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Curriculum vitae
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Ph.D., Environmental Biology Expected December 2025
University of Massachusetts Boston, MA
- Dissertation: How increasing ocean temperature in the Gulf of Maine affects diversity and community structure on subtidal rock walls
MSc., Biology 2017
San Diego State University San Diego, CA
- Thesis: Return of the Mac: How density affects the survival of juvenile giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) in the Point Loma Kelp Forest, San Diego, CA
BSc., Aquatic and Fishery Science 2008
University of Washington Seattle, WA
- Capstone: Physiological effects of Withering Syndrome on two Southern California populations of Black Abalone (Haliotis cracherodii) in critical decline
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Assistant Professor 2023-Present Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory at Berklee Boston, MA
Course: Oceanography
- Developed curriculum and teach undergraduate level Oceanography course to non-majors each Fall and Spring semester.
Course: Environmental Science
- Developed curriculum and teach undergraduate level Environmental Science course to non-majors each Fall and Spring semester.
Discussion, Lecture, Laboratory, & Fieldwork Teaching Assistant 2022 Shoals Marine Laboratory Isle of Shoals, ME/NH
Course: Underwater Research
- Led assigned paper reading discussions
- Guest lectured on Introductory Subtidal Ecology and “MacGuiver (problem solving) for the Scientific Diver”
- Led the Field Materials building laboratory
- Acted as surface support or in-water safety and resource diver during Underwater labs
- Led a group of students on their “Exam Under Pressure” underwater species ID exam, Selected organisms for the exam based on which organisms we encountered.
- Assisted with the planning, execution, analysis, review, and grading of student’ independent research final project experiments
- Collected a representative diversity of organisms from around the Isle of Shoals on SCUBA prior to the student’s arrival on island.
Lecture and Laboratory Teaching Assistant 2019 & 2018
University of Massachusetts Boston Boston, MA
Course: Invertebrate Zoology
- Graded Lecture midterms and final exams and assigned final grades
- Independently designed and ran the laboratory portion of Invertebrate Zoology with guidance from Dr. Michael Rex
- Labs consisted of live and preserved specimen observation and anatomical study, comparative analyses, guided dissections, sectioning, staining and microscopy
- Designed, wrote, assembled, proctored, and graded lab practical exams
- Promoted undergraduate research opportunities on campus as well as REUs, and marine laboratory field courses for undergraduates
Lecture and Laboratory Teaching Assistant 2017 & 2016
University of Massachusetts Boston Boston, MA
Course: Introductory Biology
- Graded Lecture midterms and final exams and assigned final grades
- Modified and personalized laboratory lectures to suit the needs of my students
- Conducted pre-lab quizzes
- Led Laboratory activities including squid and trout dissections, Hardy-Weinberg simulations, usage of Punnett squares, fern reproduction, Didinium/Paramecium predator/prey dynamics, among others
- Led guided field trips to the UMB Greenhouse, New England Aquarium, and Harvard Museum of Natural History
- Designed, wrote, assembled, proctored, and graded lab practical exams
- Promoted undergraduate research opportunities on campus as well as REUs, Advanced Marine Biology and Ecology courses, and marine laboratory field courses for undergraduates
Laboratory Teaching Assistant 2011
San Diego State University San Diego, CA
Course: Introductory Biology
- Modified and personalized laboratory lectures to suit the needs of my students
- Conducted pre-lab quizzes
- Led Laboratory activities based on the required laboratory manual
- Assisted with the planning, execution, analysis, review, and grading of student’ independent research final project experiments
- Designed, wrote, assembled, proctored, and graded lab practical exams
- Promoted undergraduate research opportunities on campus as well as REUs, Advanced Marine Biology and Ecology courses, and marine laboratory field courses for undergraduates
STUDENTS MENTORED
University of Massachusetts Boston 2023 – Present
Project(s): Boston, MA
- “Which species in Gulf of Maine subtidal rock wall communities are sensitive to increasing ocean temperatures?”
- “Is the rocky subtidal community shifting towards more thermally-tolerant organisms, and are more thermally-sensitive organisms moving deeper?”
Student(s):
Isabella Vu and Richard Andrews (Undergraduates)
Task(s):
- Create Marine Identification field guide for the rocky subtidal zone of Salem Sound
- Train and correct AI photo analysis software CoralNet in the processing of underwater biodiversity data extraction from 30 years of ongoing fixed quadrat photographs taken at Halfway Rock, Salem MA
- Train Boston University Marine Biology Course volunteers in the use of CoralNet for photo processing
University of Massachusetts Boston 2018-2022
Project(s): Boston, MA
- “Do each of the different climax community organisms harbor the same community of microfauna? Have these associations changed over the last 40 years?”
