Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Lab have completed the search for an aquaculture Extension educator and coordinator for the Lake Erie and Aquatic Research Network (LEARN). The dual position will be filled by Nicole Wright, who is joining the office from Ohio State’s College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Department of Horticulture and Crop Science and OARDC-Environment and Natural Resources, where she served as a program coordinator.

“I am confident Nicole will put Sea Grant on the map in the aquaculture space and will build our connection with aquaculture folks in CFAES,” said Dr. Chris Winslow, Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Lab director. “Additionally, I know she will grow the vision and footprint of our statewide Lake Erie and Aquatic Research Network (LEARN).”

As Ohio Sea Grant’s aquaculture Extension educator, Wright will serve as the program’s aquaculture lead, connecting researchers, OSU Extension aquaculture specialists and industry professionals while assisting with building the Great Lakes Sea Grant Aquaculture Collaborative. One of the main goals of the position is to share expertise and apply it to understanding aquaculture markets, as well as training a workforce to support industry growth.

As coordinator for LEARN, Wright will manage the daily needs of this regional research consortium of field stations and diverse researchers to address the grand challenges facing Lake Erie. Researchers from nearly 20 Ohio institutions are already part of the network. Membership is open to any individual at academic institutions and government or public agencies that support the goals and objectives of LEARN.

Wright holds a master’s degree in Plant Health Management degree from Ohio State and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Oberlin College. She also spent time as a field survey technician in the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

The Ohio State University’s Ohio Sea Grant College Program is part of NOAA Sea Grant, a network of 34 Sea Grant programs dedicated to the protection and sustainable use of marine and Great Lakes resources. For more information, visit ohioseagrant.osu.edu.

The Lake Erie and Aquatic Research Network (LEARN) is a group of field stations, scientific laboratories and diverse researchers within Ohio working together to promote collaborative research, education and networking to address the challenges and opportunities facing Ohio’s freshwater resources. Learn more at LakeErieAndAquaticResearch.org.