Email: jessica.gwinn@noaa.gov

Jessica (Jesse) Gwinn is a 2023 Sea Grant Knauss Fellow working to support the GOMO Pacific Partnerships and Science Communications portfolios. Jesse is a PhD candidate in Marine Sciences at the University of South Alabama and Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL). Her graduate research focused on understanding the fate of harmful algae toxins in tropical and subtropical marine ecosystems, including how toxins are transferred and chemically modified in food webs. Jesse was active in her university’s Marine Sciences Graduate Student Organization, helping to lead student advocacy efforts within her department. She also served as the coordinator for the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates program at DISL, which provides research opportunities for students that are historically minoritized in marine science and other STEM fields. Jesse enjoys engaging with people and communicating science, and has regularly volunteered for Skype-A-Scientist, K12 science competitions, and other public outreach events.

Jesse is originally from Katy, TX and has B.S. degrees in Bioenvironmental Sciences and Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University, College Station. In her spare time, Jesse can be found practicing handstands, biking or paddleboarding, and playing fetch with her dog, Doug.