CSUMB is an institutional partner in the Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (CCME II) and contributes to the mission to train a new generation of U.S. citizen scientists in NOAA-aligned STEM disciplines. CCME II research at CSUMB aligns with multiple strategic priorities in California, including coastal risk mapping, ecosystem resilience, and providing data-driven insights to support the blue economy. CSUMB faculty members, Dr. Cheryl Logan and Dr. Lydia Baker, serve as the acting CCME II institutional principal investigator and education liaison, respectively.
CCME II personnel at CSUMB are actively engaged in professional development and academic progress. Dr. Cheryl Logan recently delivered invited seminars at San Diego State University and the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center Fisheries Ecology Division, focusing on ecophysiological approaches to assessing marine species’ responses to environmental variation. During the CCME II Center-wide Core Competency Course in Corpus Christi, Texas, Dr. Lydia Baker led an interactive session on exploring marine ecology using environmental DNA (eDNA).
CCME II faculty, staff, and scholars also participated virtually in the center’s annual meeting, fostering networking opportunities and research collaborations with NOAA’s Pacific Marine and Environmental Laboratory in Seattle, WA. Additionally, CCME II master’s student Cristian Martinez completed a 12-week NOAA Experiential Research and Training Opportunities (NERTO) internship at the NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he developed species distribution models to support benthic community management.
Additional CCME II highlights at CSUMB include:
- Matthew Biermann was selected as a Teaching Assistant for the Remote Pilot Training Program at CSUMB in Summer and Fall 2025. He transitioned from a CCME II Undergraduate Scholar to a Graduate Scholar and is now enrolled in the thesis track of the Environmental Science Master’s program.
- Former CSUMB marine science major Jasmin Juarez-Gonzalez was selected as a CCME II Graduate Scholar. She is currently enrolled in the thesis track of the Environmental Science Master’s program and plans to complete her NERTO fellowship at the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center.
- Alyssa Anzalone completed her Master’s degree in Environmental Science at CSUMB under Dr. John Olson and now serves as an instructor in Geospatial Information Systems (GIS).
- Melissa Meredith, a CSUMB alumna funded by CCME and advised by Dr. Cheryl Logan, recently completed a Ph.D. in Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
- Travis Leggett, also a CSUMB alumnus funded by CCME, earned his M.S. in Marine Science under Dr. James Lindholm. He is currently teaching diving courses at CSUMB and is exploring Ph.D. opportunities in benthic kelp forest community interactions.
- CCME II Undergraduate Scholar and CSUMB alumna Emily Chui, along with her mentor Dr. Alison Haupt, co-authored a publication in Marine Ecology Progress Series on changes in mussel beds following the mass mortality of a keystone marine predator.
The CCME II award has significantly enhanced capacity and infrastructure at CSUMB by expanding drone programs, experimental aquaria systems, and omics research initiatives. These resources support CCME scholars, affiliated faculty, and a wide range of students within the College of Science.
Through this award, CSUMB has strengthened collaborations with NOAA scientists nationwide via student internships, often leading to long-term faculty partnerships. The university also anticipates deeper collaboration with NOAA scientists at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, who will be co-located on campus upon completion of a new science building.