Marine Biology Student Profiles

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Christina Wickman – Coral Reef Biologist (Bonaire, Caribbean)

As part of my marine biology degree I participated in a CIEE study abroad program in Bonaire. This opportunity and my experiences at OIMB helped me to attain the knowledge and connections to continue my work on coral reefs. After graduation I returned to Bonaire and am working for CIEE as a Coral Reef Ecology Intern where I assist professors, and help students with their research and scuba diving. I am also working with a marine ecology tourism business, where I lead tours, give lectures and coordinate interns. My OIMB experiences prepared me to teach the marine biology classes, and provided me references for my current job. OIMB is a wonderful place to study with both the faculty and students being supportive, passionate and knowledgeable.

Katie Thomas – PhD student in Biology at Duke University (Durham, NC)

OIMB is a truly wonderful place to live and study. I was provided with rigorous hands-on classes, many field work opportunities, and a formative independent research experience. Small classes at OIMB let you really get to know your professors, which creates a wonderful learning environment and is helpful for networking after graduation. The science world is small and interconnected and many people I have interviewed with for jobs and graduate school have had a connection to OIMB in some way. After graduating I worked as a biological research assistant studying seabirds, did a research apprenticeship in pelagic ecology at Friday Harbor Labs, and returned to work at OIMB for a summer. This fall I am starting a graduate program at Duke, where I plan to study visual ecology and camouflage in cephalopods.

Max Beeken

Max Beeken – Fisheries Observer (Alaska)

My experience at OIMB sparked my interest in marine policy and environmental issues and got me interested in the fishing industry. After graduation I worked for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife sampling the catches in the salmon and rockfish fisheries. Currently I work with a company that contracts with the National Marine Fisheries Service to provide on-board biologists for the commercial fishing fleet in Alaska. I have had the opportunity to explore some very remote places in Alaska and encounter many different types of interesting marine life, and learn first-hand about the policy and environmental issues of the industry.

Aki Ohdera – Headed for graduate school

What made the OIMB special for me was to have the opportunity to be in an environment where every field trip we took was a chance to observe nature and to use these experiences to develop new questions and try to answer them myself. I feel that escaping books and the class room is important for those who want to study any area of biology. The faculty and their wealth of knowledge made OIMB an intellectually stimulating place. After graduation I conducted an internship in Japan and now I am off to graduate school. My experiences at OIMB will most certainly contribute to my success.

Maryjanna Grove

Maryjanna Grove - Position at the Oregon Zoo (Portland, OR)

The small class sizes and great professors gave the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology the feel of a small university even though it is part of a much larger one making my experience there an excellent one. The frequent field trips and field work gave me an appreciation for wildlife which I have carried over to my position at the Oregon Zoo where I am an intern in the North America area of the Zoo.

Megan Copley - Graduate Student

The intensive hands on field and lab experiences paired with an environmental education internship at the State Parks and South Slough at OIMB inspired and prepared me to bring the marine world into the lives of adolescents. After graduating I worked as a Marine Science Instructor for SEACAMP San Diego where I was able to experientially teach kids about the wonders of the ocean through labs and snorkels. I am currently back in graduate school training to be a high school biology teacher where I plan on offering hands-on marine biology education to as many of my students as possible.

Maureen Hogan – Aquarium Science Certificate Program at the Oregon Coast Community College (Newport, OR)

OIMB was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I am currently working to obtain a certificate in Aquarium Science. At OIMB I loved going on field trips and I think the hands-on approach to learning helped me retain a lot of information that will be useful to be in the next step in my career. The professors were all really great and they helped me love every aspect of marine biology more than I already did, which in turn helped me want to learn more.

Annie Walser – Masters student in Marine and Estuarine Ecology at Western Washington University (Bellingham, WA)

I've been thankful for my experiences at OIMB since the moment I completed the program. The classes were challenging and fast-paced and I thrived under the intense hands-on curriculum. Classes were difficult and engaging while also teaching me what was required to become an exceptional researcher. Since graduating I have worked as a marine mammal intern at Disney World, a scientific technician at Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, and a naturalist in training at Island Adventures Whale Watching. I use marine biology every single day to educate the public and continue to build on the great foundation set up for me at OIMB. I still remain in contact with the professors who educated and inspired me the most and they helped me get into graduate school at Western Washington University, where I am so excited to be able to continue my work in the Pacific Northwest.

Kyle Krumsick - MSc student at Memorial University of Newfoundland (Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada)

OIMB provided me with many fantastic opportunities that have helped me in my current work. The field and lab experiences offered both through courses and through helping OIMB graduate students with research provided me with skills that I have now expanded on and use frequently. Probably the greatest contribution to my current field of study was from the Biology of Fish professor, Daryl Parkyn, whose love for fish and fisheries is contagious. After graduating I enrolled in a Masters program where I study the decline of cod stocks around Newfoundland and Labrador. I use a combination of stomach analysis and stable isotopes to analyze variability in feeding and how that relates to the condition of individual cod as well as populations.

