing nature’s regulating benefits to promote sustainable development” Howes credits mentors Dr Brian Helmuth, Dr Mark Patterson, and Dr Ben Dittbrenner for encouraging his unconventional ideas and supporting his ESP journey Instead of a traditional co-op, he pitched a NU alumnus to hire him part-time if he secured a grant an initiative that led to his current role at BCI.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES
Undergraduate research is in the DNA of our department; co-ops, internships, and capstones in MES research labs have allowed hundreds of students to develop practical expertise and intellectual passion for their chosen fields. Our successful integration of undergraduate experientiallearningisbuoyedbyNSFandCollegeofSciencefunding,as wellasgenerousandsustainedsupportfromfamilyfoundations
Sinceitsinceptionin2016,theHalverstadtFamilyendowmenthassupportedover100undergraduates to work side by side with research faculty, graduate students, and co-ops in the labs, greenhouses, andtankfarmsattheNahantCampusthroughfundedresearchinternships.
The partnership with the Richard W and Elaine E Barrett Foundation built on the success of its initial season, expanding to offer unique experiences in marine science, eco undergraduateinternsinsixresearchlabs
MSCSummerInternSpotlight:NicoleMongillo
“I have grown so much as a researcher over the course of this internship The agro-ecological research I contributed to exposed me to a branch of ecology I had yet to explore, and I look back with pride on how much I have learned in eight short weeks In my time with the Garcia lab, I have developed more advanced data analysis skills, learned about the complexities of agroforestry and scientific networking, contributed to a type of fieldwork I have never done before, and gained a better understanding of the projectdevelopmentsideofresearch”-NicoleMongillo
THREE SEAS
The Three Seas Program had another busy and successful year Three Seas is an immersive and field-intensive program in marine biology that focuses on research, applied marine sustainability, conservation,andrestoration Thisuniqueprogram,nowenteringits41styear,allowsstudentstolive andworkinthreedistinctecosystemsatworld-renownedresearchfacilitiesintheNorthwestAtlantic, CentralAmerica,andtheNorthPacific
After completing their spring semester studies in Bocas del Toro, Panama and Friday Harbor, WA, students in Cohort 44 spread out all over the world to complete research internships Students explored a variety of researchtopics,includingJohnDorrian’sworkoncoralline algal diseases in the Central Red Sea, Alexandra Hogan’s research on eDNA methodology for monitoring Black Sea Bass range expansion in the Gulf of Maine, and Haleigh Anderson’s work on octopus sucker dynamics and recruitment In the fall, Three Seas welcomed 19 students toits45 cohortandcelebratedits40 anniversary– th th
Read more about this milestone in the Northeastern GlobalNewsfeaturehere!
THREE SEAS ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS
ColleenShortal(Cohort43)completedayearlongtermattheSmithsonianMarineStationas theLinkFoundationFellowinMarineScience ColleenispursuingaPhDinmicrobiologyinthe UshijimalabatUniversityofNorthCarolinaWilmington
LilyHasshaw(Cohort43)beganaPhDatUniversityofAucklandfocusingonkelprestoration
IsabelleBrandicourt(Cohort42)beganaPhDinoceanacousticsatUniversityofWashington andreceivedaProvostScholarshipforherfirstyear
KatButler(Cohort44)ispursuingalawdegreewiththegoalofworkinginenvironmentallaw
HannahJasinskicelebratedoneyearasaMarineResourceScientistintheMarineMammal DivisionatMaineDMR
OCEAN GENOME LEGACY
The Ocean Genome Legacy Center (OGL) of Northeastern University is a nonprofit marine research laboratoryandgenomicresourcecollectiondedicatedtoexploring,preserving,andsharingthewealth of information contained in the DNA of marine organisms and training the next generation of marine scientists Through sponsorships, partnerships, and Coastal Sustainability Institute collaborations, OGL leads the way in investigating and preserving the sea ’ s biological diversity, empowering the scientific community to accelerate research that can drive the protection and recovery of marine ecosystems whileimprovingthehumancondition
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
In 2024, OGL led by Dr Dan Distel celebrated 20 years since its founding by Dr Donald G Comb and 10 years at Northeastern University! The OGL team led a group of researchers who discovered a tiny newmusselspecies,Vadumodiolusteredinicola,that became the first species described as part of the Ocean Census program, which aims to discover 100,000 marine species in the next decade OGL coops were supported by a grant from Cell Signaling Technology to continue ongoing research in DNA preservation OGL’scollectiondatahasmovedtothe ArctosCollaborativeCollectionManagementSystem abigsteptowardsincreasingpublicaccesstothe collection
Youcanexploreitonlinehere!
