Graduate Fellows




Nate Hall


Education: Cal Poly, B.S. Ecology and Systematic Biology with a concentration in marine biology and fisheries.
Current Research: California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program and Cal Poly CPFV Observer Program.  Nate and his group conduct sampling and tagging of nearshore fish species with volunteer hook and line anglers aboard CPFVs (Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessels) and with traps aboard commercial fishing vessels in order to directly assess the effect of California marine reserves on nearshore fish populations.   After completing his Master's degree at Cal Poly, Nate aspires to a job in marine research preferably in California marine fisheries.

Sarah Johnson


Education: Cal Poly, B.S. Biological Sciences 2008
Current Research: Linking organic pollutants to tumor growth in arrow goby, Clevelandia ios, in Morro Bay: Proteomics as a tool for biomarker discovery.
After receiving her Master's degree in June 2010 from Cal Poly, Sarah plans to pursue a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology or Biomedical Sciences. She has already been accepted and has interviews at several top institutions, and is in the process of choosing which program to attend. Sarah would like to continue working with proteomics and its application to the understanding and prevention of human cancer and diseases.

Leslie Longabach


Education: UC Santa Barbara, B.S. Aquatic Biology
Current Research: CA Collaborative Fisheries Research Program We are monitoring central coast marine protected areas with respect to their effects on nearshore fish populations.   After finishing her Master's degree at Cal Poly, Leslie will look for work with a government agency, nonprofit or NGO.

Loredana Serafini


Education: Cal Poly, B.S. Biological Sciences concentrated on Cell & Molecular Biology
Current Research: Characterizing the acute temperature stress response of two ascidian congeners, Ciona intestinalis and C. savignyi, using comparative proteomics in the Environmental Proteomics Laboratory.
After graduation, Loredana intends to join the Biotech industry.   Specifically, she would like to research possible applications of proteomics as a diagnostic tool for human diseases.

Grant Waltz


Education: UC Riverside, B.S. Biological Sciences 2005
Current Research: Assessing the effects of human access on rocky intertidal communities.
Grant is examining the density of visitors to publicly accessible rocky shores in San Luis Obispo County and experimentally determining the effect current levels of visitation has on rocky intertidal communities.   Additionally, he considers the effectiveness of parking lot size to regulate the density of intertidal visitors at sustainable levels.   The study is designed to provide resource managers with data to balance the demands of access with ecosystem health.   After completing his Master's degree at Cal Poly, Grant would like to continue with a career working to balance human demands with the natural demands placed on the resources of natural communities.

Johanna Weston


Education: University of Dallas, BS Biology
Current Research: Water Quality and Hydrodynamics of Morro Bay, CA.
This research will hopefully lead to a improved understanding of water quality, specifically nitrate distribution, of Morro Bay and influence the decisions of local policy makers and stakeholders. After graduation, Johanna hopes to receive a science policy fellowship before working towards becoming a biology professor at a liberal arts university.



Former Graduate Fellows
Name Project Title Years Initiatives e-mail
Carol Boland 2006/2007
Steve Cahill 2006/2007
Dave Rasmussen 2006/2010
Kristen Sanchez 2008/2009
Lauren Hitt 2007/2009
Corbin Hodges 2006/2009
Sarah Johnson 2007/2009
Laurel Johnston 2006/2010
Jeremy LaBarge 2007
KEY
Affiliations: CCMS=Cal Poly Center for Coastal & Marine Sciences; MBNEP=Morro Bay National Estuary Program;
Initiatives: RF=Regional Fisheries; WQ=Water Quality; CC=Climate Change; HA=Human Access; IS=Invasive Species; ME=Marine Economy