Featured Alumni

• More alumni information

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•Vera Alexander, Ph.D. Marine Science 1965
Professor & Dean Emerita

Vera Alexander is the first woman who received a Ph.D. at the University of Alaska and served as dean for the first 17 years of SFOS. Her research in arctic limnology and biological oceanography has included fieldwork in the Arctic, Antarctic, northern Canada (Ellesmere Island and Devon Island) and Finnish Lapland. She has been visiting professor at the National Institute of Polar Research, Tokyo, and at the University of Turku, Finland.

"I stepped down from the position of Dean, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, in 2004. Most recently, I was Special Assistant to the Provost for Fisheries and Oceans Policy. I am one of three Commissioners on the United States Marine Mammal Commission and, having been the US Academic Delegate to PICES (the North Pacific Marine Science Organization), was elected Chairman in October 2003. I also Chair the International Committee for the Society of Sigma Xi. I have served on the International Steering Committee for the Census of Marine Life since its inception, and am currently also serving on the U.S. National Committee."

"My past research has included studies of freshwater, terrestrial and marine nitrogen cycling and primary productivity, mostly in high latitude ecosystems. I have had a strong interest in field studies of nitrogen fixation, and pioneered the use of nitrogen 15 as a tracer to measure nitrogen fixation rates in fresh water systems. Ultimately, this led to work on nitrogen uptake, nitrification and denitrification in taiga and tundra ecosystems."

Find out more about Vera Alexander...

•Joan Braddock, Ph.D. Oceanography 1989
Interim Director, UA Press

Dr. Joan F. Braddock became the Dean of the College of Natural Science and Mathematics in July 2004 after serving for a year as Interim Dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Mathematics. Before joining the administration, Dr. Braddock was a tenured professor at UAF holding a joint appointment with the Department of Biology and Wildlife and the Institute of Arctic Biology. Dr. Braddock has served as Associate Director of the Institute of Arctic Biology and Chair of the Department of Biology and Wildlife. Dr. Braddock is internationally recognized for her research related to the microbiology associated with oil pollutants in cold climates.

•Jennifer Burns, Ph.D. Marine Biology 1997
Assistant Professor of Biology
University of Alaska Anchorage

"My research focuses on understanding how the age and physiological status of juvenile marine mammals influences their diving and foraging capacities, and on how differences in rates of physiological development impact life history traits. I currently have an active research program focused on understanding whether the rate and extent of neonatal physiological development is closely correlated with the onset of independent foraging. For all marine mammals, the ability to remain submerged for long periods of time is largely dependent on two parameters: the amount of oxygen that can be carried to depth, and the rate at which it is used. However, our research has suggested that juvenile behaviors are constrained as a result of higher oxygen use rates, smaller reserves, and reduced body size, and that these constraints likely impact growth and survival. In my research, I use a wide variety of analytical tools including computerized dive recorders, satellite telemetry and GIS techniques, as well as several more hands-on techniques such as measuring heart rate and respiration patterns, energy use, and animal condition and health status."--Excerpt from UAA Biological Sciences website.

•Robert Byrd, M.S. Ocean Engineering 1972
Twachtman, Snyder & Byrd, Inc.

Bob Byrd is an engineer with Twachtman, Snyder & Byrd, Inc., in Houston, Texas.

Bob has over thirty years experience in the design, fabrication, and installation of offshore platforms and marine facilities. He had held positions with IMODCO Inc., Brian Watt Associates, Inc., the Norwegian Hydrodynamics Laboratory, and is a former U.S. Coast Guard officer. His positions have included Project Engineer, Project Manager, Projects Director, President and Chief Operating Officer. Bob has considerable experience with planning and fabrication for remote sites worldwide and for harsh environments such as the Arctic. He is a specialist in probabilistic project cost and schedule risk assessment. Bob holds a B.S. in Marine Engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, a M.S. in Ocean Engineering from the University of Alaska, and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. He is a Registered P.E. in Texas, and is certified as a Project Management Professional by the Project Management Institute.

