Carlyn Scott, College of Marine Science
April Ellis, doctoral candidate at the USF College of Marine Science, and Natalia López-Figueroa, alumna of the college, were appointed as Science Policy Fellows in the Gulf Research Program (GRP) of the (NASEM). This program gives 12 people the opportunity to spend one year on the staff of federal and state government agencies, public health departments, and nonprofit organizations across the Gulf Coast.
April Ellis is a doctoral candidate at the College of Marine Science and is a policy fellow for the Gulf of America Alliance.
Ellis is a policy fellow for the Gulf of America Alliance, where she is actively involved in planning for the Gulf Conference in May and learning about the work of the alliance’s Priority Issue Teams.
“My experience with the NASEM GRP has been life changing in that I get to put my skills as a public health professional and marine scientist into practice,” said Ellis. “Working with the Gulf Alliance —specifically the program committee for the Gulf Conference 2026 this year in Mobile, Alabama — has brought me happiness. Being behind the sciences has taught me so much and how a big conference gets put together. I am forever grateful to the Gulf Research Program for this fellowship and assigning me the Gulf Alliance. I have loved every minute of this fellowship.”
Ellis is an active member of the (BIMS) and (BWEEMS) organizations, and her passion for environmental justice prompted her to pursue a master’s in public health with a concentration in environmental health.
Her research focuses on how the gut immune system of sea squirts responds to the presence of microplastics in the marine environment. Through this work, Ellis aims to better understand how ocean-derived microplastics may impact human health.
López-Figueroa is the science policy fellow at (GCAN) hosted by Gulf of America Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS).
She earned her doctorate in marine science from the ƹƵ, where her dissertation focused on the ecology of upside-down jellyfish (Cassiopea spp.) and their potential as bioindicators of nutrient enrichment in Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Puerto Rico.
Natalia López-Figueroa is an alumna of the College of Marine Science; she is the science policy fellow at Gulf of America Coastal Acidification Network.
For her dissertation, López-Figueroa collaborated with the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources and the University of Puerto Rico, and gained hands-on experience with stakeholder engagement, collaborative science, and coastal management — all skills that she is bringing to her new role as Gulf Science Policy Fellow and GCAN Coordinator at GCOOS.
“The NAS Science Policy Fellowship has been an invaluable opportunity to expand my understanding of how science informs decisions and how networks translate research into action,” said López-Figueroa. “At my host office, the Gulf of America Coastal Ocean Observing System, I’ve benefited from a collegial mentorship environment. In the fellowship, being part of a broader cohort of fellows has expanded my perspective beyond the Gulf region. In my role as GCAN Coordinator, I’ve deepened my knowledge of ocean and coastal acidification in the Gulf — learning what monitoring and research efforts are underway, where critical gaps remain, and how NOAA Ocean Acidification Program and the Coastal Acidification Networks support coordination, data access, and management-relevant communication.
“Prior roles as an assistant coordinator for the Making Waves REU program and coordinator in the Jr. Scientist Program at the , strengthened my ability to build inclusive learning experiences and translate complex science for diverse audiences — skills that have directly carried into my current position. Finally, I’m grateful for the mentorship and support of my doctoral advisor, Distinguished University Professor Pamela Hallock, who encouraged me to pursue this fellowship and for her ongoing support that continues to shape my growth and impact.”
Now in its 11th year, the National Academies’ fellowship program helps scientists hone their research skills, bridging the gap between scientific information and policy, via policy development, evaluation, restoration planning, grants management, and stakeholder outreach that benefit the Gulf Coast communities and ecosystems alike.