Riffles & Reeds Newsletter - Spring 2026 - Research Notes

EIH's First Travel Scholarship Recipients Share Experiences

By Gabbi Hammerbach, Graduate Research Assistant, Bailey Steward, Undergraduate Research Assistant, and Chelsey Hill, Graduate Research Assistant

In 2025, EIH developed a travel scholarship to support opportunities for our students and staff to attend scientific conferences or meetings relevant to their personal, educational, and professional interests. This competitive scholarship requires a letter describing the applicant’s interest in the event, how it can benefit their career path, and details about how the applicant’s attendance at the event can benefit EIH.

While EIH has long supported student and staff travel to present at conferences, this inaugural scholarship expands that support by offering professional development opportunities to those not yet ready to share their research. By supporting this effort, EIH can provide opportunities for students and staff to develop professional networking skills, gain knowledge from outside experts, meet potential collaborators, and consider ideas for future projects at EIH.

A requirement for scholarship recipients is to present a summary of their experience at the conference or meeting to the EIH team. Here’s a look at how our inaugural recipients used the scholarship and what they learned along the way.

Alliance All Hands Meeting

By Gabbi Hammerbach and Bailey Steward

The Gulf of America Alliance (GOAA) held its annual conference in Biloxi, Miss., in May 2025. Biology graduate student Gabbi Hammerbach and biology undergraduate student Bailey Steward were selected for EIH’s inaugural travel scholarship to attend the conference, along with EIH’s interim associate director of research, Mandi Gordon.

As attendees, we had the opportunity to sit in on sub-committee meetings at the GOAA conference, gaining a new perspective on research priorities for the wildlife and fisheries team across the five Gulf states. We also had the opportunity to engage in conversations with scientific experts, education leaders, and, specific to GOAA, individuals with expertise in funding acquisition. GOAA has a unique funding program, Gulf Star, where anyone can submit proposals, which (after thorough review) may be presented to outside corporate funding sources by GOAA staff.

My favorite part of the conference, Gabbi shared, was seeing groups of scientists with different fields of expertise come together to support their conservation goals. My favorite part of the conference, Bailey added, was the opportunity to discuss current challenges facing the Gulf and adjacent communities and to brainstorm with leading experts working to address them.

Headwaters to Saltwater

By Chelsey Hill

In August 2025, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) held its 155th annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas, for which I was selected to receive a travel scholarship. AFS is one of the oldest and largest professional organizations dedicated to conserving fisheries resources. This event brings together researchers, professionals, and students engaged in aquatic science and fisheries management, providing a dynamic platform to explore current challenges and innovations in the field.

I am particularly interested in contributing to science-based restoration and monitoring programs that support resilient coastal ecosystems and sustainable fisheries. For my master's thesis, I will be working on the seasonal impact of Perkinsus marinus infection in quarantined oysters. Oysters are not only a keystone species that are crucial to bay systems, but they are also a large commercial fishery.

During the conference, I attended many presentations on eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) and other bivalves, as well as water quality sessions and early career lectures. Not only was the conference informative on a scientific and professional level, but it was also fun. There were many networking events built into the schedule, with each one leading to new connections. The exhibits and poster hall offered an array of companies and organizations to talk to, free professional headshots, and a chance to win a TV in a raffle.

My favorite thing was the student and early career scavenger hunt. The Texas heat pushed everyone indoors, but it was still a blast.

These first travel scholarship experiences show how much our students and staff can gain from getting off campus and connecting with others doing similar work. We can’t wait to support even more trips and hear stories like these in the years ahead.

Highlights from Chelsey Hill’s AFS experience: a professional headshot from the conference, her big giveaway win, and a lighthearted moment with Kylie Perkins featuring their bottles of "Gar‑B‑Q."