Return to Fisheries and Wildlife Mentorship Program Homepage
- Read each Message to Prospective Mentees section carefully before applying.
- To apply and be matched with a mentor, please use the Undergraduate Application.
- Please Note: Some prospective mentors are advertising research opportunities (Prospective Mentors — Research), whereas others can only offer career advice and aid in the development of professional tools (Prospective Mentors — Non-Research).
Prospective Mentors — Research
These mentors are actively seeking undergraduates to assist with new and ongoing research activities. These mentors can also assist with the development of professional tools (e.g., CV, resume, application materials) and provide career advice.
Olivia Boisen
Location: Hatfield Marine Science Center (field sites Newport and Coos Bay)
Research interests: My research will focus on assessing eelgrass restorations in Oregon from the perspective of fish and invertebrate communities. Eelgrass serves as important nursery grounds for commercially important groundfish species and we seek to evaluate their performance in restored habitat through their diet, stable isotope analysis, and otolith aging.
Position description: I plan to start sampling this summer and would love help with field and lab work! The field work would include monthly seine netting for fish in the estuaries (over two years) where we will identify, measure, and elastomer tag fish. We will also use sediment cores, crab traps, and plankton nets to sample invertebrates. In the lab, we will be identifying invertebrates, prepping samples for genetic ID and stable isotope analysis, and aging otoliths. There are lots of different opportunities to get involved with this project depending on your availability and research interests. Most of this work will be in Newport, with the option to use the lab space in Corvallis when trained. Currently, this would be a volunteer opportunity but my hope is to guide you through applying for funding (scholarships, research awards, etc.) as this would greatly benefit your future career.
Lizz Blackburn
Location(s): Corvallis
Research interests: Bioenergetics, species interaction, smallmouth bass, steelhead
Research interests: I’m a second-year graduate student with Jonny Armstrong studying temperature-mediated species interactions. My thesis, a collaborative project between OSU and ODFW, uses bioenergetics modeling to quantify the impact of nonnative smallmouth bass on wild summer steelhead in Thirtymile Creek, a tributary of the lower John Day River.
Position description: This position will aid in the analysis of smallmouth bass and summer steelhead diet samples. For each diet sample, prey items are identified to order, enumerated and measured. This would be an unpaid volunteer position; I anticipate a total of 4 hours per week with lots of flexibility would be a realistic expectation. No experience needed, just willingness to learn. Outside of research opportunities, I am happy to give advice, offer guidance or provide words of encouragement for anything I can!
Prospective Mentors — Non-research
These mentors do not have research opportunities but are available to provide assistance with the development of professional tools (e.g., CV, resume, application materials) and career advice.
Madison Bargas
Location(s): Hatfield Marine Science Center, eCampus, Corvallis
Research interests: groundfish, ecology, biogeography, growth
Research interests: My research focuses on the spatial variation in age, growth, and maturity of black rockfish in the California Current and Gulf of Alaska. Understanding how growth varies in space is vital for effective management decisions.
Opportunity: I would love to offer support and guidance to students who are generally interested in marine (or freshwater!) science by reviewing applications, resumes, or chatting about various opportunities to advance education and career. I’m happy to provide feedback or share my experiences navigating college and a career path.
Peri Gerson
Location: Accepting Corvallis and ecampus students
Potential mentorship topics: My research is in support of ecosystem-based fisheries management initiatives and aims to quantify the relationships between groundfish prey distributions and their environments in the Gulf of Alaska. I know the transition from college to what’s next can be daunting and difficult to navigate. I am happy to provide advice and guidance on how to figure out your post-college plans, as well as feedback on job or graduate school application materials. I am also happy to provide help with the following: job search, resume and cover letting writing and editing, interview prep, career advice
Currently Paired Mentors — Research
These mentors are currently paired with undergraduates but may have opportunities in the future.
Carina Kusaka
Research interests: tufted puffin, coastal conservation, habitat, spatial ecology, GIS
Research description: My PhD research in the Davis lab at OSU is focused on the tufted puffin, a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Oregon. I am using aerial photography and geospatial analyses to examine how tufted puffin breeding habitat has changed over time and identify the key climatic drivers behind these habitat changes.
Position description: I am very excited to welcome and mentor an undergraduate student to be a part of the tufted puffin habitat project. Specifically, I am interested in having this student help me to orthorectify aerial imagery of tufted puffin breeding habitat across spatial and temporal scales. This involves using GIS software to create 3D models of islands off the Oregon Coast out of helicopter photos. No prior experience is needed, just a willingness to learn. I'm also happy to mentor the student in career paths in FWCS, applying to graduate school, or whatever else they might need. Ideally, the student would start as soon as possible. Two positions are available. This is a volunteer position, so I am very flexible on weekly work expectations and can work with the students' schedule.
