Science Graduate Students Awarded Guy Harvey Foundation Scholarships for Marine Science Research

Charles E. Schmidt College of Science graduate students Clark Morgan and Natalia Jaworski have been named 2023 Guy Harvey Foundation (GHF) Scholarship recipients. The non-profit organization recognizes undergraduate and graduate students at Florida colleges and universities each year whose research focuses on the biology, ecology, habitat, or management of sustainable marine fisheries in Florida’s marine environment.

Morgan is a Ph.D. candidate studying marine science and oceanography at FAU’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI). His research focuses on generating knowledge that contributes to the  sustainable management of the  goliath grouper fishery by monitoring fine-scale behavior and investigating best catch and release practices optimal for barotrauma mitigation.His research focuses on generating knowledge that contributes to the sustainable management of the goliath grouper fishery by monitoring fine-scale behavior and investigating best catch and release practices optimal for barotrauma mitigation.

“I am dedicated to contributing to impactful science which promotes conservation and sustainability of marine populations in the face of anthropogenic impacts,” Morgan said. “I am interested in producing tangible change for habitat protection, commercial, and recreational fisheries management. Above all, I aim to narrow the gap of our understanding of the natural world, while helping to combat the loss of biodiversity.”

Jaworski is a  Master’s in Environmental Science  student in the Schmidt College of Science who is performing research in Associate Professor Michael McCoy’s Quantitative Ecology lab at HBOI. Her research focuses on predator-prey interactions of spotted eagle rays and other durophagous (shell-crushing) predators. From this research, she will be able to infer individual variation in feeding behaviors between rays, and project population level effects based on scaled up individual feeding dynamics.

Morgan and Jaworski are two of eight individuals who were chosen to receive the GHF scholarship. Each of them will receive $5,000 in award money, along with a certificate designed and signed by world-renowned marine wildlife artist, conservationist, and GHF Founder/Chair Emeritus, Dr. Guy Harvey.

“It is vitally important that we fund research and also support the efforts of the next generation of marine researchers, scientists and conservationists,” said Dr. Harvey. “With these scholarships, we can continue to inspire and attract more bright young minds as they pursue research opportunities that will ensure a properly balanced ocean ecosystem for years to come.”

The Guy Harvey Foundation has a focused mission to better understand and conserve the ocean environment. It collaborates with local, national, and international organizations to conduct scientific research and provides funding to affiliated researchers who share this objective.

The Guy Harvey Scholarship Award was established in 2010 through a partnership between Florida Sea Grant and the Guy Harvey Foundation. Since then, 74 students from 11 different Florida colleges and universities have received more than $359,000 in scholarships.

Applications for the 2023 Guy Harvey Scholarship Award will open later this summer.  Click here  to stay up to date on application requirements and deadlines, or contact Florida Sea Grant Student Programs Coordinator Cassandra Sexon at  students@flseagrant.org.