Melissa Head

Background

Melissa received her Bachelor's in Marine Biology from the College of Charleston, a graduate certificate in Fisheries Management and Professional Master's in Science from Oregon State University. Melissa began working for NOAA at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle in 2011 for the Fisheries Research Survey team. At that time, she helped to establish a reproductive ecology project to support stock assessments and management decisions by providing a better understanding of changes in reproductive capacity of groundfish species along the U.S. West coast.

Current Research

As a Research Fisheries Biologist with the FRAM Division, Melissa's work has primarily focused on assessing reproductive capacity in groundfish. This cooperative research is done in coordination with multiple NOAA surveys, and our partners at ODFW and WDFW. Reproductive samples are collected and histologically assessed in the laboratory. This data is used in stock assessments models that estimate spawning stock biomass, but also to evaluate spatio-temporal variability in reproduction which can inform our understanding of how changes in the ecosystem and climate influence population dynamics. Melissa also serves as a chief scientist and/or back deck biologist on the West Coast Groundfish Trawl Survey. This annual survey is conducted on chartered fishing vessels and spans the entire Wes Coast. Melissa is very passionate about mentoring, outreach, and leadership. She currently is a member of the Change Management Team, the Workplace Engagement and Collaboration team, and the Northwest Fisheries Science Center's lead for the National Cooperative Research Program.