Lara Mengak
Location(s): Corvallis, eCampus
Keywords: human dimensions, human-wildlife coexistence, rangeland ecosystems, rural livelihoods
Research interests: I am a PhD student in the Levi lab, focusing on social and ecological threats facing ranchers and working lands in the Pacific Northwest. My research includes both ecological and social sciences to examine these threats. My ecological work uses novel genetic techniques to explore diet overlap between elk and cattle. My social science research focuses on rancher decision-making and risk assessments.
Position description: I am seeking an interested mentee to work on preparing a rancher survey. The mentee will learn about the process involving in drafting and mailing a survey. The tasks involved will need to be completed during the fall term. No previous experience is required, and all training will be provided! This position is not currently paid, and therefore, can be flexible to accommodate the student’s schedule. Future paid opportunities are available, as well.
Courtney Hendrickson
Location: Corvallis, eCampus
Keywords: Freshwater wildlife ecology, disturbance ecology, community ecology, climate change, phenotypic plasticity
Research interests: I am interested in the impact of natural and unexpected disturbance on wildlife communities, specifically on species and trait diversity in freshwater systems. My study taxa include wetland fish, amphibians, and aquatic macroinvertebrates.
Position description: The research opportunity involves 2 main tasks: 1) aquatic macroinvertebrate sample sorting and 2) macroinvertebrate and vertebrate image analysis. 1) Sample sorting requires researchers to use a dissecting microscope to pick and taxonomically sort macroinvertebrates from experimental mesocosm and field collected samples. 2) Image analysis involves identifying and measuring aquatic vertebrates (fish and amphibians) and macroinvertebrates in the image processing program Image J (Fiji).
Wave Moretto
Location: Hatfield Marine Science Center
Keywords: kelp forest ecology, marine fishes, trophic ecology, conservation biology, SCUBA
Research interests: My research examines the role that Oregon kelp forests play in sustaining nearshore fisheries. My goal is to use a combination of kelp forest community monitoring methods including diver surveys, eDNA collection, and stereo video analysis to understand how fish communities within Oregon kelp forests change seasonally and document the importance of kelp forests as crucial nursery habitat, particularly to groundfish species.
Position description: This project has ongoing components of both field and lab work! Monthly field work involves SCUBA diving from small boats in kelp forest locations along the Oregon coast to perform underwater surveys, collect fish, and obtain water samples- those interested in this component must be AAUS certified scientific divers (if this is something you’re interested in working towards we can discuss further). Lab components involve identifying stomach contents, prepping samples for genetic ID, stable isotope analysis, and eDNA analysis, and analyzing stereo video. Field work will take place in Newport, Coos Bay, and Port Orford (transportation and lodging provided) but I am based in Corvallis and lab work can take place in Corvallis or Newport. This would be a volunteer opportunity but I will provide guidance when applying to funding (scholarships, research awards, etc) and would love for students to develop their own projects based on this work that could turn into future presentations, senior theses, and/or publications down the road!
Maddie English
Location: Hatfield Marine Science Center
Keywords: marine ecology, foraging ecology, microplastics, sharks
Research interests: Broadly, I am interested in the movement, behavior, and foraging ecology of top marine predators (specifically sharks) and the effects that anthropogenic impacts can have on them. My current research focuses on microplastic contamination in salmon sharks.
Position description: This project will involve working in a laboratory setting at Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport. The tasks will include dissecting salmon shark stomachs and prey items, using hazardous chemicals to process samples, and microscopy to identify microparticles. The tasks involved will need to be completed before the end of the Spring term. This position is not paid and can be flexible to accommodate students' schedules, and I would be happy to assist students in pursuing funding sources for the project. I am also happy to offer support with resumes, CVs, cover letters, applications, proposals, and general early career advice.
Lindsey Roberts
Location(s): Corvallis, eCampus
Keywords: desert fishes, environmental DNA, endangered species management, conservation
Research interests: Currently my primary focus at Oregon State University is on developing an easily executed future management program for the endemic Independence Valley spemckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus lethoporus) in Ralph’s Warm Spring, Nevada by investigating applications in environmental DNA (eDNA) methods. Having graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology and spent many days on the Yampa and Green Rivers sampling various fish communities, I have always been interested in desert fishes, such as the R. o. lethoporus, and would love to continue conservation efforts for similarly imperiled airland fishes further in my career.
