SFOS Newsletter
Fall 2007
Remembering Matt Myers
Sept. 27, 1963 - September 25, 2007
One of our graduate students, Matthew Myers, 43, died September 25, while completing a scientific training dive in Resurrection Bay. Matt was a doctoral student studying marine biology. At the time of his death, he was working as a researcher at the Alaska SeaLife Center and completing the final edits of his dissertation on contaminants in Steller sea lions.
Matt was well-known and well-regarded as a student and as a scientists. Friends and colleagues in Seward and Fairbanks remember his big smile, ready laugh and his love for science and the outdoors.
Matt’s advisor, Shannon Atkinson, says that Matt was at a point where his career was blossoming. His work had recently resulted in one publication and that he had also had a second paper accepted for publication.
“Matt was a favorite colleague of the students and staff in my endocrinology lab,” says Atkinson. “His presence will be sorely missed, but he will never be forgotten.”
Matt’s committee, composed of Mike Castellini, Jo-Ann Mellish, Alexander Burdin, Lorrie Rea from the Alaska Department of Fish & Game and Margaret Krahn from NOAA, are developing a plan to have Matt’s Ph.D. awarded posthumously by completing the corrections he was making on his dissertation and placing the approved dissertation in the library at UAF.
The students, faculty and staff at the UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences extend our heartfelt sympathies to Matt’s family.
- To read more about Matt Myers or to find out how you can help his family, please visit http://mattmyersmemorial.legacy.com
- Back to Fall 2007 Newsletter