TAMUCC Master’s Student is selected for the NOAA Graduate Sciences Program

Zane Ruddy, a Master’s student working in the lab of Dr. Rebekah Thomas, was recently selected for the NOAA Graduate Sciences Program (GSP). Students participating in the program are competitively selected to conduct graduate level research in subject areas integral to ongoing research at various NOAA facilities. Upon completion of the graduate degree, program participants are transferred non-competitively into a position within a particular NOAA facility. Zane was selected based on his proposed thesis research in which he will look at the effect of pre- and post-release stress on survival of hatchery-reared spotted seatrout.

The GSP pays for tuition, books, lab fees, housing, travel expenses, health insurance, and salary either in part or in full depending on whether the student is working at a NOAA research facility or is working on their graduate degree at their home institution. In addition, a NOAA scientist is assigned to mentor the graduate scientist during the Program. The GSP is aimed primarily at increasing opportunities for students to pursue research and educational training in NOAA priority areas such as atmospheric, environmental, remote sensing and oceanic sciences, specifically at minority serving institutions (MSI).

Zane will be spending 8 weeks this summer at the NOAA Fisheries office in Arcata, CA, where he will be learning about the fisheries stock enhancement programs there. He will also receive training to work at that facility once he has completed his graduate work here at TAMUCC. Congratulations Zane!