Altamia M.A., Appiah-Madson H.J., Poulin R.F., Huettel B , Rubin-Blum M , Dubilier N , [ ] Distel D.L. (2024) Wooden steps to shallow depths: A new bathymodiolin mussel, Vadumodiolus teredinicola, inhabits shipworm burrows in an ancient submarine forest Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers 2024;204(104220):13
Cruz B A , Cappelmann A , Chutjian H , Roman J C , Reid M A , Wright J , [ ] Appiah-Madson H.J., Distel D.L., [ ] et al (2024). Complete mitochondrial genomes of the black corals Alternatipathes mirabilis Opresko & Molodtsova, 2021 and Parantipathes larix (Esper, 1788) (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Hexacorallia, Antipatharia, Schizopathidae) Zookeys 2024;1196:79-93
Gasser M T , Liu A , Flatau R., Altamia M.A., Filone C M , Distel D.L. Closing the genome of Teredinibacter turnerae T7902 by long-read nanopore sequencing Microbiology Resource Announcements 2024;14(1):e00484-24
Gasser M.T., Liu A., Altamia M.A., Brensinger B.R., Brewer S.L., Flatau R., […] Distel D.L. (2024). Membrane vesicles can contribute to cellulose degradation by Teredinibacter turnerae, a cultivable intracellular endosymbiont of shipworms. Microbial Biotechnology 2024;17(12):e70064
Swanson J. The Lost Forest: An Unexpected Discovery Beneath the Waves (2024) Lerner Publishing Group; 2024-04-02 56 p
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
BOSTON HARBOR ECOSYSTEM NETWORK MASSBAYS’ METRO
BOSTON REGION
The MSC hosts the Metro Boston Region (BHEN) of the MassachusettsBaysNationalEstuaryPartnership,anEPANational Estuary Program MassBays empowers 50 coastal communities to protect, restore, and enhance coastal habitats by engaging local, state, and federal entities to advance scientific information and provide technical support for decision making In 2024, BHEN led by Coordinator Dr Diana Chin convened partners for workshops and field trips exploring marine biodiversity, nonnative species monitoring, nature-based coastal resilience tools, andtheecologyoftheWeymouth/HinghamBackRiverestuary
NSF CIVIC: EASTIE FARM
BEACHES
Dr Randall Hughes and graduate student Kalaina Thorne are leading an innovative coastal restoration initiative through their NSF CIVIC-funded collaboration with Eastie Farm's Climate Corps program This paid fellowship empowers local youth to tackleclimatechallengesthroughhands-onurbanfarmingand coastal resilience projects, providing environmental education while addressing community needs The project explores using woven and planted coastal grasses as shoreline buffers where Boston Harbor narrows into Chelsea Creek and the Mystic River, providing scientists essential restoration data while giving youth opportunitiestoimprovetheirlocalcoastline
Our BEACHES program has emerged as a transformative initiative for students from underrepresented groups in STEM fields, first-generation college students, and those with limited access to graduate education pathways This three-day workshop demystifies the graduate school applicationprocessinmarineandenvironmentalsciences,, providing participants with crucial skills, mentorship, and networking opportunities. Participants report feeling better prepared to compile application materials and value the ongoing relationships formed with faculty, graduate students,andpeers
OUTREACH & BROADER IMPACTS
In support of the mission of Northeastern University, our Outreach Program communicates MES/CSI/MSC researchwiththepublic,inspiresinterestinmarinecareers,andbuildsoceanandenvironmentalliteracyin local communities In the past year, the Outreach Program served thousands of people, including youth, educators,scientists,resourcemanagers,policymakers,andcommunitymembers
Via youth programs, public events, and digital and print media, and partnerships with MME, MAST, Girls Inc, LynnLab, our small but vibrant team of full-time and part-time staff, and interns work to share out our community’s passion for marine and environmental science, and to provide faculty and graduate students valuablesciencecommunicationandmentoringexperience
4,887 in-person engagements
48 undergrads/grads/post docs engaged
4 NSF grant collaborations
6 grant proposals supported
22 school districts hosted
82 teachers supported
WEWOULDLIKETOTAKEAMOMENTTORECOGNIZEANDOFFER
OURPROFOUNDGRATITUDETOOURDONORSOF$250ORMORE:
RICHARDW ANDELAINEE BARRETTFOUNDATION
CAMBRIDGECENTREFORINTERNATIONALRESEARCH
RITACOLWELL
MARILYNJ COMB
DAVIDCOMB&COLEENFITZGIBBON
LINDACOMB
JOHNGRECIANDSANDRACOOK
GARRYCRAGO'82ANDAMYBLAKE
TJCULLINANE
SUSANS DEITCH&D LARRYDEITCH
LEONARDF MCNALLY,72&FRANKDOLL
ELYSIUMHEALTH,INC
GEORGERFEEHERYJR.
FRANCISGOELETCHARITABLELEADTRUSTS
IANH GARDINER
PHILIPGOELET
JOHNE GREEN'83
HALVERSTADTFAMILY
REBECCAKUCERA&PETERHARTLINE
AUDREYM HASHIM'62&GEORGEA HASHIM 62
CAROL&JEFFREYHORVITZ
ANNINNOCENTI
WILLIAM&MADELINEJACK
JOSEPHJ JANKOWSKIMD,'59
STACYKELLY
JEANNEKUZIRIAN&ALANM KUZIRIAN,'69
LEONARDF MCNALLY
PETERNATHAN
NEWENGLANDBIOLABS,INC
CELESTE-MARIEORTINS
KARENOTTO
FRANPERLER
GEORGEPUTNAMIII
KARENI.BEDROSIANRICHARDSON'70
MARTINN,'68&BERTARIDDLE
RICHARDJ ROBERTS
CHARLESE RYAN
SILRAYINC
VIOLETM JOHNSONFAMILYFOUNDATION
TANYAWALDROUP
KENNETHWERTZ
APRILZHONG
MAILING ADDRESS :
Marine Science Center
430 Nahant Road Nahant, MA, 01908
EMAIL:
msc@northeastern.edu
ON THE WEB:
cos northeastern edu/marine-environmental-sciences/
cos northeastern edu/marinescience/ research.northeastern.edu/coastal-sustainability-institute/
PHOTOCREDITS:
Matt Modoono/Northeastern University; Adam Glanzman/Northeastern University; AlyssaStone/NortheasternUniversity;SierraMuñoz