Natalya Opsahl
Undergraduate Researcher and AK Space Grant Scholar (Spring 2022)
Project Title: “Fjord Hydrography”
I grew up in Northern California, Montana, and Oregon, and I have been visiting the ocean to tidepool ever since I could walk. I remember watching how sea star wasting disease affected the intertidal and subtidal zones, which made me want to pursue a degree in marine biology. I plan to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in marine biology from UAS, hoping to study the intertidal zone and how climate change affects it. From this lab work, I hope to learn how water quality affects the animals in the ocean and learn more about climate change and Fjord thermohaline circulation.
Natalya participating in a benthic fish survey, which included measuring the size and identifying whether starry flounder, pictured, were right or left sided (Juneau, Alaska, 2021).
Natalya sizing a Maine lobster as part of a invertebrate survey (Acadia, Maine 2019).