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Jessica Gephart is an Assistant Professor in Environmental Science at American University. She received her PhD in Environmental Science from the University of Virginia and was a postdoctoral fellow at the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC). Her research focuses on the feedbacks between increasingly globalized food systems and the environment, with an emphasis on seafood systems. Much of her work involves collaborations with interdisciplinary and international teams, including at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, the Stockholm Resilience Centre, the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, and the Food and Agriculture Organization. Collectively, her work aims to identify opportunities to improve sustainability and resilience within the increasingly globalized food system. |
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Kelvin Gorospe is a data scientist at American University’s Seafood Globalization Lab. He received his PhD from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Rhode Island. He also worked for several years as a reef fish ecologist at NOAA’s Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center in Honolulu, HI and served as chief scientist of several research cruises. His experience as a government scientist made a lasting impression on him, sparking his interests in open and reproducible data science and ecosystem-based management. Kelvin has led multiple analyses working with a variety of different data sets, including genetic, ecological, and oceanographic data and is increasingly exploring the human (e.g., socio-economic, health, international trade) dimensions of marine conservation and management. He sees great potential in the power of big data and collaborative teamwork to answer global environmental questions. |
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Undergraduate Student Researchers
We welcome undergraduate researchers interested in projects related to seafood trade, environmental shock impacts on seafood, and sustainable food systems. Examples of current undergraduate research projects can be found below. If you are interested in getting involved with our lab group, please email Dr. Gephart with your current CV/resume and a brief description of your research interests.
Anna Ross is a senior at American University studying Political Science and Environmental Science. Anna’s background as a native Floridian inspired her commitment to the preservation of marine ecosystems and she is interested in exploring the ways in which the environment and instruments of public policy interact. Through her independent study, she works to analyze the impact of prolonged harmful algal bloom (HAB) events on Florida’s fisheries, paying specific attention to commercial operations and species impacted within the state.
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Aileen McDonald is a first year student at American University studying Environmental Science and International Studies. Growing up on the South Shore of Massachusetts, Aileen grew up sailing and by the water every summer, and found a passion in understanding marine ecosystems and the role that they play in addressing climate change and other anthropogenic factors. Aileen took a gap year before coming to AU, in which she participated in a Sea Education Association Semester (SEA Semester) program, and her experience doing research with SEA Semester solidified her marine research passion. Through her independent study, she will work to analyze how coral bleaching events impact the global aquarium fish trade.
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Parthav Easwar is a sophomore at American University studying Political Science and Environmental Science. He is very interested in the impacts of government actions on the lives of communities which are reliant on the environment, and wants to learn more about how these relationships operate and are changing. In his independent study, he will examine fish trade in Kiribati and its relation to human well-being.
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Graduate students and postdocs
American University has a Masters program in Environmental Science. Please reach out with a brief summary of your research interests and your CV if you are interested in working with me.
American University has a Masters program in Environmental Science. Please reach out with a brief summary of your research interests and your CV if you are interested in working with me.
Past lab members
Jesse Cross (2020-2021) - University food waste and greenhouse gas emissions
Dakoury Godo-Solo (2021) - Environmental threats to blue food production
TreVaugh Ellis (2021) - Measures of market integration
Jesse Cross (2020-2021) - University food waste and greenhouse gas emissions
Dakoury Godo-Solo (2021) - Environmental threats to blue food production
TreVaugh Ellis (2021) - Measures of market integration
Student and postdoc resources
Forms
The lab's semester goals form can be downloaded here.
Sign up for undergraduate research as an internship. Email Dr. Gephart for forms.
Student funding
Undergraduate Research Assistants: Faculty may apply for funding to hire undergraduate research assistants during the academic year. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and awards are granted for up to 10 hours of assistance per week.
Summer Scholars Program: Students can apply for funding for in-depth research projects under the guidance of a faculty mentor through the Summer Scholars and Artists Program. This program allows students to apply for up to $4,000 for eight weeks of summer research. More information about this summer research grant program can be found here.
Rolling Undergraduate Research Support: Students may apply for research and research-related funding on a rolling basis throughout the academic year. Funding may support:
Open Access Publishing Support: Funds to support article fees for publishing in an open access journal. One paper supported per year. Further information is available here.
Postdoctoral funding
NSF SBE Postdoctoral Fellowship
Smith Fellowship
L'Oréal USA For Women in Science Fellowship
Forms
The lab's semester goals form can be downloaded here.
Sign up for undergraduate research as an internship. Email Dr. Gephart for forms.
Student funding
Undergraduate Research Assistants: Faculty may apply for funding to hire undergraduate research assistants during the academic year. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and awards are granted for up to 10 hours of assistance per week.
Summer Scholars Program: Students can apply for funding for in-depth research projects under the guidance of a faculty mentor through the Summer Scholars and Artists Program. This program allows students to apply for up to $4,000 for eight weeks of summer research. More information about this summer research grant program can be found here.
Rolling Undergraduate Research Support: Students may apply for research and research-related funding on a rolling basis throughout the academic year. Funding may support:
- Academic conference attendance in the student’s discipline (preference will be given to students who will present at the conference)
- Travel related to research activity or academic conferences
- Equipment or materials related to research activities (equipment will be returned to the AU Honors Program for future lending where appropriate)
- Software or other technology directly related to a research project
- Nominal payments to interview subjects (with IRB approval)
- Academic poster printing
- Books and other publications needed for research
Open Access Publishing Support: Funds to support article fees for publishing in an open access journal. One paper supported per year. Further information is available here.
Postdoctoral funding
NSF SBE Postdoctoral Fellowship
Smith Fellowship
L'Oréal USA For Women in Science Fellowship
