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Marisa Litz
Degrees Obtained 
B.A. Anthropology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C. ( 1998)
B.S. Marine Science, Biology, magna cum laude, University of Maine (2005)
Master’s candidate, Fisheries, Oregon State University
Current Research
I am presently examining the abundance and distribution of coastal pelagic species (CPS) off Oregon and Washington, particularly the northern anchovy, Engraulis mordax. I began working in the Fish Ecology Division of NOAA Fisheries at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Newport, Oregon June 2005. As a Biological Technician, I collect data on fisheries independent pelagic surveys along the Oregon and Washington Coasts, aboard commercial and research vessels. I identify and enumerate both ichthyofauna and ichthyoplankton captured in trawls, I collect seawater for nutrient and chlorophyll analysis, and I deploy conductivity, temperature and density (CTD) profilers for in situ habitat analysis. It is my responsibility to use the survey information to examine the spatial and temporal variation patterns of CPS from 1998-2006. I am interested in the population dynamics of the northern anchovy; their spawning behavior and biochemical response to environmental forcings, like El Niño, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and coastal upwelling.
Grants/Awards
Thomas G. Scott Grant Scholarship, Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife - 2007 ($1000)
Lasker Award, California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations - 2006 ($500)
Student Travel Award, Society for Conservation Biology – 2006 ($800)
Minority Graduate Pipeline Fellowship, OSU Graduate School – 2006 ($32,533)
Graduate Research Assistantship – NOAA Fisheries – 2005 ($13,618)
Previous Experience
As an undergraduate at the University of Maine, I conducted extensive field and lab work on salmonids in Maine lakes and rivers as a Biological/Field Research Assistant. I maintained a 2000-gallon facility for rearing Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata). I also conducted experimental physiological research on marine copepods, during which I quantified their escape response to mechanical stimuli using high-speed video and photo digitizing techniques. I volunteered for a turtle tagging research project in the Hawaiian Islands for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and a research cruise in the Gulf of Maine. I enjoy surfing, traveling, reading, and collaborative research projects on land and at sea.
Future Goals
My aim is to pursue a Ph.D. in Marine Fisheries in the future. I recognize the importance of partnering scientific research with commercial experience to meet management goals and make a broader impact on policy. I am an advocate for conservation; yet understand the need for a science-based, interdisciplinary approach. My background in anthropology allows me to consider how to effectively incorporate different perspectives into the scientific realm, particularly because issues in marine fisheries are often complex, involving several stakeholders. I enjoy a multidisciplinary approach, and have extensive interpersonal training from at-sea fieldwork, laboratory collaborations and statistical analyses. I hope to integrate my experience and perspective into training the next generation of marine researchers.