Student(s):
Ana Pope, Zehra Rashid (Undergraduates and former Introductory Biology Lab students), Stevens Excellent (Undergraduate and former Invertebrate Zoology Lab student), and Richard Andrews (Undergraduate)
Task(s):
- Identify, sort, and process 2016-2019 suction/dredge collected samples from Halfway Rock, Salem, MA
- Catalog, re-label, and organize 1978-1981 suction/dredge collected samples from Halfway Rock, Salem, MA
University of Massachusetts Boston 2018
Project(s): Boston, MA
- “How do short-term, rapid Increases in temperature affect the metabolism of green sea urchins?”
Student(s):
Ana Pope, Zehra Rashid (Undergraduates and former Introductory Biology Lab students)
Task(s):
- Prototype and construct sea urchin containment structures and other experiment materials
San Diego State University 2011-2014
Project(s): San Diego, CA
- “The effects of density and size on the survival of naturally occurring Macrocystis pyrifera juveniles”
- “The effects of density and size on the survival of experimentally out-planted Macrocystis pyrifera juveniles”
Student(s):
Joshua Greenwell (SDSU Undergraduate) and Brianna Levinson (UCSD Undergraduate)
Task(s):
- Assisted with juvenile kelp counting, measuring, and out-planting as underwater research assistants
- Prototyping and construction of experimental kelp recruitment density mats
- Giant Kelp spawning, husbandry and early life stage maintenance in a closed-circuit laboratory mesocosm
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS MENTORED
University of Massachusetts Boston 2022
Hudson Filas Boston, MA
Co-mentored by Dr. Jarrett Byrnes
Project:
- “Community assemblages of epibenthic fauna on various host species on the Boston Harbor Islands”
University of Massachusetts Boston 2022
Andrew Natter Boston, MA
Co-mentored by Dr. Jarrett Byrnes
Project:
- “Assessing predator abundance in the Boston Harbor Island subtidal using underwater video”
University of Massachusetts Boston 2018
Daniela Adjunta Boston, MA
Primary Mentor
Project:
- “How heat spikes affect the righting time of the green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) in the Gulf of Maine”
PUBLICATIONS
5. McCollum, B.A., *Adjunta, D., Byrnes, J.E.K. in prep.
The Metabolic Response of Green Sea Urchins (S. droebachiensis) to
Repetitive Marine Heat Spikes.
4. McCollum, B.A., Byrnes, J.E.K., Sebens, K. in prep. Shifting
Community Thermal Indices (CTI) along a subtidal rock wall
in the Gulf of Maine.
3. McCollum, B.A., *Greenwell, J., Edwards, M. in prep. Return
of the Mac: how density affects the survival of juvenile giant
kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
2. McCollum, B.A. 2017. Return of the Mac: how density affects
the survival of juvenile giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) in the Point
Loma kelp forest, San Diego, CA. San Diego State University.
Montezuma Publishing.
1. McCollum, B.A. 2007. Consumer Perspectives on the ‘Web of
Causality’ Within the Marine Aquarium Fish Trade. SPC Live Reef
Fish Information Bulletin. 17: 20-30.
* Indicates undergraduate student co-author
GRANTS AND AWARDS
2022. Herbert Lipke Endowment Graduate Student Travel Award. $400.
2021. College of Science and Mathematics Dean’s Doctoral Research Fellowship. $12,000.
2018. Women Divers Hall of Fame Graduate Scholarship in Marine Conservation. $2,000.
2013. Western Society of Naturalists Student Travel Award. $75.
INVITED LECTURES AND PRESENTATIONS
2023. Subtidal Ecology. Marine Biology Class. Boston University.
2022. McGuiver for the Diver. Underwater Research Class. Shoals Marine Lab.
2022. Subtidal Rock Wall Ecology. Underwater Research Class. Shoals Marine Lab.
2021. How Increasing Ocean Temperature in the Gulf of Maine Affects Diversity and Community Structure on Subtidal Rock Walls. UMB Biology Dept. Seminar Series.
2019. Climate Change Effects on Kelp Forests in New England. Boston Sea Rovers Expo.
2017. Kelp Ecosystem Ecology Network (KEEN) One Algal ID Seminar (video on request).
CONTRIBUTED PRESENTATIONS AND POSTERS
2022. McCollum, B.A. It takes more than a little hot water to induce stress eating in green sea urchins. Benthic Ecology Meeting.
