Big Congrats to Shelby on Her New Publication!

We are so incredibly proud to share that Shelby has officially published her

manuscript: "Effects of thermal history on the heat shock response of bull kelp

(Nereocystis luetkeana)".

This exciting work dives into how past temperature exposure (thermal history) affects

the ability of bull kelp to respond to heat stress — a critical question as marine

heatwaves become more frequent and severe.

Shelby’s study is the first to report on the heat shock response in bull kelp, and her findings

suggest that acclimation temperature plays a key role in shaping their resilience.

Everyone should go read it as it's an important step forward in understanding how

climate change is impacting our coastal ecosystems.

Amazing work, Shelby! 👏

Welcome Chris to the Zippay Lab!

We are excited to welcome Christopher, our new undergraduate student, to the Zippay Lab!

Chris is pursuing his Bachelor of Arts in Biology with a Zoology concentration. He is most interested in animal behavior research and how wild species acclimate to changing environments. Chris is very excited to contribute to the research at Zippay Lab and obtain knowledge that can be utilized for wild species.

Aiyana Awarded Graduate Equity Fellowship at SSU

We are thrilled to congratulate Aiyana on receiving an award for the 2025–

2026 academic year!

The Sonoma State Graduate Student Equity Fellowship is designed to support

first-generation, minority graduate students by reducing reliance on student

loans and helping accelerate progress toward degree completion.

Preference is given to students, like Aiyana, who demonstrate a strong

interest in pursuing doctoral studies and a future in academia.

Thanks to her outstanding and competitive application, Aiyana has been

selected for fellowship funding for the upcoming school year.

Congratulations, Aiyana — well done!

Aiyana Awarded Al Gerhardt Memorial Scholarship by Sonoma County Fish & Wildlife Commission

We’re proud to share that Aiyana Singh, has been selected as the 2025 recipient of 

the Al Gerhardt Memorial Scholarship, awarded by the Sonoma County Fish

& Wildlife Commission during their May 15 meeting.

It honors the legacy of Commissioner Al Gerhardt, recognizing students who 

demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to natural resource management, 

environmental restoration, or preservation.

Congratulations to Aiyana Singh, 2024–25 COAST Coale Scholar!

We’re thrilled to announce that Aiyana Singh, a graduate researcher in the Zippay Lab at Sonoma

State University, has been awarded the prestigious Coale Graduate Scholar Award from the

CSU Council on Ocean Affairs, Science & Technology (COAST)!

The Coale Graduate Scholar Award honors the legacy of Dr. Kenneth Coale, a pioneer in ocean 

science and a founding leader of COAST. It supports CSU graduate students conducting marine, 

coastal, and watershed research, helping them acquire the skills necessary to join a highly skilled,

technologically advanced workforce while promoting and supporting CSU research.