OUR TEAM
Mark Scheuerell
Principal Investigator
Mark’s research interests lie at the intersection of ecology and management. He is broadly interested in the roles of natural and anthropogenic drivers on freshwater and coastal ecosystems, and the services we derive from them. You can find out more about Mark’s research and teaching interests here. Mark also appreciates a healthy work-life balance. In his free time, Mark enjoys cycling, skiing, and enjoying Seattle and the surrounding area with his family.
Markus Min
PhD Student
Markus’s research interests are primarily focused on the application of ecological and statistical models to the management of marine ecosystems and fisheries. In addition to his research, Markus is also passionate about mentoring, teaching, and advancing equity in science. Prior to coming to SAFS, he completed his BS in Marine Biology at UCLA and worked as a research assistant in the Biological Oceanography Group at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). While his research at both UCLA and MBARI was focused on the new, exciting field of environmental DNA (eDNA), it was his time spent studying groundfish as an intern at NOAA Fisheries that inspired him to return to Seattle to study fisheries science and marine ecology at SAFS. In addition to his academic interests, Markus enjoys playing music, baking, fishing, hiking, and soccer. Find out more about Markus here.
Nicole Doran
PhD Student
Nicole is interested in studying culturally important fishery species that have been impacted by environmental change. Her Masters research explored frameworks of environmental justice, food justice, and community resilience that center Indigenous communities and their perspectives. Nicole’s current dissertation work involves studying the impacts of urbanization, climate change, and predation by introduced species on Kokanee salmon in Lake Sammamish. Nicole is passionate about increasing equity and inclusion in STEM through her involvement with organizations such as the American Indian Science and Engineering Society and Society for the Advancements of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science. Outside of work, Nicole enjoys reading, cooking, and playing video games. Feel free to reach out if you have questions about the lab, her research, or how to support DEI in STEM!
Brian McGreal
PhD Student
Brian’s academic interests focus on management of common pool resources. He graduated from the University of Arizona in December 2021 with a MS in Applied Econometrics and Policy Analysis from the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. He was the primary author of the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center’s 2021 Arroyo, Groundwater Management – Past, Present and Future and 2022 Arroyo, Water Resilience – Indigenous Perspectives. Brian is currently pursuing a PhD in Quantitative Ecology and Resource Management, where he’s receiving intensive training in the application of statistical, mathematical, and decision sciences to terrestrial and aquatic ecology, natural resource management, biometrics, and mathematical biology. Brian’s current research focuses on large-scale assessments of Pink salmon population dynamics in SE Alaska.
Angela Dillon
PhD Student
Angela completed her BS in Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences from UW with a capstone project evaluating the food habits of Pacific cod, Pacific halibut, and flathead sole. She continued this focus with her MS research on juvenile salmon diets and invertebrate prey resources at the Evergreen State College. Angela is currently the Water Quality Manager with the Puyallup Tribe’s Fisheries Department. In this position, Angela has been collecting data on temperature impaired streams in the Puyallup watershed and is returning to SAFS to evaluate salmonid responses to cold water refugia during summer low flows. Angela is a Puyallup Tribal member with a passion for protecting natural resources so future generations can participate in the traditions that are intrinsically linked to water, salmon, plants, and wildlife. In her free time, Angela loves reading mystery novels, beading, and board games. [Angela is co-advised by Daniel Schindler.]
Andrea Hennings
MS Student
Andrea is a biologist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Marine Fish Science Unit where she is the Unit’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV) program data manager, video annotation supervisor, and field coordinator, as well as an ROV pilot. In this position, her work supports long-term monitoring and population assessments of Salish Sea groundfish, principally rockfish and lingcod, in untrawlable habitats. Prior to WDFW, Andrea was support staff to the Snohomish County Marine Resources Committee (MRC) where she contributed to a range of projects, including the development of a derelict crabbing gear education and outreach program and the regional citizen science expansion of the NOAA Mussel Watch water quality program. When she’s not looking at fish on a computer, Andrea enjoys growing her own food, skiing, and sailing with her husband and rescue dog.
Tessa Code
MS Student
Tessa’s interests include predator-prey dynamics and studying anthropogenic influence on marine and freshwater species. Her current work focuses on the impact of artificial light levels on predation risk to juvenile salmon in Lake Washington, WA. Before joining SAFS, Tessa worked for the National Park Service in St Croix, USVI where she developed skills in hydro-acoustics, scuba-diving, and long-term saturation tagging projects. While working as a marine debris technician for the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, she found a passion for cleaning up the ocean and minimizing anthropogenic effects on marine species. After moving back to Seattle, Tessa began working for the USGS Western Fisheries Research Center, where she remains a biological science technician. In her free time, Tessa enjoys kayaking on the Puget Sound, tending to her vegetable garden, and snuggling with her rescue pup, Jacque.
Amirah Casey
MS Student
Amirah graduated from Western Washington University with a BS in Marine and Coastal Science with a minor in Spanish. While at WWU, Amirah took part in research on the effects of PCBs and PBDEs on zebrafish and surf smelt. During her four years as an undergraduate, she was a marine science education intern at foundry10, the first undergraduate to teach a lab section of organismal biology, and a peer mentor for the Marine and Coastal Science program. Amirah is collaborating with the ecotoxicology group at NOAA Fisheries on a new land use mapping project, focused on interactions between urban growth, imperviousness, toxic runoff, and expanding thermal stress in freshwater salmon habitats. In addition to her studies in SAFS, Amirah is a member of the Future Rivers program and participates in outreach and education with SEAS. Besides school and work, Amirah enjoys going to the gym, exploring the city with friends, and reading a wide variety of genres.
Callie Murakami
Undergraduate
Callie is a sophomore majoring in Aquatic & Fishery Sciences and planning to minor in Quantitative Science. She is exploring the fisheries field and has an interest in freshwater ecology and conservation. With a grant from Conservation, Research and Education Opportunities International, Callie is working alongside PhD student Markus Min and collaborators at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to better understand spatial and temporal patterns of marine debris in Puget Sound. Callie volunteered at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery in the fall of 2023 to help with coho and Chinook spawning, and has been interested in getting more hands-on experience ever since. Callie spent four weeks in SW Alaska during the summer of 2024 with the UW Alaska Salmon Program studying sockeye salmon and the freshwater ecosystems that support them. Callie enjoys playing roller derby, sewing, drawing, playing video games, and spending time with her roommates.
