The Rotjan Lab

The Rotjan Lab - Members

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR : Randi D. Rotjan, Ph.D., New England Aquarium

Postdoc Harvard University; Ph.D. Tufts University; B.S. Cornell University see abbreviated C.V. here

CURRENT MEMBERS : keep scrolling for bios...

Research Technician :

Rebecca Isquith, M.S. Northeastern University / New England Aquarium; B.S. University of California, Davis see C.V. here

Current Research Interns :

Sara Edquist, B.A. Boston University (BUMP program)

Raphael Fennimore, B.A. Boston University (BUMP program) - see C.V. here

Julia Collins, B.A. Boston University (BUMP Program)

Jessica Oh, Tufts University

Ruth Anam, B.S. Tufts University


The Rotjan Lab - Fall 2009 (absent: M. Flynn & K. Copeland)

FORMER LAB MEMBERS :

Masters Students :

Rebecca Isquith, M.S. Northeastern University / New England Aquarium; B.S. University of California, Davis

Sarah Abboud, M.S. Northeastern University / New England Aquarium; B.A. University of Richmond see C.V. here

Former Research Interns :

Maura Flynn, B.A. Roger Williams University

Jessica Monmaney, B.A. Vassar College - see C.V. here

Janet Lui, undergraduate student, Northeastern University

Kat Copeland, undergraduate student, Hobart Williams Smith College


Sarah, Rebecca, Randi & friends	Sara Edquist hard at work in the field

BIOS :

written by J. Monmaney

Sarah Abboud – Morphological variation and ecological significance of Christmas Tree Worms see C.V. here

Sarah is interested in the effects of water flow and predation risk on coral reef invertebrates, specifically focusing on Christmas tree worms. Specifically, she hopes to determine the importance of both flow and predation on morphology variation and the role of these serpulid worms in coral reef communities. Furthermore, Sarah is generally interested in how biotic and abiotic factors impact coral reef invertebrate species interactions. Sarah attended the University of Richmond for her undergraduate degree and recently earned her Masters from the Northeastern University Three Seas program. Sarah is a teacher, loves art (specifically photography), and playing Ultimate Frisbee.

Rebecca Isquith – Acoustic Stress in Winter Flounder - see C.V. here

Rebecca is exploring the dynamics of fish response to the potential stress of ship noise from Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) ports. To do this, Rebecca plays ship noise recordings to fish in sound-isolated tanks at a decibel calibrated to match that of ship noise in the field. Rebecca has two goals for her experiment: 1) establishing a successful protocol whereby cortisol levels – and thus stress – can be measured both from blood and from water samples (see Raph's project below), and 2) determine the effects of sound and structure on local populations of winter flounder. Rebecca attended UC Davis for her undergraduate degree, and recently earned her Masters from Northeastern University, Three Seas program. Rebecca has now joined the lab as a research technician through the summer. She likes photography, being outside, golf, and adventures.

Sara Edquist – Hermit Crabs and Population Dynamics

Sara is comparing two populations of marine hermit crabs (Pagurus longicarpus) with different habitat and available resource qualities. Hermit crabs in some populations are larger with more damaged, crowded shells, whereas other populations have smaller crabs with higher quality and better fitting shells. Sara is comparing populations to determine whether: a) high quality shells provide less incentive for crabs to move or b) damaged shells inhibit shell switching. Sara hopes to apply her findings in hermit crab research to larger themes in ecosystem interactions, such as the relationship between habitat quality and the distribution of resources. Sara completed her undergraduate education at Boston University, and plans to pursue a graduate degree in Marine Biology, specifically intersystem interactions. She is a sci-fi nerd, and enjoys swimming, Frisbee, and volleyball.

Raphael Fennimore—Acoustic Stress/Liquid Natural Gas Study - see C.V. here

Raphael is helping to develop and refine a protocol to assess levels of fish stress using a cortisol enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) coupled with solid phase extraction (SPE). Raphael anticipates that this procedure will be useful in quantifying fish stress from any number of stressors, including sound (as in the NEAq Liquid Natural Gas study), acidity, nutrient and oxygen availability, temperature, transport and any other environmental stressor to fish. Raphael recently graduated from Boston University, where he studied Marine Science and double minored in Biology and Earth Science. He recently worked for the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, researching whale feeding behavior using DTAG motion sensor tags as well as the correlation of local whale feeding migration with internal waves within Massachusetts Bay. Raphael has many additional interests including playing classical piano, rebuilding computers and teaching sailing, canoeing, and kayaking.

Maura Flynn – Symbiosis in Temperate Corals

Maura is assessing the effect of abiotic environmental factors (e.g. temperature and light exposure) on symbiont abundance and physiology in temperate corals. Specifically, she is using her background in art and illustration to investigate how image analysis can be used as a tool to investigate symbiont densities. Maura graduated from Roger Williams with a BS in Marine Biology. She plans to go to graduate school eventually, and would like to be a teacher. Maura enjoys collecting shells, and is psyched about a nautilus shell she picked up during a recent trip to Thailand.

Jessica Monmaney – Acoustic stress/ Liquid Natural Gas Study - see C.V. here

Jessica recently transitioned from her original intern position as lab writing assistant to a more research-based position; she is currently assisting Raphael in his development of a water cortisol assay. Specifically, Jessica has been working with winter flounder and lumpfish and testing their stress response to anthropogenic boat noise. Jessica graduated from Vassar College with a degree in Environmental Studies and concentrations in Biology and Political Science. She plans to eventually attend graduate school for Biology as part of her goal of becoming a science writer. To that end, Jessica is happiest when writing, editing, and reading, but also occasionally finds time for running, making hummus, and re-reading the Harry Potter series.