Sydney Ulland

Sydney Ulland is currently a junior at the University of Maine, Orono studying Marine Science with a concentration in Marine Biology and minors in both Aquaculture and Climate Science. She is originally from Lakeville, Minnesota where her passion for the outdoors grew from lakes to oceans after traveling to the coasts with her family as a child. She has loved many facets of marine science since she was young and has since made efforts to learn more about different aspects of the field. Quahog Bay Conservancy served not only as a bridge between classroom and field learning but also as a wonderful opportunity to gain both research and professional skills. She was drawn to this internship partially because of her interest in aquaculture, but also because she connected to the mission and goals on which the conservancy is based. She found the efforts to protect the bay and ecosystem with achievable and sustainable practices to be inspiring and a great program to be involved in. Although she learned a great deal more than can be expressed in a few words, she would like to emphasize that the skills and values she took away including teamwork, flexibility, trying new things, and staying positive were by far the most important and priceless skills she could’ve hoped to gain after the summer at QBC. Sydney most enjoyed the dissection of the Atlantic bluefin tuna head and the shark tagging excursions with Dr.Walt Golet’s Pelagic Fisheries Lab, as well as the trip to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. She also thoroughly enjoyed the days spent entirely on the boat with the team whether that be tumbling or crabbing- sometimes the hardest days are the most enjoyable if spent with the right group. In the future, Sydney hopes to continue her education to a graduate level and continue to learn more about the marine ecosystem through research and fieldwork.

“I had a wonderful experience with a great group of people at Quahog Bay Conservancy. The skills and lessons I learned from this internship are invaluable and I can’t thank the staff at the conservancy enough for giving me the opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful mission and program. I truly appreciated and enjoyed my time as an intern and hope to continue my career with the solidified foundation this summer provided me.”

Emma Archambault

Emma Archambault is currently a Junior at the University of Maine Orono, she is pursuing Marine Science with a concentration in biology and a minor in sustainability. She is from Western Massachusetts where she grew up spending time on lakes and rivers water skiing and fishing with her family. Her passion for marine science comes from spending summers on the coast of Maine and visiting Cape Cod exploring tide pools with her father. Quahog Bay Conservancy’s internship was an amazing opportunity that got all of the interns involved with field work. Emma enjoyed spending most days out in the water doing hands-on learning. She most enjoyed crabbing and knowing that what she was doing was having a positive impact on the ecosystem. She loved all of the opportunities to meet and network with different people from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Gulf of Maine Research Institute, and Dr. Walter Golet’s Pelagic Fisheries lab. She is excited to see where all of the networking opportunities will take her and is extremely grateful for her experience with QBC. Moving forward Emma plans to explore the US in a van for a year and explore the West Coast. After that she plans to get her masters in a marine science lab she finds interesting. She plans to focus on aquaculture and conservation in her future career endeavors.

“The internship through QBC was an amazing opportunity that bridged the gap between classroom learning and hands-on field experience. This experience was such an amazing learning opportunity. I feel so lucky and grateful to have met so many amazing people and had the chance to network with different people in various marine science fields. This past summer was super fun and extremely rewarding. I would highly recommend it to any students who are eager to get out in the field!”

Courtney Swenson

Courtney Swenson is currently a junior at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY, where she is pursuing majors in Biology and Geoscience with a minor in Environmental Studies. She is from Woolwich, Maine, where she grew up spending lots of time on the ocean, fishing and exploring marine habitats. Her passion for marine life and for environmental conservation led her to the QBC internship program, and she was excited to be a part of protecting an area so important to her and her family. Courtney most enjoyed spending every day on the water and making a difference in her community. Her favorite project was invasive species removal through the trapping of Green Crabs, but she also enjoyed being a part of operations on the oyster farm and helping with the CBASS project. Courtney most appreciated the opportunities she had to learn more about the marine science community through field trips and networking at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and the UMaine Pelagic Fisheries Lab. She plans to take these networking skills with her, as well as field and lab skills she learned and enjoyed. Specifically, she loved learning R programming and is excited to grow this skill and apply it to her future work. Moving forward, Courtney plans to pursue a career in the marine sciences with a focus in oceanography, and she hopes to continue working in places that prioritize conservation.

