Faculty, staff scientists, and students from Northeastern’s Coastal Sustainability Institute recently gathered on the Gloucester waterfront to network and share their science with the team at the Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute as part of an ongoing collaboration between the two institutions.
The Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI) is a marine biotechnology research institute focused on genomics research that connects with human health and the environment, and on bringing the best science to fishery research. Members of the Coastal Sustainability Institute (CSI) and Marine Science Center (MSC) including Director Geoff Trussell and researchers Katie Lotterhos, Dan Distel, and Steven Vollmer, have been working to build a partnership that leverages mutual expertise with GMGI scientists to advance scientific knowledge that informs coastal sustainability efforts. The GMGI team hosted the CSI/MSC team to enhance the collaboration and to lift the voices of junior scientists from both institutes.
Dan Distel, Ocean Genome Legacy Center Director and MSC/CSI Research Professor, chats with GMGI Science Director Andrea Bodnar during a break between planning sessions.
Dr. Trussell and GMGI Science Director Andrea Bodnar opened the summit with remarks highlighting the benefits already gained from the collaboration, including several lectures and seminars, a successful Northeastern co-op program at GMGI this past Spring, and ongoing knowledge sharing between researchers at both institutes. GMGI scientists also contributed to last year’s High School Marine Science Symposium, an annual event co-hosted at Northeastern, part of an ongoing joint effort to build STEM pathways and inclusive outreach opportunities.
Lightning talks from GMGI research scientists, CSI/MSC professors, graduate students, and undergraduate researchers highlighted the research taking place at each institution. Talks ranged from advancements in urchin and lobster gene sequencing to broader questions of ecosystem resilience.
PhD student Annabel Hughes (Gatins Lab) presents research at joint retreat.
Annabel Hughes, incoming PhD student in CSI’s new Gatins Evolutionary Ecology Lab, shared her enthusiasm for being a part of the event: “as a new graduate student in the department, this was an incredible opportunity to network and brainstorm how the partnership can strengthen my own research pathway.” Annabel and fellow PhD student Emily Trytten are pictured below, sharing their work.
PhD student Emily Trytten (Vollmer Lab) presents research at joint retreat.
The afternoon was spent in breakout sessions discussing research synergies in the areas of sustainable fisheries and marine genomics. Takeaways included plans to build a communication network between the GMGI and CSI faculty, staff, and student scientists, and detailed goals for leveraging the lab facilities and expertise at both institutions.