2018. McCollum, B.A. The Metabolic response of green sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachenisis) to marine heat waves. Benthic Ecology Meeting.
2018. *Adjunta, D., McCollum, B.A., Byrnes, J.E.K. How heat spikes affect the righting time of the green sea urchin. Benthic Ecology Meeting.
2018. McCollum, B.A., *Adjunta, D., Byrnes, J.E.K. The effect of repetitive marine heat spikes on respiration in green sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis). Western Society of Naturalists
2016. McCollum, B.A. Return of the Mac: Differential survival among early life history-stages of Macrocystis pyrifera. Benthic Ecology Meeting.
2014. McCollum, B.A. The effect of recruitment density on the survival of juvenile giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera). Western Society of Naturalists.
2014. McCollum, B.A. The effect of recruitment density on the survival of juvenile giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera). Benthic Ecology Meeting.
2013. McCollum, B.A. Return of the Mac: Differential survival among early life history-stages and young recruits of Macrocystis pyrifera. Western Society of Naturalists.
2013. McCollum, B.A. Return of the Mac: Differential survival among early life history-stages and young recruits of Macrocystis pyrifera. International Phycological Congress/Phycological Society of America.
2009. McCollum, B.A. Community Structure and Dynamics in Rocky Subtidal Marine Preserves, San Juan Islands, Washington. Western Society of Naturalists
2007. McCollum, B.A. Consumer Perspectives on the ‘Web of Causality’ within the Philippine based Marine Aquarium Fish Trade. SEASSI Graduate Student Symposium.
2006. McCollum, B.A. Consumer Perspectives on the ‘Web of Causality’ within the Marine Aquarium Fish Trade. Marine Ornamentals ’06.
2006. McCollum, B.A. Consumer Perspectives on the ‘Web of Causality’ within the Marine Aquarium Fish Trade. University of Washington Undergraduate Research Symposium.
* Indicates undergraduate student co-author
PROFESSIONAL & RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Biological Research Assistant for Boston Harbor Islands 2021-Present
Stone Living Lab, UMB Boston, MA
- Provide logistical and field support for biodiversity surveys with
the Stone Living Lab.
- Ensure diving equipment is safe and well-maintained for the
Stone Living Lab Dive Team.
- Lead biodiversity surveys in the rocky intertidal and subtidal
zone throughout Boston Harbor Islands.
- Train field assistants in safety protocols, species identification,
surveying methods, data management and analyses.
- Assist other Stone Living Lab researchers with
logistical expertise, equipment training, and field work.
Research Assistant 2015 – 2017
Kelp Ecosystem Ecology Network, UMB New England Region
- Facilitate, lead, and instruct university-based dive teams around
New England in identification of kelp-forest associated species
and network-wide standardized subtidal sampling protocols for
the global Kelp Ecosystem Ecology Network (KEEN)
- Conduct annual underwater biodiversity surveys for marine fish,
invertebrates, and algae throughout the Boston Harbor Island,
Salem Harbor, and Isle of Shoals
Lab Manager 2012 – 2014
Coastal and Marine Institute Laboratory, SDSU San Diego, CA
- Managed the daily operations of San Diego State University’s
Coastal and Marine Institute Laboratory under the supervision
of Director, Dr. Todd Anderson.
- Facilitated maintenance of the flow-through sea water system
and conducted weekly maintenance of recirculating sea water
system.
- Facilitated safe hazardous waste disposal and removal.
- Procured for the laboratory the following budgetary line items:
a student tool shop, Millipore EMD DI water system, -80 freezer,
and industrial centrifuge among other enhancements.
Marine Organism Collector Assistant 2012
Biology Department, SDSU San Diego, CA
- Accompanied San Diego State University’s Marine Collector,
Constance Gramlich, on weekly specimen collection dives to
supply organisms as needed for undergraduate and graduate
courses at SDSU.
- Cleaned and maintained sampling equipment and aquaria facilities
Assistant Diving Safety Officer 2011
Friday Harbor Labs, UW San Juan Islands, WA
- Oversaw all diving operations at the Friday Harbor Laboratories
under the supervision of the University of Washington’s primary
Diving Safety Officer, Sam Sublett.
- Maintained diving records for Friday Harbor Laboratories staff
and visiting scientific divers.
- Approved diving plans from Friday Harbor Laboratories staff
and visiting scientific divers.
