September 2022
Aurora Giorgi, University of Alabama Project: Settlement preferences of different species of cleractinian larvae in response to crustose coralline algae and their surface bacterial communities Research Advisors: Jennifer Sneed and Valerie Paul
Aurora Giorgi is a Ph.D. student at the University of Alabama. She studies the diversity of crustose coralline algae (CCA) in the western tropical Atlantic region to examine their role in coral larval settlement. As a Link Fellow, Aurora is investigating whether larval settlement is mediated by intrinsic factors (compounds produced by CCA), extrinsic factors (compounds produced by the surface microbial community of the CCA), or by an interaction of both.
Audrey Looby, University of Florida Project: Community-level impacts of anthropogenic noise in North American coastal ecosystems Research Advisors: Valerie Paul
Audrey Looby is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Florida studying fish sound production and coastal soundscape ecology, including the effects of living shoreline construction on intertidal soundscapes and the creation of a global inventory of soniferous fish species at FishSounds.net. As a Link Fellow, Audrey is studying how habitat structure can influence the underwater transmission of anthropogenic noise, such as recreational boat noise, and its community-level effects in coral reef and seagrass ecosystems.
Matteo Monti, University of Alabama Project: Exploring the potential inhibitory activity of octocoral chemical extracts and associated bacteria to limit the onset and progression of stony coral tissue loss disease Research Advisors: Jennifer Sneed and Valerie Paul
Matteo Monti is a Ph.D. student at the University of Alabama. His work focuses on the exploration of octocoral-associated microbial communities and their potential ability to out-compete and/or prevent the establishment of coral pathogens through the production of antimicrobial compounds. As a Link Fellow, Matteo is investigating the capacity of chemical compounds produced by the octocoral halobiont to inhibit a suite of bacterial pathogens associated with stony coral tissue loss disease, providing information that will contribute to the body of knowledge explaining the success of octocorals in the Caribbean reefs.
The Smithsonian Marine Station (SMS) at Fort Pierce, Florida, has a long history of supporting the academic pursuits of students at all levels of education. One of the most successful programs is the 12-week Graduate Student Fellowship program, supported by a grant from the Link Foundation.
The association between the Smithsonian and the Link Foundation extends back to 1953, soon after the Foundation was established by Edwin A. and Marion C. Link. Mr. Link was a skilled aviator and is recognized as a mechanical genius. He is best known for his invention of the first Flight Simulator in 1929, and he later shifted his interest to ocean engineering and marine science and developed the Johnson-Sea-Link submersibles.
The Link Foundation aims to support individuals and nonprofit institutions with research goals and interests that align with those of the founders, namely modeling, simulation and training, ocean engineering and instrumentation, and energy resources conservation and development.
The Smithsonian Marine Station received its first award from the Link Foundation in 1998 in support of graduate student fellowships in the marine sciences. Annual awards from 1998-2022 have totaled $406,500, and supported 75 graduate students.
The Link Foundation/Smithsonian Institution graduate student fellowships are offered on a competitive basis through the Smithsonian Institution’s Office of Academic Appointments and Internships and support the research efforts of three graduate students each year. During the 12-week program, conducted anytime during the year, Fellows work in association with members of the Smithsonian professional research staff who are Marine Station investigators. Students are provided with work space at the station, full access to all the Station’s resources, as well as the guidance and expertise of their appointed research advisor during their fellowship.
Several Link Fellows have completed doctoral degrees and have returned to SMS as postdoctoral fellows. Others maintain a relationship by continuing to collaborate with SMS researchers or by bringing students of their own.
The staff of SMS looks forward to continuing to provide research opportunities to students through on-going support from the Link Foundation. Graduate students interested in the program should visit https://naturalhistory.si.edu/research/smithsonian-marine-station/education-and-fellowships/graduate-fellowships for information on application requirements. The deadline for the 2022 - 2023 cycle is November 1, 2023