Position description: I am offering the opportunity for data entry/management experience for eDNA, water chemistry, and fish length/weight data with the potential opportunity for 2025 summer field work in Nevada for those who are looking for more field work experience (e.g. minnow trapping, visual implant elastomer (VIE) tagging, remote camping experience, collecting eDNA water samples in a wetland spring environment, and more!). Additionally, I would be happy to offer help crafting a resume, CV, cover letter, or providing early career advice based on personal experiences and interview prep tips for any fish, wildlife, and conservation student who is interested. This opportunity would be voluntary and can start right away (i.e. October 2024) for data entry or career advice with flexible time commitments and hours.
Currently Paired Prospective Mentors — Non-research
These mentors are currently paired with non-research mentees and provide assistance with the development of professional tools (e.g., CV, resume, application materials) and career advice. They may have opportunities to pair with additional mentees in the future.
Lara Mengak
Potential mentorship topics: Career pathways in the wildlife and conservation social sciences. I will also likely be accepting research mentees in the future and am happy to advise students in upcoming research opportunities.
My research specialties are human dimensions/conservation social science, social-ecological systems, human-wildlife interactions.
I am a social scientist with experience studying both people and wildlife. I have worked on various projects around the country with some international experience, studying birds, large and small mammals, and human behavior. Currently, my PhD research focuses on understanding social and ecological stress factors impacting ranchers in the Pacific Northwest. I'm interested in understanding how humans and wildlife interact and coexist within working landscapes.
Andrés Pinos-Sánchez
Location(s): Corvallis, eCampus
Keywords: fisheries, fisheries economics, marine ecology in General, fisheries and trophic modeling, Ecuador and Galápagos' research.
Research interests: I am an international graduate student in the Master of Science program at Oregon State University (OSU). I am originally from Ecuador, where I completed my undergraduate degree in General Biology with a specialization in Marine Ecology and a sub-specialization in Economics at Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ). As part of my studies, I had the opportunity to study abroad twice: first at the Galápagos Islands through the GAIAS program, and later at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). During my undergraduate studies, I participated in various published projects, spanning arachnid taxonomy, amphibian ecology, shark tagging, seafood forensics, non-native species cataloguing, and a wide range of ecological field surveys across the Galápagos, Ecuador's coast, rainforest, and Andean regions. For my undergraduate thesis, I conducted an "Economic Analysis of the Sea Cucumber Fishery in the Galápagos Islands." Currently, I am developing a multispecies mathematical model of kelp forest dynamics and trophic interactions to predict the outcomes of different management scenarios, including urchin culling, sea otter reintroduction, and kelp "reforestation."
Morgan Johnston
Location(s): Corvallis, eCampus
Keywords: Rockfish, population modeling, spatial modeling, professional development, professional conferences
Research interests: I finished my undergraduate degree way back in 2015 at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where I primarily studied bird behavior. Since then I worked as a field technician across Nevada, Oregon, California, Washington, and Texas studying a variety of taxa including birds, small mammals, and fish. Once I began my Masters at OSU in 2022, my research focus shifted to marine fishes and population/spatial dynamics. As a graduate student Mentor, my goal is to help undergraduate students navigate the transition from student to scientist. This path is different for everyone, and I hope to use the lessons I learned and pass that knowledge to others. Whether your interests are in studying birds or fish, I am happy to give professional guidance to anyone.
Rebecca Kelble
Location(s): Corvallis, eCampus
Keywords: greater sage-grouse, sagebrush, survival, habitat suitability, resume
Research interests: I have been working with the magnificent greater sage-grouse in the beautiful sagebrush steppe since 2016. This indicator and umbrella species allows me to explore questions about survival and habitat characteristics that lead to informed management recommendations for this unique ecosystem. I am available for weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly meetings during the academic year. Meeting time and place to be discussed. I have held 5 different temporary positions in 5 different states and ecosystems, managed a field research program with 10-12 field sites, hired over 150 technicians over 7 years, and started working towards a Master of Science degree. I have had some amazing mentors along the way, some of my favorites being graduate students. I am excited to pay it forward and help mentor the next generation of wildlife biologists.
Taylor Azizeh
Location(s): Hatfield Marine Science Center, Corvallis, eCampus
Keywords: wildlife, fellowships, bioenergetics, coding, resources
Research interests: My research interest in wildlife science spans both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Previously, I have studied ecotoxicology of bats in the Andes, the foraging ecology of emperor penguins, and now predator-prey dynamics in large whales. I am broadly interested in behavioral ecology, the effects of climate change or disturbance, and bioenergetics.
Opportunity: I am happy to provide advice on fellowship applications (Fulbright, NSF GRFP), edit CVs, or talk about navigating academia (especially regarding financial independence, LGBTQIA+ representation in STEM). Really - anything you need!