MEES IN THE NEWS

MARCH 2025 - foundation spotlight:

Environmental Molecular Science & TechnologY

NEWS ARCHIVE

ALUMNI CORNER

hormonal research in aquaculture: biotechnology & Sustainability olivia smith spicer (‘16, Ph.D.)

Olivia Smith Spicer (‘16, Ph.D) is a Program Analyst at the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) National Institutes of Health (NIH) NeuroBioBank (NBB) which serves as a central point of access to world-class collections of NIH’s  six biorepositories providing researchers with a wealth of resources to facilitate their research, including medical records and clinical data sets (when available) as well as access to quality metrics and best practices used by each site.  In her current role which began in 2017, Olivia was awarded a postdoctoral Presidential Management Fellowship in 2017, which is a  two-year, full-time, paid fellowship where she oversees the day-to-day operations of the Neuro-Biobank, which manages the distribution of post-mortem human tissue for neuroscience research. This program is integral for advancing our understanding of neurological, developmental, and psychological disorders.  Olivia graduated with honors (cum laude) with her Ph.D in MEES from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) in December 2016.  Advised by Dr. Yonathan Zohar at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET), Olivia’s doctoral research focused on the molecular mechanisms of peptides (chains of amino acids, the building blocks of protein) in the brain that influence reproduction using zebrafish as the test species.  Olivia’s groundbreaking research  targeted mutations in the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in zebrafish, which play a critical role in reproduction.  

 This Louisiana native has a unique journey to MEES: Olivia transferred from the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences doctoral graduate program at the University of Maryland, College Park to the MEES graduate program at UMBC in Fall 2011.  As part of her personal statement, Olivia notes her research focus in reproductive endocrinology under Dr. Edward Orlando (UMCP)  morphed into exploring the role of gonadatropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) in the reproductive axis of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) under Dr. Yonathan Zohar (UMBC) who was already a part of her doctoral research committee.  Prior to coming to Maryland, Olivia graduated with high honors (magna cum laude) and in just four short years earned both her bachelors in Marine Biology with a minor in Chemistry (2006) and her Master’s degree in Marine Biology (2008) from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana.  While at Nicholls State, Olivia participated in many internships and summer programs further gaining experience in and developing scientific research skills in both field and laboratory settings.  Olivia interned with the USGS National Wetlands Research Center as a laboratory assistant, assisting with Florida’s sea grass research (Vallisneria spp) (2003), and the following year Olivia completed an internship at the Louisiana Universities Marine consortium (LUMCON) under the advisement of Dr. Nancy Rabalais; researching how increased nutrient supplies affect phytoplankton in a Louisiana estuary.   In 2005, Olivia was one of only fourteen students worldwide that was selected for the University of California Santa Barbara’s NSF funded Pacific Islands Field Training Program in the Solomon Islands.  This five week program involved participants receiving field training in marine science and anthropology in a remote island village.  Olivia credits this experience in allowing her to not only experience a diverse culture, but also demonstrate her ability to pursue her goals in harsh physical conditions which included no electricity or running water while attending class and conducting independent field research projects.  Olivia’s Master’s thesis focused on the reproductive potential of spotted gar in South Louisiana and Olivia notes that this allowed her to better prepare for her doctoral research topic.  While in the MEES graduate doctoral program at UMBC, supported by the Gudelsky Family Foundation, Olivia’s doctoral research focused on the molecular mechanisms of peptides (chains of amino acids, the building blocks of protein) in the brain that influence reproduction using zebrafish as the test species. For more on Olivia, please click here

