Debora Herndon

After graduating in 2006 I started working for Nevada Department of Wildlife as a Conservation Aide in Boulder City. I assisted in netting surveys, data collection, data analysis, and assisted in the rearing of razorback suckers at the Lake Mead Hatchery. At the end of my seasonal position, I obtained a term position as a biologist with Nevada Department of Wildlife in Boulder City.
My current position as a biologist involves two different projects: The Lake Mead Razorback Sucker Augmentation Program and the Lake Mohave Habitat Enhancement Project. These two projects are quite different from one another allowing for a variety of duties. For the razorback sucker project I continue to work with the razorback sucker, an endangered native fish of the Colorado River system. This work includes collecting wild larvae, rearing the larvae at the Lake Mead Hatchery and transferring sub-adult fish to grow-out ponds to continue their growth until they reach a size suitable for repatriation to Lake Mead.
While the razorback sucker project is mostly concerned with fish culture, the Lake Mohave Habitat Enhancement Project is designed to improve fishing opportunities in key areas on Lake Mohave and includes construction and placement of habitat structures, SCUBA diving to assess the effectiveness of the structures, and assisting in lake-wide surveys to assess the fishery. So far, the habitat project has been successful, as dive surveys have found the habitat to be effective at attracting largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish.
I have been enjoying my fisheries job with Nevada Department of Wildlife. I find it very rewarding to know that I am contributing to the continued existence of the endangered razorback sucker and that I am helping to improve fishing on Lake Mohave with the placement of artificial habitat that will remain in the lake for years to come.
Andrea Collins

2007 - Andrea Collins
Jesse Nolan

After graduation in May, I worked a seasonal fisheries job for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Since then I have taken some time off to travel and fish. Last month I returned from a fishing trip to Barra de Navidad, Mexico where I caught my first Dorado. I will be living in this area until my long-time girlfriend Joanne graduates from Humboldt's engineering program this Fall. Upon her graduation we will be looking to relocate to an area where I can find employment in a hatchery salmonid setting.
Allison K. Thorsell

2008 - Allison K. Thorsell
Alex J. Godinez

In late 2009 I decided to go back to school to get my Master’s degree. In 2010 I was accepted to University of Alaska, Fairbanks’ School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences in a new NSF-funded program called SELMR (Sustainable Ecosystem-based management of Living Marine Resources). My thesis project is on seascape genetics of Aleutian Island and Bering Sea slope blackspotted rockfish using microsatellites markers and geographic and oceanographic data to determine population structure and to identify the seascape features that may be shaping it.
Michael Hellmair

During my time at Humboldt I was able to gain priceless experiences in many techniques used in the field of fisheries science and was fortunate to be able to work in the fisheries genetics laboratory under Dr. Kinziger, completing a genetic fingerprinting project (of Chinook salmon) concurrently with my undergraduate course work. I have since had the opportunity to present the findings from this investigation at several scientific meetings, which has allowed me to meet and get to know many influential people in the field of fisheries biology. After I completed my undergraduate education at Humboldt in Fall of 2008, I was fortunate enough to be accepted into the Natural Resources graduate program (Fisheries Option) and am now working on a project focusing on the age and growth of the federally endangered tidewater goby.
I always have enjoyed – and continue to enjoy- working with the outstanding faculty at the Humboldt fisheries biology department and look forward to taking additional classes throughout my time as a graduate student.
Sean Larson

After completing my fisheries biology degree at Humboldt, I went on to receive a Master’s in Fisheries Science at the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences in Juneau, Alaska. For my thesis, I investigated the impacts of the expanding sea otter population on commercially important sea cucumbers in southeast Alaska. After spending a year commercial fishing, I decided it was time to get serious and I moved to Anchorage. I currently work for the Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game as a research biologist for Chinook and chum salmon on the Yukon River.
I will always appreciate the great staff and resources that the fisheries program at Humboldt provided. Thanks, fish folks at Humboldt, for an awesome four years and for giving me the skills necessary to be a productive fish biologist.
D. Allan Martin

Upon graduation from Humboldt I began working for Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission as a Biologist in the Smolt Monitoring Program. This entails determining the species, run, rear type and condition of out-migrating salmonid smolts on the Snake River. My observations, along with numerous recorded metrics, provide biological assistance to the Army Corp of Engineer’s Smolt Transportation Program.
Sam Matulich

I would like to say that I am truly honored to be a recipient of the Michael G. Scott award. It was a complete surprise to be given the award upon graduating (May 2011). After completing my fisheries biology degree at Cal Poly Humboldt, I headed north to the Alaskan peninsula where I worked as a sport fishing guide. When the season ended in Alaska I moved to Seattle where I am now currently looking to further my studies and experiences in fisheries.
As for now one of my first fisheries opportunities has come from an artist (Zack Babat); he has asked me to write a creative/scientific description for his fish paintings. These short descriptions will include the common and scientific names, native range(s), and other interesting life history facts. I am looking forward to this work, as it should be a fun and exciting way to use my knowledge of fishes.
Nate Cooley

During my three years at Cal Poly Humboldt, I had the privilege of being employed by the California Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (USGS, CDFG, and Humboldt). I worked in Redwood National Park on Prairie, Lost Man, and Redwood Creeks. In the winter, we trapped adult salmonids and conducted spawning/carcass surveys. The summers were filled with electrofishing, habitat mapping, snorkel surveys, and down-stream migrant trapping. I also had the opportunity to work in the Humboldt Fish Genetics Lab, the Humboldt Fish Collection, and for several graduate students. As a father and husband, I had to overcome many challenges to succeed in my studies. I worked two or three jobs at a time, on weekends and holidays, and in between classes. Yet I still made the time to explore all of Humboldt County with my family (and to do some fishing!).
I completed classes in December 2011, and two days later I started my new job in my home town, Fort Bragg, CA. Now I am employed by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (with CDFG) operating a DIDSON sonar camera on Pudding Creek. I never thought my training in the U.S. Navy as a submarine sonar technician (’96-’00) would prepare me for a career in fisheries biology, but I found a way! I also operate PIT tag antennas on Caspar Creek and assist with down-stream migrant trapping on three streams, as well as spawning surveys on most coastal Mendocino County streams.
I would like to thank Humboldt, my professors, and my classmates for giving me the skill set and perspective that will be required as I continue in the effort to protect and rebuild our Pacific salmon and steelhead populations, for my children and for future generations.