•Ben Carney, M.S. Fisheries 1994
High School Teacher

Ben Carney teachs Advanced Biology, Chemistry, and Oceanography at Juneau-Douglas High School and coachs the Juneau-Douglas teams at the NOSB Alaska Region Tsunami Bowl.

•Jill Chantarachoti, M.S. Seafood Science 2007
Plant & Food Research

Jill Chantarachoti works for Plant & Food Research, a leading organisation in sustainable land and water use, horticulture, arable and seafood research.

Jill's Advisor at SFOS was Alexandra Oliveira.

•Benjamin Daly, M.S. Marine Biology 2007
Research Biologist

Benjamin Daly is a research biologist on the Alaska King Crab Research, Rehabilitation, and Biology (AKCRRAB) Program. Projects include density and diet experiments using red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) and blue king crab (Paralithodes platypus) larvae. Field studies identify habitat use and essential habitat of early juvenile red king crab.

•Hector Douglas, Ph.D. Marine Biology 2006
Assistant Professor of Biology, UAF Kuskokwim Campus

Dr. Douglas is teaching and doing research at the UAF Kuskokwim Campus as an assistant professor of biology in Bethel. His SFOS advisor was Alan Springer.

Read about chemical defenses and pheromones in Aethia auklets and other news articles about Hector Douglas' research.

•Angela Dubois, M.S. Marine Biology 2006
Grette Associates

Angela Dubois, M.S. Marine Biology 2006, is a biologist at Grette Associates, an environmental consulting firm in Tacoma, Washington.

Angela is an experienced scientific diver, conducts biological analyses for compliance with the endangered species act, provides permitting support to water-dependent clients and prepares technical reports for ongoing habitat monitoring and fisheries studies.

Read more about Grette Associates projects.

•Sara Gilk, M.S. Fisheries 2003
Alaska Department. of Fish & Game

Sara Gilk is a fishery biologist and research coordinator at the Anchorage Gene Conversion Laboritory for the Commercial Fisheries Disivion of the Alaska Department of Fish & Game. Gilk 's advisor at SFOS was Anthony Gharrett.

•John Hilsinger, M.S. Fisheries 1976
Alaska Department of Fish & Game

John Hilsinger is the director of the Commercial Fisheries Division of the Alaska Department of Fish & Game. The fishery resources of Alaska are of tremendous importance to the economies of the state and the nation. Learn more...

•Stephen Jewett, Ph.D. Fisheries 1997
Research Professor, SFOS Institute of Marine Science

In June and July 2007, a team of scientific divers from the UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, conducted 440 dives in the remote western Aleutian Islands.

•Simon Kinneen, B.S. Fisheries 1999
Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation

Simon Kinneen is the Fisheries Research and Development Director for Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation.

•Nicole Koehler, M.S. Marine Biology 2006
Education specialist for Michigan Sea Grant

Nicole Koehler was recently hired by Michigan Sea Grant as their new education specialist.

Michigan Sea Grant supports research, outreach and education to enhance the sustainable use of Great Lakes resources.

•Sandro Lane, M.S. Fisheries 1984
CEO of Alaska Protein Recovery

"I feel very lucky to have been able to study fisheries in Alaska, where I could work directly with Alaska's healthy and abundant resources.
Students in programs outside of Alaska do not always have that opportunity."
- Sandro Lane

Sandro Lane founded Taku Fisheries and Taku Smokeries in Juneau in 1984.

Read more about Sandro Lane in Juneau Empire articles.

•Warner Lew, M.S. Fisheries 1991
Icicle Seafoods

Warner Lew is the fleet manager for Icicle Seafoods in Bristol Bay. Icicle Seafoods currently operates four floating processors in western alaskan fisheries, and provides seasonal support facilities in Dillingham, Naknek, Dutch Harbor, St. Paul, and Unalakleet.

•Denby Lloyd, M.S. Biological Oceanography
Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish & Game

Denby Lloyd is the principal executive for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game which is responsible for the protection, management, conservation, and restoration of Alaska's fish and game resources.
Commissioner Lloyd represents the State of Alaska on numerous bodies, including the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, which oversees commercial and sport fisheries in federal waters off Alaska, and the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, which addresses effects and recovery from the 1989 oil spill.

