Graduate Students

Current Students

• Lillian Kuehl, MESP. The effect of diet on survival, growth, and radula morphology of Haliotis kamtschatkana postlarvae

Former Students

• Katie Mills-Orcutt, Biology. Optimizing abalone outplant strategies using larval Haliotis kamtschatkana in the San Juan Archipelago, Washington.
• Caitlin O'Brien, Biology. Development of cryopreservation methods for sperm of pinto abalone, Haliotis kamtschatkana, for conservation aquaculture.
• Tori Talkington, Biology. Tissue analysis of osmolytes in Nuttallia obscurata at various salinity levels.
• Liliane Dethier, Biology. Improving Quantitative Skills of Undergraduate Biology Majors at Western Washington University (Bellingham, WA).
• Chris Morgan, MESP. Plastic responses in the reproductive strategies of gastropods. In progress. (Committee co-chair with B. Miner)
• Leesa Sorber, MESP.  Physiological tolerance, feeding mechanisms and distribution of the invasive Purple Varnish Clam, Nuttallia obscurata.
• Caitlin O’Brien, MESP. Tests for phenotypic plasticity in the shell morphology of two closely-related intertidal whelks and an examination of the distribution of predator-induced shell plasticity within the genus Nucella. (Committee co-chair with B. Miner)
• Tristen Wuori, MESP. Effects of elevated CO2 on the physiology of microzooplankton feeding on the coccolithophorid Emiliania huxleyi. (Committee co-chair with S. Strom)
• Virginia Selz, MESP. Nitrogen source impacts on Synechococcus nutrient acquisition and grazing susceptibility. (Committee co-chair with S. Strom).
• Zachary Siegrist, Biology. Broad physiological tolerances of the invasive clam Nuttallia obscurata.
• Rachel Allee, Biology. Effects of anoxic conditions on thermal tolerance and stress protein levels in four local bivalves.
• Jonathan Robinson, MESP. Effects of simulated wave force on the metabolism of the volcano limpet, Diodora aspera.
• Deborah Purce, MESP.  Comparative ecophysiology of two geographically isolated populations of Lion’s Paw scallop, Nodipecten subnodosis in Baja California Sur, Mexico. 
• Scott Cowan, Biology. The effects of emersion, temperature, and wave force on tenacity of the limpet, Lottia pelta.
• Jason Hall, MESP. Impacts of Microspora ficulinae (Chlorophyceae) association with Halichondria panicea (Demospongiae) on the chemical armament, pigmentation, and growth of Archidoris montereyensis (Archidorididae). (Committee co-chair with K. Van Alstyne)
• Michael Thimgan, MESP. Effects of wave force and period on the energy expenditure of the intertidal marine gastropod, Scutus antipodes.
• Jeannie Gilbert, MESP.  A seasonal study of the benthic invertebrate community of the lower Samish River.
• Joseph Balsiger, Science Education.  Curriculum review of NSRC/STC Experiments with plants using the Project 2061 curriculum analysis procedure.
• Kerri Fredrickson, MESP. Does the addition of b-dimethylsulfoniopropionate to coastal phytoplankton communities act as a feeding deterrent? (Committee co-chair with S. Strom)
• James Selleck, MESP.  Spawning and recruitment events of the invasive Varnish Clam Nuttalia obscurata and the fisheries Littleneck Clam Venerupis philippinarum.
• Heather Farren, MESP.  Sponge epibionts protect the scallop Chlamys hastata from barnacle encrustation and sea star predation.
• Christopher May, Biology.  Effects of wave period and force on tenacity of Acmaea mitra the Whitecap limpet.
• Sandra  Caldwell, MESP.  The energetics of crawling and swimming the hooded nudibranch, Melibe leonina.

Information for Prospective Students

I advise students in both Biology and Biology Education, and I encourage my graduate students to work on some aspect of my current research. Currently, all work in my lab is focused on restoration of our native abalone, Haliotis kamtschatakan. My students are generally funded through TAships, small internal grants, and grants from local organizations. If you are interested in working with me, you should contact me to discuss potential research projects and whether I currently have room in my lab.