- Conducted local check out dives for visiting scientific divers.
- Accompanied staff and visiting researchers as a safety diver
or boat driver as needed.
Scientific Technician II 2011
WA Department of Fish and Wildlife San Juan Islands, WA
- Assist WDFW’s Groundfish team lead by Dr. Robert Pacunski
with 24-hour ROV video trawls in San Juan Channel on the
R/V Molluscan.
- Identify to species and count all fish encountered on video
transects.
Research Technologist 2008 – 2011
Friday Harbor Labs, UW San Juan Islands, WA
- Assisted with subtidal data collection on Dr. Kenneth Sebens’
long-term rocky subtidal monitoring projects in Salem, MA,
Nahant, MA, and San Juan Island, WA.
- Analyzed photos and processed thermal data.
- Managed archival data from Nahant, MA and San Juan Island, WA.
- Assisted graduate students with their research and data
collection dives.
Marine Conservation Intern 2006
Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) Seattle, WA
- Designed a non-native tunicate ID field guide for the Puget
Sound recreation diving community
- Attended Washington Invasive Species Council Meetings
held by the WA Recreation and Conservation Office
- Assisted WA Sea Grant personnel on non-native tunicate
mapping and eradication dives
- Led non-native tunicate ID seminars at local dive shops and
local dive club meetings
SCHOLARLY SERVICE
2023, March 4th. Registered Judge. MA Region V Science & Engineering Fair
2023 – Present. Sustainable Solutions Lab Climate Justice Graduate Student Network
2022 – Present. Student Inductee. Tri-Alpha, National First-Generation Honor Society
2019 – Present. Graduate Student Representative. Diving Control Board. UMB
2022. Volunteer. MA Division of Marine Fisheries. Boston Sea Rovers 68th Ocean Expo.
2021 – 2022. Acting Diving Safety Officer. UMB.
2020 – UMB Biology Dept. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Seminar and Reading Group
2015 – 2017. Student Committee. Western Society of Naturalists.
2015 – 2011. Marine Ecology and Biology Student Association at SDSU
2008. Student Assistant for National Sea Grant Conference, WA Sea Grant
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES
2022 – Present. Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vehicles (OUVP)/Six-pack Captain’s License: expected completion August 2023
2019 – Present. National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) Dive Instructor Training Course: expected completion August 2023
2019 – Present. Divers Alert Network (DAN) CPR/First Aid/AED/Oxygen Provider Instructor Course: expected completion August 2023
2003 – Present. Maintained biennial DAN CPR/First Aid/Oxygen Provider certification
2019. Structural Equation Modelling course. Lund University, Lund, Sweden
2017. Data Carpentry Workshop. Northeastern University Marine Science Center, Nahant, MA
2011. Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) Divemaster Course, Friday Harbor, WA
2008. Washington State Boater Education Course, Friday Harbor, WA
2008. Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) Enriched Air/Nitrox, Woodinville, WA
2007. Southeast Asian Studies Summer Institute (SEASSI), Intermediate Filipino (Tagalog), University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
2005. Professional Scuba Inspectors (PSI) Cylinder Inspector/Service Technician, Woodinville, WA
2003. Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) Rescue Diver, Woodinville, WA
2003. Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) Advanced Open Water Diver, Woodinville, WA
2003. Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) Open Water Diver, Woodinville, WA
PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES
Jarrett Byrnes, Ph.D.
Professor, Environmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston
Email: jarrett.byrnes@umb.edu
- Ph.D. Research Advisor, Dissertation Committee Chair, Professor-of-record for Underwater Research, Shoals Marine Lab
Michael Rex, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, Environmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston
Email: michael.rex@umb.edu
- Professor-of-record for Invertebrate Zoology, UMB
Ron Etter, Ph.D.
Professor, Environmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston
Email: ron.etter@umb.edu
- Ph.D. Dissertation Committee Member
Brian Helmuth, Ph.D.
Professor, Marine and Environmental Science, Northeastern University
Email: b.helmuth@northeastern.edu
- Ph.D. Dissertation Committee Member and collaborator
Matthew Edwards, Ph.D.
Professor, Biology, San Diego State University
Email: medwards@sdsu.edu
- MSc. Research Advisor and Thesis Committee Chair
Kenneth Sebens, Ph.D.
Professor, Biology, University of Washington
Email: sebens@uw.edu
Long-term Mentor, Collaborator, and Supervisor at FHL
Breck Alyssa Mccollum 