•Joel Markis, M.S. Marine Biology 2007.
Kachemak Bay Research Reserve

Markis is a fisheries research biologist at the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve in Homer. Markis' research focuses on marine ecology and fish habitat use in the nearshore environment of Kachemak Bay.

"As a research fisheries biologist for the reserve, the majority of my duties are focused on the marine environment. My interests and research include marine ecology and questions pertaining to fish habitat use in the nearshore environment. Specifically I am interested in habitat complexity and its influence on predator prey relationships and then ultimately how these relationships might influence fish abundance in a variety of habitats.
I am an avid diver and regularly use SCUBA diving as a tool to conduct scientific research. I also coordinate a hardshell clam recruitment and growth study focused on determining the timing of spawning, recruitment in different regions of the bay, and growth of pacific littleneck clams. I serve as the point person for our nation wide water quality and meteorological monitoring project in which we make real time data available to users via the internet. I strive to focus my research on community based issues which can have immediate and long-lasting benefits to the users and residents of this region."-Joel Markis

•Doug Mecum, M.S. Fisheries 1984
Deputy Regional Administrator for the Alaska Region of NOAA Fisheries

"I gained valuable hands on experience in the real world of fisheries research that I was able to subsequently apply in my career as a fisheries biologist."

"I built an electrofishing boat from scratch by myself and I also purchased hoop nets to catch burbot, whitefish and other species. As far as I know, no one had used these gear types before. So in a nutshell I learned some good technical skills and gained some valuable experience in designing and implementing large scale research programs from the ground up."- Doug Mecum

Doug Mecum was formerly the Director of Commercial Fisheries Division of the Alaska Department of Fish & Game.

•Aaron Poetter, B.S. Fisheries 2003
Alaska Department of Fish & Game

Aaron Poetter is the Sand Point Area-Management Biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game. Sand Point is one of three ADF&G offices which oversees salmon management for the Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Islands.

"There are so many opportunities to gain practical experience at SFOS -whether in a course on field techniques, through an internship or being involved with the American Fisheries Society. As an undergraduate student you should try lots of things to find out what you like to do. Don't come with a limited perspective. Keep your options open."-Aaron Poetter

•Sue Salveson, M.S. Fisheries 1984
Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries
NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Region

"I believe strongly that my MS in Fisheries better positioned me for advancement in my career with NMFS and provided me a solid foundation for the work I now do. I was able to combine both my professional and educational objectives to develop a research project which supported my graduate studies and thesis."

"I was fortunate in being able to work with the professional staff at the Auke Bay Laboratory in the experimental design and conduct of my research project. This experience, and the small class size and opportunity for individual discussion and interface with the University's professors resulted in a very positive educational environment during my graduate studies." - Sue Salveson

•Tim Sands, B.S. Fisheries Science 1991
Area Management Biologist

Sands is a fisheries biologist for the Division of Commercial Fisheries, Alaska Department of Fish & Game in Dillingham, Alaska.

•Jeffrey Short, Ph.D. Fisheries 2005
Research Chemist

Short is the Pacific Science Director for Oceana in Juneau. Short has been a research chemist with NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service at the Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute in Juneau. Read more about Jeff's work here.

•Laura Slater, M.S. Marine Biology 2004
Research Biologist

Slater works for the Commercial Fisheries Division of the Alaska Department of Fish & Game as the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Tanner/Snow Crab Research Biologist, in Kodiak. Slater's advisor at SFOS was Russ Hopcroft.

•Kathleen Wedemeyer, M.S. Fisheries Science 1987
Minerals Management Service, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Anchorage

Kate Wedemeyer is with the U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Minerals Management Service in Anchorage, Alaska.

•Steven Worley, M.S. Oceanography 1977
Data Manager at the Computational and Information Systems Laboratory of the National Center for Atmospheric Research

Steven Worley received his master's degree in oceanography at UAF in 1977. His advisor was former faculty member Tom Royer, and he studied alongside current UAF professors Tom Weingartner and Mark Johnson.

Read an Interview by Carin Stephens, SFOS Public Information Officer.

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