SENIOR RESEARCH SCIENTIST
Maya Groner
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Maya Groner is a Senior Research Scientist at Bigelow, where she runs the quantitative marine disease ecology lab. She is interested in using diverse methods to quantify drivers and consequences of marine diseases and understanding the physiological mechanisms that determine disease resilience. Recently, much of this work occurs in the context of climate change, fisheries management, and conservation of marine resources. She is also passionate about mentorship and strategizing about methods to make science more welcoming and inclusive. In her free time, Maya enjoys playing with her niece and nephew, drawing, and kayaking.
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POSTDOCS
 Reyn Yoshioka
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Reyn Yoshioka is a postdoctoral fellow at Bigelow. He is interested in understanding the interactions between disease and trophic ecology using Bayesian statistics, laboratory experiments and field surveys. Currently, he is studying the impacts of changing oceanic conditions on an emerging disease, black eye syndrome, in snow crab in the Bering Sea. In his spare time, Reyn enjoys learning about lichens, photography, and graphic design.
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Melissa Rocker
Melissa Rocker is a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at Bigelow. She is a marine biologist with interests in the ideal management of our Earth’s marine resources, the conservation and protection of these species and their environment, as well as the long-term effects of anthropogenically-induced deterioration of the marine environment. She employs observational, experimental, and manipulative frameworks to explore and understand marine species and their environment. She is currently collaborating on research projects investigating disease dynamics in marine ecosystems and fisheries. Melissa enjoys being outdoors with her two dogs (Kaya and Aspen), traveling, and exploring the natural world!
TECHNICIANS
Kirsten Johnston
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Kirsten Johnston is a research technician at Bigelow. She is interested in the resilience of marine communities and the intersection of biodiversity, ecosystem services and human wellbeing. Currently, Kirsten is supporting a variety of lab projects and will be studying the impacts of water temperature on epizootic shell disease in lobster. In her spare time, Kirsten enjoys surfing, skiiing, and baking
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GRADUATE STUDENTS
Alex Lepeule
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Alex Lepeule is a master's student at the University of Montpelier in France. He is doing his master's internship at Bigelow, focusing on modeling the effects of temperature on viral hemorrhagic septicemia in Pacific herring. When Alex is not writing code, he enjoys rock climbing and birding.
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INTERNS
Allie Kretzmer
Allie Kretzmer is in her third year studying marine science at the University of Connecticut, Avery Point. Her research interests include anything ocean related, as she is in the process of narrowing her focus! For her REU this summer she is measuring baseline levels of thiaminase (an enzyme that breaks down vitamin B1), viral erythrocytic necrosis and Ichthyophonus in adult alewife. Outside of the lab, she enjoys spending time outdoors (specifically near the water) with her family and her dog, Billie. She loves to learn new crafts as a way to decompress and stay creative.
Dennie Truong
Dennie goes to Colby College ('24) and is majoring in environmental science and biology along with a minor in math. His recent research project at Bigelow investigates a potential connection between sea wasting disease and domoic acid (a harmful algal bloom neurotoxin). During his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, pickleball, ping pong, and hiking.
Shayla Ferreiro-Luce
Raised in the Pacific Northwest, Shayla recently graduated from Western Washington University with a B.S. in Marine & Coastal Science. Her research interests currently include climate change, seagrass ecosystems, eelgrass wasting disease, and the overlap therein. Currently, she is running a mark-recapture experiment to understand how eelgrass wasting disease progresses throughout the spring and summer at Padilla Bay, in Washington state. She is also developing educational materials for high school students on this topic. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and gardening.
