Jessica Salmon (MA, 2023, BS, 2022)

Following her graduation from the Marine Conservation and Policy program in 2023, Jessica Salmon continued her career in marine sciences as a Fish and Wildlife Technician in multiple bureaus with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. As a Stony Brook alum, she had completed her undergraduate degree in Marine Vertebrate Biology with a minor in Coastal Environmental Studies at Stony Brook while leading others of a similar passion as the Stony Brook Marine Science Club’s President.

Jessica’s experience in the field started with the NYSDEC within the Finfish Bureau, in the Fisheries Investigation Unit. Jessica conducted trawl surveys for aquatic species throughout Peconic Bay, and also monitored natural and market stocks of fish across Long Island. She continues her passion today, as a technician in the Shellfish Bureau’s Human Health Unit at the NYSDEC. Her current position consists of collecting water samples, and monitoring water quality across Long Island in order to safeguard human health from contaminated shellfish consumption. In doing so, the data collected allows the NYSDEC to permit or prohibit the harvesting of shellfish. To Jessica, the highlight of her time with the MCP program at SoMAS was being surrounded by others who also shared her passion for marine science, and the ability to gain knowledge from classes that she did not have the opportunity to pursue in her undergraduate career.

As an undergraduate student at Stony Brook University, Jessica was a member of the Swimming and Diving team with a passion for marine biology. Check out her video of a cruise on a research vessel!