Congratulations, Kyle and Natalie!

A bit late (sorry this spring has been hectic!), but we want to share the exciting news that two more Masters students in the Bishop lab successfully defended their thesis in February!!

Kyle was the first up, and shared about his research investigating the adaptive capacity of northern fur seals, and how tagging data can help understand how behaviors may change under environmental stress. It was an excellent talk with collaborators and colleagues from NMFS, ADFG, and universities all tuning in to cheer him on!

Then the next morning, our lab all drove 2.5hrs south to Seward where Natalie defended her thesis investigating mercury in sea otters from Kachemak Bay. This work highlighted the importance of long-term stranding networks for monitoring environmental change and ecosystem health. It was so great that she was able to give her talk in Seward and with friends and family, and colleagues from the Alaska SeaLife Center in person to celebrate!

So after 2.5 years, the first cohort of Bishop Lab graduate students--Ana, Kyle and Natalie-- are done! Its a little bittersweet for me, but definitely had been one of the best parts of my job seeing these three amazing early-career researchers grow and having had the privilege of learning from them. I know they will all go on to great things, and the Lab would not be what it is today without them!

Written by: Amy Bishop