News and Information
NASA'S MICHIGAN SPACE GRANT CONSORTIUM FELLOWSHIP RESEARCHER - TYLER HARMAN
October 01, 2019
Tyler Harmant, a second year graduate student and research assistant in the Biology department, is currently involved in a fellowship research project that focuses on a temperate coral species on the east coast of the United States. He is studying the effects of temperature change on various components, such as photosynthetic efficiency and immunity, of the coral. There is little research centered around this topic, so he is excited and hopeful to gather some useful data. This opportunity was made possible through the NASA Michigan Space Grant Consortium Fellowship Grant in addition to the Biology Department, Annis Water Resource Institute (AWRI), and The Graduate School.
His love for the outdoors and the ocean is what originally inspired his research. His undergraduate degree from Old Dominion University focused on climate change and anthropogenic impacts. He then decided to further his education at GVSU in Biology; thus, leading him to his research today. He said he thinks it is extremely important to focus on climate change in multiple environments, such as the east coast, in order to help protect them.
His research opportunity would not have been possible without his mentors Dr. Strychar, Dr. Barshis, Dr. Hamsher, and Dr. Salas. He is also thankful for his amazing cohort that pushes him to do his best every day, both academically and with his study. He is excited to start collecting and analyzing data to solve the puzzles and make new discoveries with his research!