“The QBC internship experience was truly invaluable to me. I learned so much about marine science work, but also about different careers that are out there and the paths to get there. It was the most fun and rewarding summer that I have ever had, and I am deeply grateful to everyone at QBC for the opportunity and for making it such a positive environment and experience.”

Reuven Frye

Reuven Frye is currently a junior at Bates College, Lewiston, Maine. Reuven is studying Environmental Studies with a concentration in ecology and minoring in Earth and Climate Systems. He is originally from Montclair, New Jersey, where his passion for the marine environment sprouted from trips to the beach and watching oceanic documentaries. Reuven was enraptured by the diversity and vastness of the marine environments and knew from a young age that he wanted to pursue a career in marine biology. The summer internship at Quahog Bay Conservancy allowed him to gain valuable experience in research both in the field and in the lab, and also apply knowledge gained in the classroom to a handful of projects throughout the summer. He was particularly interested in this internship because of the array of conservation projects that were conducted and to expand his knowledge surrounding bivalve aquaculture, especially within Maine. Reuven gained numerous skills from this internship that will be extremely beneficial to his future career and life, such as experimental design, collaboration, communication, and patience. His most memorable moments from the internship were the shark tagging trip with the Pelagic Fisheries Lab and the educational journey to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, where they met a variety of exceptional scientists. Additionally, he really enjoyed the days spent entirely on the boat with the team whether that be conducting CBASS or tumbling on the raft. In the future, Reuven hopes to continue his education surrounding marine environments and conservation through research and fieldwork at a graduate level.

“The internship at Quahog Bay Conservancy was an extraordinary, informative, and inspirational experience that has strengthened my passion and knowledge of the marine environment. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity and will forever apply the skills that I have gained in the future. I cannot thank the staff at QBC enough for everything they have done and continue to do to conserve the environment. The memories created will never be forgotten.”

2024 Intern White Papers

• Ecotoxicological Effects of Roundup© Herbicide on the Hatching Success and Naupliar Survival of Acartia spp.
• Ecotoxicological Impacts of Dicamba and Sulfur on the Marine Microalga Tetraselmis spp.
• Growth Rates of Atlantic Herring and Atlantic Silverside in Response to Temperature Changes on the Gulf of Maine
• Temperature Effects on Respiratory Rate and Hatching Success of Acartia spp. (Copepoda: Calanoida) in Quahog Bay, Maine

Sasha Milsky

Sasha Milsky graduated from Union College in 2022 with a B.S in Biology and a minor in Classical Civilizations. She is from Chicago, IL, but her fondest memories are spending the summers kayaking and exploring the tidal flats when visiting her grandparents on Cape Cod. She has spent the last year exploring seasonal positions in the marine science field as she is looking to apply to graduate school to study marine trophic interactions.

“QBC has helped me make many connections in marine sciences through opportunities to explore labs and speak to principal investigators at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) and other research institutions.”

This summer at QBC, Sasha worked on a project linking fish species diversity to green crab abundance using the Casco Bay Aquatics Systems Survey data collected by GMRI. Along with the research she was able to conduct, she also was excited to learn more about oyster harvesting, invasive green crab mitigation strategies, the use of FTIR and LDIR machines to detect microplastics, and how aquaponics systems function. She thanks everyone at QBC for all of these opportunities!

Lucy Medd

Lucy is a senior at Bates College majoring in Biology and minoring in Hispanic Studies. She grew up in Portland, Maine spending her summers on the water. She is passionate about environmental conservation and education, and was inspired by her internship experience to engage in environmental outreach opportunities for the Maine community.

This summer, she conducted an assessment of microplastic contamination in Snow Island oysters using both optical and infrared spectroscopy. This assessment was the first of its kind in the area! In addition to her research project, Lucy most enjoyed trapping and crushing green crabs for use in the compost pile at Wolfe’s Neck Farm. She was thankful for the QBC team and their positive attitudes and hard work ethics that made the summer so much fun.

“The most valuable part about an internship at QBC is that it will expose you to different career opportunities and give you the opportunity to network and engage with the marine science community in New England. Be excited to try something new, make connections, and spend lots of time on the ocean!”

