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Sam Alaimo

I grew up on Long Island but spent most of my summers exploring the lakes and streams in Pennsylvania. I’m an avid fisher and have always been curious about what the fish are doing beneath the surface. I also really love the analytical component of math (calculus is my favorite!). I realized I could combine by hobbies and academic interests in a B.S. in marine biology and minor in mathematics travelling up I-95 to Connecticut at the University of New Haven.

At New Haven, I took a wide range of organismal classes and labs that gave me a strong biological foundation. I also took a variety of math classes, and I researched math (yes, you can research math! cool right?). My math research used linear algebra to assess patterns in characteristic polynomials of symmetric matrices in finite fields. In 2019, I was awarded the opportunity to take a sustainable fisheries class at the Shoals Marine Laboratory, where I gained insight about the management of the commercial fishing industry. I was energized by my conversations with the fishers I met while on their vessels exploring their daily operations. This experience inspired my passion for collaborative research pertaining to the needs of the fishing industry and completely changed my career trajectory. My senior thesis research at New Haven then focused on the associations commercial flatfish species had with their benthic habitat compositions using statistical models.

After my time in Connecticut, I travelled down I-95 and came to Rutgers! At Rutgers, I continued down the biophysical path with Dr. Josh Kohut and I am exploring the oceanographic drivers of commercial fish species abundances and distributions in the Mid-Atlantic region (fisheries oceanography if you will). When a person is looking to buy a house, they consider multiple factors: location, school district, taxes, etc. What factors do fish consider? What are the driving influences of where fish decide to be? Is there a specific water parameter they are seeking? Adding to this, commercial fisheries are complex, multi-tiered industries that encompass ecological, oceanographic and socio-economic parts, or simply Fish have Tails, The Ocean Moves, and Boats Have Propellors. The most crucial part of my research is working with the fishing industry to create community-guided research questions and priorities. Fishers are oceanographic experts spending thousands upon thousands of hours on the water. They know the fine-scale details about the ocean that we cannot see from land. Talking with them and hearing their stories has been the most rewarding part of my work.

Outside of my work, you can find me on the water fishing, in the mountains skiing or exploring, cooking, crocheting, or hanging out with the awesome community of grad students and staff!