Scholar Features

Foster Scholars have been featured in many web stories. Read these stories to learn more about the these talented graduate students and their research topics.

a researcher underwater holding a knife while taking a sample of tissue from a massive coral

My Journey as a Cherokee Nation Citizen and Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar

photo of the 2023 scholars

Dr. Nancy Foster Scholars Visit National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa

Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar, Jaida Elcock, and her colleague, Amani Webber-Schultz at Field School carefully
handle a small nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) that was caught and released after a quick scientific work-up.

Shark Superpowers, Science, and Social Media with Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar Jaida Elcock

A group of Native Hawaiian high school students stand in the grass together.

UH Hosts High School Students Overnight on Moku o Loe (Coconut Island)

Keiko Wilkins, a female marine scientist who is multi-racial.

Marine Sanctuary Ambassador Studies Microplastics Effect on Coral Health

Group photo of the scholars sitting on rocks during the 2022 Nancy Foster Scholar Retreat.

The Future of Marine Stewardship and Management: Young Scientists Pioneer in Collaborative Research

Brijonnay standing in shallow water with her mask and snorkel on

My Journey with NOAAs Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

collage of the 2022 Dr. Nancy Foster Scholars

2022 Dr. Nancy Foster Scholars

humpback whale breaching

Listening and Learning in Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary

Brijonnay Madrigal on a boat

Some Like It Hot: Foster Scholar Elise Keister Investigates Why Some Coral Reefs Can't Withstand Warmer Ocean Temperatures While Others Can

Brijonnay Madrigal on a boat

2020 Dr. Nancy Foster Scholars

Nury Molina

A Balancing Act: Foster Scholar Nury Molina Studies How Fish Keep Coral Reefs Healthy

zobell giving a presentation

Whales and ships: Foster Scholar Vanessa ZoBell studies whether slower ships improve whale communication in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary

oculina coral

Foster Scholar Erin Arneson Examines Coral Resilience to Ocean Acidification

jenna hartley

Kids can: Foster Scholar Jenna Hartley empowers students and teachers to tackle marine debris in their communities

grace cleaning an acoustic receiver

The shark took my fish: Foster Scholar Grace Casselberry investigates depredation in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

2019 Foster Sholars

Congratulations to the 2019 Dr. Nancy Foster Scholars!

carina fish and dan howard looking at computer screens

Tree rings and deep-sea corals: Coral skeletons teach Foster Scholar Carina Fish about the past ocean

kate hewett on a boat

The case of the missing oxygen: Foster Scholar Kate Hewett studies hypoxia in national marine sanctuaries

elephant seal

Voyage of the seal: Foster Scholar Sarah Kienle identifies differences in elephant seal feeding patterns

diver near corals

Where do they go? Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar Richard Coleman tracks fish populations in Papahānaumokuākea

alexandra avila holds a rockfish

Reaching out and diving deep: Foster Scholar Alexandra Avila shares what lies beneath the waves

Kealoha studies water quality and chemical oceanography in the Gulf of Mexico. Photo courtesy of Andrea Kealoha

Coral CSI: Foster Scholar Andrea Kealoha analyzes water chemistry for clues about invertebrate mortality events

researchers in a small boat tag a whale

Whale hello there: Foster Scholar Angela Szesciorka tracks whale behavior near ships

michael fox and native hawaiian student discussing coral

The coral doctor: Foster Scholar Michael Fox gives corals the best chance he can

divers with a manta ray

Grace, size, and mystery: Foster Scholar Joshua Stewart's work in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary supports manta conservation

scientists deploying a glider

From watching whales to searching for dolphins: Foster Scholar Tammy Silva's scientific career revolves around Stellwagen Bank

two great shearwaters flying above the water

What's in your vomit? Foster Scholar Anna Robuck explores contaminants in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

samara haver in a survival suit

Call of the wild: Foster Scholar Samara Haver studies sound across sanctuaries

kreidler with a mask and snorkel on

Community through science: Foster Scholar Nissa Kreidler sheds light on deep-sea habitats

jessica hale observing otters through a telescope

Paws up for science: Foster Scholar Jessica Hale tracks sea otter habits in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary

photo of a scholars jumping in front of a white van

The Biology Bus: A Q & A with Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar Alumna Dr. Nyssa Silbiger

photo of a diver collecting species under water

Foster Scholar Lindsay Marks Takes on Invasive Species