Hannah Orton

Hannah is a rising senior at Bates College in Lewiston, ME pursuing degrees in Environmental Studies and Mathematics. She is from Littleton, MA but decided to spend a summer in Harpswell with QBC to learn more about aquaculture and what it takes to keep the bay clean. Also, getting to go out on a boat every day didn’t hurt!

During the summer Hannah conducted a literature review on the parasite Haplosporidium costale that causes the disease SSO in the eastern oyster, which is the species of oyster the QBC cultivates. QBC detected one of the first SSO outbreaks in Maine in both of their oyster leases this year, so she decided to do this project to find out more information that can be used to reduce its spread. On top of her project, Hannah enjoyed making connections with people at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) and other places she had the opportunity to visit through QBC. She also enjoyed getting involved in the multiple projects that QBC takes on, such as water quality testing, harvesting oysters, trapping green crabs, and learning about aquaponics.

“This summer taught me so much about different facets of ocean conservation and really helped me to grow my interest in pursuing a career in coastal ecology with an interest in disease pathology. I think the most valuable part for me was getting to work with the amazing QBC team and meeting well-established scientists at research institutes such as GMRI. I also loved spending my whole summer in Maine!”

Dora Chaison-Lapine

Dora is from Portland, Maine and is currently a Senior at Warren Wilson College, in Swannanoa North Carolina. She is majoring in Conservation Biology, with a minor in Art. Dora is passionate about the ocean, all of its creatures, and sustainable food systems, which is why this aquaculture internship was a perfect fit. She was initially drawn to the internship because of the oyster farming aspect and says: “All of the other projects were just a cherry on top. Learning about QBC’s commitment to cleaning up and protecting the bay and helping with CBASS was so cool and everyday was exciting.” She also highlights that making connections to different community organizations and learning about different research opportunities was a rewarding part of this internship.

Looking forward, Dora hopes to continue working on the coast of Maine, farming or otherwise. “Working on the water everyday makes me happy and I am so grateful to QBC for all of the fun, connections and skills I have made this summer.”

2023 Intern White Papers

• Linking Fish Species Diversity to Green Crab Abundance in the Casco Bay Aquatic Systems Survey (CBASS)
• An Assessment of Microplastic Contamination in Snow Island Oysters (Crassostrea virginica)
• A review of information on the seaside organism, Haplosporidium costale, with special attention to its presence on the northeastern coast of North America
• A health assessment of farmed Eastern Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) in Quahog Bay, Maine

Teagan Cunningham

Hi I’m Teagan Cunningham! I am currently a senior at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME completing my Bachelors Degree in Earth and Oceanographic Sciences. I am from NJ and have always been passionate about the water! I grew up sailing all year around and compete in college!

I loved working at QBC this past summer! The team is very outgoing, passionate, and knowledgeable. I was exposed to harvesting oysters, micro plastics research, water quality monitoring, clamming, and invasive green crab removal which was all new to me! I loved developing and conducting the research methods to analyze microfiber and micro-plastic concentrations in tuna, cod, clams, oysters, mussels, and sediment. Additionally, we made great contacts at the Woods Hole Oceanography Research Institute and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. Thank you to everyone at QBC for an amazing summer!

Nash Holley

My name is Nash Holley, and I am a sophomore at Bates College studying environmental science. As an intern at QBC this summer, I was able to develop a proficiency in aquaculture, while also having the opportunity to conduct valuable research on the state of Quahog Bay. As a Maine resident, the well-being of the Gulf of Maine is an environmental concern that resonates with me, and I think that QBC is doing really valuable work in the right direction. I have harbored skills and knowledge that I will continue to use in a marine science setting. Thank you to everyone at QBC for a great summer.

Mikayla Wallace

I have grown up on the water my entire life, coming from a fishing family, and there’s nothing more I love then being on the water, and because of that QBC was a perfect fit for me. Summer here at QBC has really opened my eyes to new opportunities and a great learning experience along with hard work ethic. I love that QBC is a mixture of being out on the field crabbing, oystering, debris pickup and other hands-on experience, and has some lab time as well in doing microplastic research with several different species, and water quality research. The field trip to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) was one of my favorite experiences here at QBC this summer, as well as going to Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GRMI). I learned so much and QBC has given me many opportunities for future plans with my Oceanography degree. I’d like to give a big thanks to Pat and the hard-working staff at QBC, for being so welcoming and giving me these amazing opportunities and experiences.

