School of Ocean Science and Engineering
Student Spotlight: Lindsay Bomgardner
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What interested you about your field of study?
I have always been an inquisitive person, especially when it comes to the outdoors.
I spent my childhood exploring everything from small creeks to the ocean, searching
for cool critters I’d never seen before. When I was in high school, I remember watching
a documentary on the shark finning industry and how these unsustainable fisheries
have led to severe population declines in shark populations across the world. From
that moment on, I knew I wanted to study threatened animals and the habitats in which
they live. I have always had a particular passion for sharks as they are often misunderstood
and are incredibly important within many different ecosystems. Still, I am interested
in studying all types of fish and what we should do to sustainably manage their populations.
What is/was the road to your degree path?
I studied Marine Fish and Wildlife Conservation at Virginia Tech, where I learned
everything from fisheries management to dendrology. I wanted to obtain as much experience
as possible, and joined a research lab on campus where I aided in work related to
sharks and rays. I also worked as an environmental interpreter at Cape Henlopen State
Park in Delaware almost every summer of college where I taught kids and their families
about the environment and what they can do to help the planet. This position as well
as all of my studies in college strengthened my passion for conservation and drove
me to further my education and explore a new environment.
Why USM?
During one college summer, I attended the Summer Field Program at the Gulf Coast Research
Lab at USM. I took classes in elasmobranch biology and marine ichthyology, and met
my current advisor, Dr. Mike Andres. His research focuses on fish movement ecology,
and I was incredibly interested in all his work. Based on my work in the class, Dr.
Andres offered me a graduate research assistant position in his lab to study juvenile
lemon sharks, and I couldn’t say no!
What job do you hope to obtain in your field of study after you graduate?
I hope to continue working in an academic research lab or for a state or federal agency. I want to be able to continue to study different species of fish as well as explore different habitats and ecosystems. I greatly enjoy working within fish movement ecology and hope to continue studying this as well.
Please share any other information that you feel would be helpful to other students or potential students about your degree.
Graduate school can be very challenging, but it is incredibly rewarding getting to
learn so much in a short period of time. Take every opportunity you can to educate
yourself and do your best to continue to grow as a person and scientist every day.
