There are currently three students and two postdocs supported by the OHH training grant. Their mentors can be found here.
Daphne Carlson Bremer
Daphne initially pursued her interest in marine biology as undergraduate, participating in the Boston University Marine Program at Woods Hole, MA and an internship at Scripps Institute of Oceanography in La Jolla, CA. Now a veterinarian and PhD student, Daphne has returned these roots, and is currently studying epidemiology in the marine environment and ecosystem health.
Current work
Newly recognized and emerging coccidial disease of marine mammals
Combining epidemiologic and ecological data to model marine ecosystem health and develop risk models for policy and management recommendations
Sebastian Carrasco
Sebastian Carrasco received his degree as Doctor Veterinary Medicine in 2002 from the Universidad Mayor, Chile. Following his DVM graduation, he worked in small animal practices and as a faculty research assistant at NPIC at Oregon State University. Then, Sebastian went on to earn a Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis. He is currently in the middle of his PhD in Comparative Pathology at UC Davis. He has always been interested in the fields of pathology and epidemiology of infectious diseases in wildlife. Sebastian is focusing his PhD research projcts on the identification of emerging zoonotic diseases in northern sea otters in Alaska.
Current work
Investigating the role of Bartonella spp. as a cause of infective valvular endocarditis in northern sea otters
Evaluating co-infection of Bartonella spp. with Streptococcus bovis/equinus complex in northern sea otters affected by valvular endocarditis
Evaluating the role of Phocine Distemper Virus in mortality in northern sea otters
Elizabeth Frame
Elizabeth Frame received undergraduate degrees in biology and biochemistry from the University of Washington and went on to earn a Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. She has always been interested in phytoplankton physiology and harmful algal blooms. Her current postdoctoral work extends these interests to the impact of algal toxins on marine mammals.
Current work
Refining methods for detection and measurement of algal toxins in marine mammals
Establishing baseline data regarding algal toxin exposure in marine mammals along the west coast from California to Alaska – with emphasis on the emergence of domoic acid in Alaskan waters with respect to global climate change
Using marine mammals as sentinel species for human health impacts due to harmful algal bloom toxin exposure
Eric Montie
Eric Montie received a B.S. in Zoology from the University of Rhode Island in 1993. After graduation, he continued post-baccalaureate studies in Biochemistry at Harvard University and performed an internship at the Environmental Protection Agency, studying how toxic metals affect two species of shrimp. During this time period, he volunteered in the Research and Veterinary Science Department at Mystic Marine Life Aquarium with Dr. David St. Aubin, where he became interested in the effects of environmental pollutants on marine mammals. In 1999, he received a M.S. in Environmental Toxicology from Clemson University under the supervision of Dr. Mike Hooper and Dr. Ed Pivorun; his thesis research focused on the effects of dieldrin on the biochemistry and control of cold adaptation in the deer mouse. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of South Florida.
Current work
The intersection of marine biology, neurobiology, bioacoustics, toxicology, and conservation biology
Particularly interested in how anthropogenic chemicals, harmful algal blooms, and noise pollution affect the sensory and neurobiology of marine wildlife.
Jennifer Siembieda
Jennifer Siembieda is a veterinarian and has been at the University of California in Davis since 2004 where she received her Masters in Preventative Veterinary Medicine. She will receive her PhD in September 2009 where she is studying epidemiology, biostatistics and public policy. Her dissertation project focuses on the risk of exposure to zoonotic diseases at the human-wildlife interface using wildlife hospitals as a model for exposure. Her research interests are zoonotic pathogens at the animal-human interface and international public policy.
Current work
Refining methods for detection and measurement of zoonotic pathogens in marine birds and mammals that are most likely to interact with humans.
Establishing baseline data regarding the zoonotic pathogens present in these animals.
Using marine birds and marine mammals as sentinel species for pathogen pollution in the environment.
Daphne initially pursued her interest in marine biology as undergraduate, participating in the Boston University Marine Program at Woods Hole, MA and an internship at Scripps Institute of Oceanography in La Jolla, CA. Now a veterinarian and PhD student, Daphne has returned these roots, and is currently studying epidemiology in the marine environment and ecosystem health.
Sebastian Carrasco received his degree as Doctor Veterinary Medicine in 2002 from the Universidad Mayor, Chile. Following his DVM graduation, he worked in small animal practices and as a faculty research assistant at NPIC at Oregon State University. Then, Sebastian went on to earn a Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis. He is currently in the middle of his PhD in Comparative Pathology at UC Davis. He has always been interested in the fields of pathology and epidemiology of infectious diseases in wildlife. Sebastian is focusing his PhD research projcts on the identification of emerging zoonotic diseases in northern sea otters in Alaska.
Elizabeth Frame received undergraduate degrees in biology and biochemistry from the University of Washington and went on to earn a Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. She has always been interested in phytoplankton physiology and harmful algal blooms. Her current postdoctoral work extends these interests to the impact of algal toxins on marine mammals.
Eric Montie received a B.S. in Zoology from the University of Rhode Island in 1993. After graduation, he continued post-baccalaureate studies in Biochemistry at Harvard University and performed an internship at the Environmental Protection Agency, studying how toxic metals affect two species of shrimp. During this time period, he volunteered in the Research and Veterinary Science Department at Mystic Marine Life Aquarium with Dr. David St. Aubin, where he became interested in the effects of environmental pollutants on marine mammals. In 1999, he received a M.S. in Environmental Toxicology from Clemson University under the supervision of Dr. Mike Hooper and Dr. Ed Pivorun; his thesis research focused on the effects of dieldrin on the biochemistry and control of cold adaptation in the deer mouse. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of South Florida.
Jennifer Siembieda is a veterinarian and has been at the University of California in Davis since 2004 where she received her Masters in Preventative Veterinary Medicine. She will receive her PhD in September 2009 where she is studying epidemiology, biostatistics and public policy. Her dissertation project focuses on the risk of exposure to zoonotic diseases at the human-wildlife interface using wildlife hospitals as a model for exposure. Her research interests are zoonotic pathogens at the animal-human interface and international public policy.
