Mission
The Graduate Student Advisory Council of the School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering (SMSOE) has as its mission to advocate for the needs and interests of current graduate students in the School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering to the broader SMSOE community.
Are you an SMSOE Graduate Student?
Do you do research related to marine sciences? If so, you are a member of the School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering (SMSOE)! As a member of SMSOE you have access to additional resources, funding opportunities, and a welcoming community. Email marine.information@unh.edu to get connected with our list serv.
SMSOE Graduate Student Council Members
Sydney Birch
Email: sydney.birch@unh.edu
Sydney Birch is a PhD student in the Molecular and Evolutionary Systems Biology (MESB) program in the Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences (MCBS) department. Sydney is also a Graduate Student Peer Mentor for the Graduate School and is an NSF GRFP recipient. Her research addresses questions regarding the evolution and the genetics/molecular physiology of cnidarian sensory systems and how they mediate behavioral responses. She joined the SMSOE Graduate Council to help create a stronger community for graduate students within SMSOE. Full Bio.
Email: aliya.caldwell@unh.edu
Aliya Caldwell is pursuing a PhD in Marine Biology in UNH’s Fish and Movement Ecology Lab led by Dr. Nathan Furey. Her research investigates how NH-breeding seabirds select prey items in order to understand their value as fisheries indicators in the region. They are an NSF GRFP recipient and are the secretary of the UNH Student Subunit of the American Fisheries Society. Aliya joined the SMSOE Graduate Council to help facilitate community and interdisciplinary collaboration between SMSOE grad students, and to help increase awareness and understanding surrounding issues of diversity and equity within the SMSOE community. Outside of the lab or the field, Aliya spends their time birding, hiking with their dog, and finding the best small-venue live music in town!
Anne Hartwell
Email: anne.hartwell@unh.edu
Anne Hartwell is a PhD student in Oceanography in the Earth Science (ESCI) Department and the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping. Anne is also a member of the ESCI Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and an active participant in outreach and communication. Full bio.
Email: Will.Lush@unh.edu
Will Lush is a PhD student in oceanography. His research explores currents on the continental shelf and how ocean currents influence biological communities in shelf and coastal regions at a global scale. He joined the SMSOE Graduate Council to help improve community and connection between students and faculty who do research in marine science. His hobbies include surfing, running, and photography.
Brandon O’Brien is a marine biology PhD student in the department of biological sciences. My research is focused on invasive seaweeds, at both the small and large scales. I study the impacts of invasive seaweeds on the ecosystems they invade, what biological traits contribute to their success, and how these factors influence the regional geographic distributions of these species. I am happiest when I am scuba diving for my field research, collecting algae samples and marveling at the beauty of the subtidal world.
Email: Patrick.OByrne@unh.edu
As a graduate student in the Center for Ocean Renewable Energy Lab led by Dr. Martin Wosnik, I am a pursuing my M.S. degree in Ocean Engineering. My research project centers around the Marine Hydrokinetic Turbine installation associated with the larger multidisciplinary Living Bridge Project located at the Memorial Bridge in Portsmouth, NH.
Alexandra Padilla
Email: alexandra.padilla@unh.edu
Alexandra graduated from the University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Applied Mathematics. As an undergrad, she began research in the area of Material Science and Engineering but soon realized that she had an interest in Ocean Engineering, specifically underwater acoustics. Currently, she is pursuing a Ph.D in Ocean Engineering and her research revolves around acoustics and bubbles. Some of her hobbies are writing and cooking.
