Jami Ivory

 (2017-) Faculty Research Assistant (jami.ivory@oregonstate.edu)

Jami received her B.S. in Biology from Humboldt State University and her M.S. in Marine Science from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. As a graduate student in Deborah Steinberg’s lab, her thesis work focused on determining the temporal variability in diel, seasonal, and interannual patterns in mesozooplankton abundance as part of the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study. After completing her M.S., Jami conducted research at sea with Cornell University, University of Rhode Island, and Sea Education Association onboard research vessels and tall ships. Currently as the Plankton Lab Manager, Jami organizes equipment and supplies for our research cruises, and processes ichthyoplankton samples from the MEZCAL project. Jami loves fieldwork and is thrilled to be living on the Oregon coast and exploring the exciting field of larval fishes!

 


Moritz Schmid, PhD

(2017-) Research Associate (schmidm@oregonstate.edu)

Moritz obtained his PhD in Oceanography working on underwater imaging using the LOKI. For his dissertation, Mo developed a copepod-stage-specific zooplankton classifier and worked on the role of lipids in triggering migration to diapause in Arctic copepods. For his M.S. in International Nature Conservation, he modelled pan-Arctic zooplankton species distributions using machine learning techniques and predicted them into the future using IPCC scenario data. In the Plankton Ecology Lab, Mo leads the processing of underwater imagery from the ISIIS, using a state-of-the-art deep learning pipeline. He used the resulting high-resolution in-situ data to study the effects of eddies on larval fishes, and current work includes linking upwelling-induced trophodynamic regimes to the distributions of larval fishes. Mo is driven by the scientific opportunities that open up with the development of cutting-edge oceanographic technologies.

 


Megan Wilson 

(2017-) PhD Candidate (wilsomeg@oregonstate.edu)

Megan joined the lab after completing a B.S at California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo). Megan’s PhD is focused on improving our understanding of the role of variable oceanographic and trophic conditions on the recruitment dynamics of a nearshore groundfish, the commercially and recreationally important species, cabezon. Megan’s PhD will utilize a seven-year recruitment time series from in and around the Oregon Marine Reserves to connect growth, survival and environmental conditions during cabezon early life stages. Specifically, Megan is interested in inter- and intra- annual variation in early life-history traits as they relate to oceanography and life stage, as these factors modulate the population replenishment pipeline.

 


Luke Bobay

(2021-) PhD Candidate (bobayl@onid.oregonstate.edu)

Luke earned his B.S. at Ohio State University, where he studied larval yellow perch foraging ecology in Lake Erie. Luke’s PhD research explores the effects of changes in food web interactions, timing of spawning, and spatial distributions of individuals on northern anchovy recruitment in the northern California Current Ecosystem. This research relies heavily on data collected by the OSU Plankton Ecology Lab using the In Situ Ichthyoplankton Imaging System (ISIIS) and MOCNESS, and by partners at NOAA. Through this research, Luke hopes to improve the understanding of the influences of climate change on fish populations.

 


Elena Conser

(2021- ) PhD Candidate (consere@oregonstate.edu)

Elena joined the lab after completing her B.S. at the University of Miami. She is studying how seasonal hypoxia affects the growth, diet, and survival of larval and juvenile flatfishes in the Northern California Current region.

 


Cameron Royer

(2022-) Masters Student (royerca@oregonstate.edu)

After completing his Bachelor's degree at Oregon State University, Cameron is starting his M.S. research on the recruitment patterns of Oregon’s nearshore fishes. Deploying Standardized Units of Measurement for the Recruitment of Fishes (SMURFs), Cameron will extend long-term settlement records to better predict population replenishment patterns and ultimately the population dynamics of important fishes such as rockfishes in the future.