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Dr. FENG CHEN

marine ecology: Exploring the diversity & function of marine micro-organisms

Dr. Feng Chen is a Professor at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science based at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET).  A longtime MEES faculty member, currently serving as the Environmental Molecular Science and Technology Foundation Committee Chair, Dr. Chen’s research focuses on the diversity and function of microorganisms (mainly viruses, bacteria, cyanobacteria and microalgae) and their ecological role in the marine ecosystem.  Dr. Chen has published 11 book chapters and 70 peer-reviewed research articles with his studies on the Chesapeake Bay microbiota leading to discoveries of novel microbes in the estuarine environment. IMET featured Dr. Chen and his lab researchers on a study at sea exploring sea marine bacteria aiming to discover what these microscopic organisms can tell us about global systems of nutrient cycling. Dr. Chen is also part of NOAA’s Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center program which trains and graduates highly-qualified students in marine science for careers in research, management, and public policy that support the sustainable harvest and conservation of the nation’s marine resources. Dr. Chen is an active advisor and mentor to many MEES students, and is the co-instructor for MEES 684 Marine Microbial Ecology.  This course presents a survey of marine microbial ecology, proceeding from seminal discoveries and the development of widely used molecular tools to current advances, and covers a suite of microorganisms, with particular emphasis on bacteria (including cyanobacteria), archaea, micro-eukaryotes, and viruses.  Dr. Chen received his B.S. in Marine Biology from the Ocean University of China in 1985, M.S. in Phytoplankton Ecology from the First Institute of Oceanography, the State Oceanic Administration, China in 1988, and Ph.D. in Marine Microbial Ecology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1995. He joined the faculty of University of Maryland in 2000.  For more information on Dr. Chen, please click here.

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MEES RESEARCH CENTER

climate stressors & disease in shellfish populations: the blue crab virome project

Jennifer Herrera (‘22, EMST)  is a third year Master’s student and LMRCSC fellow at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science – Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology.  Co-advised by Dr. Eric Schott and Dr. Tsvetan Bachvaroff, Jennifer’s  thesis research focuses  on how climate stressors and disease affect shellfish populations using the blue crab as the test species.  More specifically, the research is working on identifying the blue crab virome across the species’ United States geographical range. Prior to joining the MEES Graduate Program, this Long Island South Shore New York native developed a passion for science and asking questions that can be traced back to her sixth grade science classroom.  Jennifer attributes attending an upper microbiology class as a realization point in her desired career path, which resulted in a veering away from medical school, the desired career path of her peers to being Intrigued in studying biological mechanisms on a micro level,  Jennifer graduated with honors from New York University with Bachelor’s of Arts in Biology and Minor in Chemistry and Animal Studies in 2021. While at NYU, Jennifer worked in numerous research and volunteer medical field positions in 2019 including as a podiatric surgeon volunteer, under Dr. Juan Goez at Mount Sinai Hospital,developing skills in medical tasks like taking X-ray images and removing stitches during post surgery care.  Jennifer also assisted in translating for patients who predominantly spoke Spanish. Jennifer also later that year interned in the NICU unit at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center under Dr. Javier DePaz, participating in daily meetings and becoming involved in natural and c-section births, assisting medical personnel with general procedures and in the neonatal care assisting new parents in adjusting to their lifestyles.  Upon graduation, Jennifer had the opportunity to work in several labs including the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge collecting terrapin population dynamics data in the bay and under Dr. Jennifer Goleski studying harmful algal blooms in several Long Island lakes measuring the chlorophyll and cyanobacteria concentrations. As a result of this groundbreaking science, New York's Department of Environmental Conservation has implemented ultrasonic devices that will drive algae deep into lake systems, forcing these organisms to receive less sunlight and ultimately mitigating the eutrophication that causes HABs.  However, Jennifer attributes  the Bench:Epigenetics, a laboratory course offered at New York University, as transformative by having the tremendous responsibility of performing complex biological procedures Independently, enjoyed how mentally-stimulating conducting experiments were, how rewarding overcoming new challenges could be, as this class started early into the pandemic, and further developing and learning new skills  and techniques and found this venture made her eager to pursue a career in research. Jennifer Herrera joined the MEES program in Fall 2022. In conjunction through LMRCSC and the Maryland Sea Grant, Jennifer’s thesis research is focused on using  metagenomics to identify novel viruses in the blue crab. Ultimately, 305 putative virus sequences were identified across all states. A comprehensive analysis showed that these sequences were likely to be from viruses. Based at the Institute for Marine and Environmental Technology, Jennifer recently was part of a special presentation this past April (2024) on this project entitled: “Cracking The Code: the Blue Crab Virome with Jennifer Herrera”; click here to see the video presentation. Along with NOAA scientist Dr. Shannon Meseek (NorthEast Fisheries Science Center - NEFSC)  serving as her mentor and her co-advisor Dr. Eric Schott, numerous other researchers and stakeholders, Jennifer’s research aims to apply molecular methods to monitor the health and biodiversity of Baltimore Harbor.  For more on Jennifer, please click here.

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