Fellowship Experiences
A blog by and about students supported by Maryland Sea Grant

It’s a Hard (Shell) Knock Life: Working on an oyster farm builds character. But what if we could make it easier?
To be a shellfish farmer means long days on your feet, embracing harsh weather while lifting heavy cages. It all takes a toll over time. But a day on the water is another dollar in your pocket, so you push through and persevere. I spent many days out in the heat and in the cold grading, counting, and bagging clams and oysters for whoever was hiring for a season. Read more...
The Joys of Being a Teaching Assistant
This is the third semester of my master’s program in biology at Salisbury University, and it has been a long one. On top of completing my final sampling season, taking the last few classes, typing my manuscript, juggling a part-time job, and attempting to have some sort of social life, I also began a teaching assistantship. Read more...
No Filter: Growing Concerns Over Sunscreen Chemicals
The active ingredients in sunscreens and some personal care products, a group of chemicals known as UV filters, have been in the eyes of the public and international regulators for their potential toxicity.
Read more...A Deeper Dive into Baltimore Harbor: Scientists take a closer look at the tiny particles living in the murky waters
Anyone who’s ever been to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor understands that there is a big trash problem in the city.
Read more...Changing Course: From Ocean Research to Ocean Policy
In January 2019, I was a graduate student at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. I came to work each morning in jeans and a t-shirt and focused on my research: modeling the biology and physics of floating seaweed. Read more...