2022 Intern White Papers

• Plastics in Bluefin Tuna
• Plastics in Hard Shell Clams
• Plastics in Mud and Gravel Sediments
• Plastics in Oysters

EMMA HOOPER

Emma is a Maine native who enjoys her time living on the mid-coast. She is a rising junior at Maine Maritime Academy studying marine biology and small vessel operations with the ultimate goal of working on a research vessel in the future.

Emma can always be found by the water, often spending her spare time adventuring along the coast, whether it be to a lighthouse or a beach. Her love for the ocean and passion for science sparked her interest in research and conservation. Hence why she chose QBC who puts forth strong efforts to conserve the bay.

Throughout this internship, Emma enjoyed the hands-on work within aquaculture, while also gaining new experiences with crabbing and boating. She hopes to only further her conservation abilities in greater areas in the future.

ALLIE MOULTON

Allie didn’t grow up in Maine, but she considers herself a Mainer at heart. A recent graduate of Colby College, Allie plans to use her environmental science degree to help keep coastal communities and the ecosystems they rely on happy and healthy. When she’s not busy trying to improve her oyster shucking skills or crushing mussels, Allie enjoys reading, going for runs, and swimming off the QBC dock. After her time at QBC ends, she hopes to continue working on the water, and is considering starting her own oyster farm one day!

EMILY ROTTINO

Emily has always been an avid lover of the outdoors, especially the ocean. When she saw this opportunity, she was apprehensive at first because she had no experience in aquaculture at all, just a passion for conservation. But that wasn’t a problem here at all because everything that was done was a new opportunity for learning. “I was learning new things all the way up through my last day.”

Emily had learned about the benefits of aquaculture through her studies at UNE but what isn’t always taught in the classroom is all of the hard work that goes into an oyster farm behind the scenes. “It’s something that I don’t think most people think about so knowing that now makes me more appreciative of where my seafood comes from,” says Emily after spending the summer on the oyster farm.

She enjoyed getting to share our oysters with the community; “it was so rewarding to see how much positive feedback we got on not only our efforts for the bay but the taste & quality of our oysters as well.” Whenever Emily would work on the lease at Snow Island lots of boaters would stop by to watch the process and ask questions. It showed her how truly interested so many people in the community were in what QBC is all about.

All of Emily’s prior boating experience was recreationally based through sailing or fishing or boating with friends, so being a part of the working waterfront was a new experience for her. So, what she appreciated most about this internship was just how hands on it was, “I can’t remember a day we weren’t out in the water even at least for a short while.”

“I am grateful to have had this opportunity and can’t wait to see where my new knowledge and passion takes me!”

DESTINY BELANGER

Destiny is a sophomore at Unity College studying Wildlife Biology. Most of her childhood was spent on a farm in the small town of Wales, Maine where she learned the value of hard work. Throughout high school this lesson paid off as she graduated in the top ten in her class as a high honor student and part of the National Honor Society. She grew up encompassed by avid outdoorsmen which has inevitably influenced her love and passion for the environment and the wildlife in it. Naturally, Destiny tends to spend her time outdoors doing what she loves. From fishing, hiking and four-wheeling, to hunting, kayaking and camping, you’ll find her in the woods or on the water making memories and spending time with friends and family doing what she loves most. With her intense appreciation for the outdoors, she hates to see the continuous decline within the environment and wants to work to protect and maintain it. She hopes to eventually get her Recreational Maine Guide License in hopes to share her passion with others in the beautiful woods of Maine.

With an ultimate goal of working as a biologist here in the state of Maine helping to maintain our wildlife populations and habitat through research, data collection, field work and so much more. Working towards this goal, as she does every goal, she takes advantage of every opportunity she can to help gain experience and knowledge in the field. She has volunteered to work with Maine Biologists at the moose check station where she collected data on the current moose population. This job has also been an opportunity for her to take advantage of new learning experiences and experiences in a different field where she has “learned so many valuable skills and lessons in the field” and has actually felt like she was “making a difference.”