ARCS Foundation Oregon alum Adrienne Chan of Oregon State University College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences (CEOAS) has spent the past year balancing intense academic demands with ambitious research goals in marine ecology. Research, teaching, completing coursework for a minor in mathematics, and pursuing a prestigious NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Sea Grant Fellowship kept her schedule packed.
Late last summer, Adrienne received the highly competitive National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Sea Grant Fellowship in Population and Ecosystem Dynamics. This fellowship provides a unique opportunity to work directly with NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service mentors while covering her tuition, stipend, and research costs until she completes her PhD. Now, with three years of secure funding thanks to her fellowship win, Adrienne can focus on her groundbreaking research on bottom trawling and its effects on regional ecosystems. Winning this award is a decisive vote of confidence in her research and abilities.
Adrienne’s research focuses on the Heceta/Stonewall Bank complex off the Oregon coast, where NOAA Fisheries recently reopened areas for bottom trawling after nearly two decades of closure.
Using video surveys, water sampling, and sediment analysis, Adrienne is gathering a comprehensive dataset on how renewed trawling impacts benthic ecosystems. With the NOAA funding, she plans to create one of the only datasets of this kind, offering critical insights into bottom trawling’s ecological impact and informing ecosystem-based fisheries management on the West Coast.
Earlier in the year, Adrienne also faced the challenge of mastering new coding languages, a feat she managed while balancing her research and teaching duties. Once her coursework is complete in the fall 2025, she’ll take her preliminary PhD exams, bringing her closer to the next academic milestone.
Despite the program’s demands, Adrienne found time for an unexpected addition to her life: a small rescue dog named Carmen. Adopted from Mexico, Carmen is her beloved companion, bringing balance and fun to Adrienne’s intense coursework. Now a familiar face on campus, Carmen generates smiles during Adrienne’s TA sessions and research breaks.
Congratulations to Adrienne on this well-deserved honor, which opens new doors for her research and promises exciting contributions to marine science!