Nicholas Hayman — Master's student in Biology at San Diego State University (San Diego, CA)

My studies at OIMB reaffirmed my desire to be a marine biologist, a drive I have had since watching Free Willy for the first time. The professors and my peers inspired me and helped me discover how amazing the oceanic world really is. The intensive, hands-on classes and the bonds formed between students and professors were invaluable. The most useful thing I learned at OIMB was how to be a proficient researcher through the numerous independent research projects. After graduating, I moved to San Diego to pursue my Master’s degree

Marissa Paulling —Fisheries Observer with Alaskan Observers (Monterey, CA)

OIMB confirmed my interests in marine biology, and since my time there I have applied my skills and had the support of my professors and friends to continue exploring and building upon what I learned at OIMB. After graduation, I interned in Mote marine lab’s seahorse conservation lab where I bred seahorses to decrease the collection of wild seahorses for public aquarium displays. I was also invited by OIMB’s own Dr. Cynthia Trowbridge to assist in snorkeling and littoral surveys of the Lough Hyne marine reserve in Ireland as part of her ongoing research. I am currently working as an observer aboard fishing vessels in the Monterey Bay area of California in cooperation with NMFS to maintain healthy and sustainable fisheries.

Liz Cooney – Plant Cell Biotech Biologist (Portland, OR)

I have OIMB to thank for most of my knowledge regarding experimental technique. Through classes like Adaptations, Oceanography, and Microbiology, I learned valuable project-development skills that I regularly apply at my current job to optimize cell growth and production via variable testing. These skills, along with the insight and advice I received from faculty throughout my time at OIMB, have also equipped me for my ultimate goal of attending graduate school in the near future.

Lindy McMorran­—Marine Mammal Trainer at the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program.

OIMB opened my eyes to the endless possibilities in marine biology. I love the hands-on learning, small classes and connections made with professors. The professors were always there to help me grow as an individual and as a student. The classes opened my eyes to new ideas and new connections. I carried these ideas on to my first job after graduation working as a seasonal outdoor educator at Catalina Environmental Leadership Program where I educated students ranging from 4th grade to college level about sustainability and marine and terrestrial ecology. I also interned at the South African Shark Conservancy, the Mote Marine Laboratory’s Sea Turtle Hospital, and the California Northcoast Marine Mammal Center. I have recently accepted a job working as a marine mammal trainer for the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, and enjoying every second of this new job.

Lisa Ziccarelli − M.S. student in Ocean Science at UC Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, CA)

I came to OIMB as a post-baccalaureate to gain experience in marine science after getting my Bachelors degree in the Midwest. OIMB was a life-changing experience because I was totally immersed in marine biology. The location of the lab and the structure of the classes are ideal for learning in a practical, hands-on environment. The professors have an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience, they are excited about teaching, and they take the time to really get to know students. After graduating I worked as a paid research assistant in the Shanks lab at OIMB for a year studying nearshore oceanography and phytoplankton, which inspired me to pursue a graduate program studying phytoplankton and harmful algal blooms.

Colleen Coleman —Masters of Teaching student at Lewis & Clark College (Portland, OR)

OIMB professors reinforced my passion for biology and ecology through the courses they taught.  I cannot remember a lecture, lab, or field trip in which my professors did not dedicate themselves to my learning. It was through this experience that I realized I wanted to bring the same dedication to a classroom of young minds. With the support of my OIMB professors, I am now attending Lewis & Clark in Portland, Oregon studying to become a high school biology teacher. As a teacher I hope to create a learning environment that will create passion for scientific inquiry, much like the OIMB environment provides to its students. 

Denise Griffith —Fish Biologist at the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (Columbia River, OR)

When I first came to OIMB, I was immediately struck with an overwhelming sense of caring from the professors. There are very few places where the professors care not only about the education they provide, but also about the future of their students. During my time at OIMB, I was pushed to achieve skills I did not believe I could ever obtain, all provided through hands-on fieldwork, research experiences and lab activities. After graduating, I was encouraged by one of my professors, Jan Hodder, to pursue an internship with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, where I was able to learn skills that I now use in my current position with Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. I tag and monitor salmonids in the Columbia River and collect data about migrations and habitat. OIMB prepared me for this career and gave me a positive experience that I can look back upon and be grateful for.

Kaleonani Hurley – Graduate student in Invertebrate Zoology at University of Hawai‘i at Manoa

As an indigenous Hawaiian, the ocean has always been a presence in my life. I was excited to pursue marine biology in Oregon because I was taught as a child ' a'ohe pau ka 'ike   i ka halau ho'okahi – not all knowledge is found in one place. I remember my semesters at OIMB like it was just last week—early morning trekking to the intertidal, examining cool creatures in lab, and taking down pages and pages of notes from expert faculty. Everything I learned at OIMB came into practical use when I started my internship at one of the University of Hawai‘i’s marine science centers, the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology. I was thrilled to test my invertebrate zoology knowledge with organisms I hadn’t seen before. I’ll be starting graduate school at UH Mānoa in Fall 2012, and I can admit with pride that my experiences at OIMB were the building blocks of who I am as a scientist.