GSI and RWU Launch Bruce J. Barber Memorial Internship Program
The Gulf Shellfish Institute (GSI) is excited to partner with Roger Williams University (RWU) to offer an applied internship in shellfish aquaculture research. The Bruce J. Barber Memorial Internship honors GSI’s first Executive Director by supporting students’ interests in the many aspects of shellfish aquaculture, including their biology, culture, and restoration.
In April 2024, GSI’s Executive Director, Dr. Stephen Hesterberg, Board Member Ms. Elizabeth Moore, and Staff Scientist and RWU alumna, Mrs. Sarah Hutchins, visited RWU to meet with President Ioannis Miaoulis, the Director of the Center for Economic and Environmental Development (CEED), Dr. Koty Sharp, and other CEED faculty, staff, and students to learn about the school’s Blue Economy initiative and to discuss a shared vision for a prosperous ocean environment and economy.
RWU’s Blue Economy initiative is a new interdisciplinary plan designed to introduce students to ‘blue’ jobs, with a focus on marine research, policy, and entrepreneurship in the support of conservation and the aquaculture industry. President Miaoulis aims to foster students' interests in the Blue Economy by collaborating with universities and organizations along the East Coast to expand the reach of this initiative and help place students in jobs where they can live sustainably with our oceans. GSI was an ideal partner for this initiative, providing students opportunities to help our mission of restorative and sustainable aquaculture.
Reagan Williams (RWU ‘24) shucks oysters to perform condition index analysis, assessing bivalve health following exposure to varying salinities and temperatures.
GSI kicked off this partnership in summer 2024 by hosting two student interns, Mr. Connor Huntley (‘25) and Ms. Reagan Williams (‘24). Both assisted with outplanting of native hard clams (Mercenaria campechiensis) in GSI’s experimental restoration plots in Sarasota Bay, Florida and shadowed day-to-day research activities of GSI’s scientific staff. Connor and Reagan also developed an independent research project focusing on different aspects of hard clam feeding ecology. Connor’s research examined chlorophyll-a variation in the water column as a function of seagrass abundance and clam absence or presence. Reagan used these water samples to assess relationships between commonly used indicators of water quality, clarity, and food availability for bivalves (chlorophyll-a, total suspended solids, and phytoplankton densities).
The independent research projects conducted by Connor and Reagan provided valuable preliminary data that will serve as a foundation for expanding future research efforts around environment-hard clam interactions. We look forward to our continued collaboration with RWU to facilitate students’ passion for sustainability through hands-on experiences in shellfish aquaculture, research, and restoration.
Connor Huntley (RWU ‘25) hands his custom-built water sampling apparatus to Dr. Stephen Hesterberg, who used it to collect water samples from specific heights above the benthos in Sarasota Bay.
“This past summer I had the incredible opportunity to work alongside GSI in Palmetto, Florida in a series of efforts relating to restorative shellfish aquaculture. Throughout my time at GSI I was able to construct an instrument to be utilized in collecting water samples from designated depths without disrupting benthic sediment. These water samples were then used by Reagan Williams to analyze chlorophyll levels in seagrass beds and to test different forms of instrumentation. By doing this project I was able to meet great people, work alongside one of my closest friends, do scuba diving for research purposes, and make great connections. I cannot wait to see this partnership between Roger Williams and GSI blossom and learn about the projects of future interns.”