Jack Koch

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Activities and Societies: Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, Intramural Soccer, and Intramural Volleyball During the Spring of 2013 I worked as a volunteer research assistant for Dr. Michael McCartney. While in Dr. McCartney’s lab I acquired proficiency in molecular genetics including PCR, restriction enzyme digestion, and gel electrophoresis. We examined the range of two species of North American mussels by determining the mussel specie via molecular genetics and knowing the collection location of the individuals. While working in the McCartney lab I was selected for a summer animal husbandry… Show more During the Spring of 2013 I worked as a volunteer research assistant for Dr. Michael McCartney. While in Dr. McCartney’s lab I acquired proficiency in molecular genetics including PCR, restriction enzyme digestion, and gel electrophoresis. We examined the range of two species of North American mussels by determining the mussel specie via molecular genetics and knowing the collection location of the individuals. While working in the McCartney lab I was selected for a summer animal husbandry internship at the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. At the aquarium I learned proper care of aquarium animals and disease and parasite identification and treatment. At the aquarium, I took part in the collection of oyster spat settling data for a UNCW study. This involved identifying and counting oyster spat and all other organisms on the clay tiles. Show less

Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences

At BIOS I took the Coral Reef Ecology course instructed by Dr. Eric Hochberg and Dr. Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley. I learned about coral reef ecosystems and how global climate change is impacting these important communities. I gained experience as a scientific diver learning to perform line transect surveys to assess coral bleaching and disease, coral spawning, fish diversity and abundance, and coral and fish identification. In Bermuda, I was able to dive on reefs with the highest coral cover in… Show more At BIOS I took the Coral Reef Ecology course instructed by Dr. Eric Hochberg and Dr. Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley. I learned about coral reef ecosystems and how global climate change is impacting these important communities. I gained experience as a scientific diver learning to perform line transect surveys to assess coral bleaching and disease, coral spawning, fish diversity and abundance, and coral and fish identification. In Bermuda, I was able to dive on reefs with the highest coral cover in the North Atlantic, observe the detrimental effects of coral bleaching and disease firsthand, and study how various disturbance agents affect reef ecosystems over time. We examined the effects of OA on coral community productivity and the differences in parrotfish assemblages on a disturbed reef and a pristine reef. Show less

Northwood High School

Activities and Societies: Soccer, Northwood Nuthouse

Oregon State University

Teaching Assistant for Intro to Biology course

University of North Carolina Wilmington

University of North Carolina Wilmington

University of Washington

I took the Ocean Acidification course instructed by Dr. Terry Klinger, Dr. Jon Havenhand, and Dr. Andrew Dickson. I learned about and how to perform techniques currently used to measure seawater chemistry for OA experiments, and about proper experimental design. My partner and I developed, and carried out a research project investigating the effects of increased pCO2 and symbiotic state on carbonic anhydrase (CA) levels in the symbiotic sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima. We hypothesized… Show more I took the Ocean Acidification course instructed by Dr. Terry Klinger, Dr. Jon Havenhand, and Dr. Andrew Dickson. I learned about and how to perform techniques currently used to measure seawater chemistry for OA experiments, and about proper experimental design. My partner and I developed, and carried out a research project investigating the effects of increased pCO2 and symbiotic state on carbonic anhydrase (CA) levels in the symbiotic sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima. We hypothesized that increased pCO2 levels would increase CA levels in the sea anemone because CA activity has been found to be positively correlated with the presence and density of algal symbionts. Algal density has been shown to increase under OA conditions. We found that there was no significant effect of OA on CA levels but that there were trends indicating a decline in CA activity under high pCO2 conditions. Show less

University of Washington

I took Marine Invertebrate Zoology at FHL under the instruction of Dr. Dianna Padilla and Dr. Michael LaBarbera. Our class surveyed 38 invertebrate phyla, seeing many live representatives from each, and we developed and carried out individual research projects. I investigated how ocean acidification (OA) affects nematocyst densities in symbiotic sea anemones and hypothesized that nematocyst densities would increase with OA because the symbionts would be bleached, leaving the sea anemone hungry.… Show more I took Marine Invertebrate Zoology at FHL under the instruction of Dr. Dianna Padilla and Dr. Michael LaBarbera. Our class surveyed 38 invertebrate phyla, seeing many live representatives from each, and we developed and carried out individual research projects. I investigated how ocean acidification (OA) affects nematocyst densities in symbiotic sea anemones and hypothesized that nematocyst densities would increase with OA because the symbionts would be bleached, leaving the sea anemone hungry. The anemone would compensate for this hunger by increasing nematocyst densities to increase the chance of successful food capture. My results indicated no change in nematocyst densities with changing pCO2 levels, but I discovered new research questions as a consequence. What happens to pCO2 levels in the gastrovascular cavity of symbiotic sea anemones during different tidal levels? What physiological mechanisms do sea anemones use to deal with changing pCO2 levels in the gastrovascular cavity? Show less

Research Assistant

Associated with Jack Koch