Sarina Dery

Education

• B.S. Marine Sciences, Marine Biology Minor. University of Connecticut Avery Point, 2020 

Professional History

• 2024 –2025: Seasonal Resource Assistant, Long Island Sound Trawl Survey, CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection 
• 2024 – 2025: Oyster Farmer, 401 Oyster Company 
• 2023 – 2024: Aquatic Laboratory Technician, New England Bioassay 
• 2022 – 2023: Temporary Assistant Trainer, Marine Mammals, Mystic Aquarium 
• 2020 – 2022: Seasonal Resource Assistant, Atlantic Sturgeon and Shad Project, CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

With a strong passion for marine ecology, Sarina’s career goal is to contribute to the regeneration of marine ecosystems while focusing on the biological effects of environmental changes.

Sarina’s career started with hands-on experience as a resource assistant for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, where she contributed to studies on Atlantic sturgeon, American shad, and the Long Island Sound Trawl Survey. This work helped her develop an overall understanding of fish migration and population dynamics of marine species in the New England/Mid-Atlantic Region. It also ignited her interest in commercial fishing, research vessels, fish ageing techniques and survey assessments.

She then moved on to an aquatic lab technician role at New England Bioassay, where she developed practical skills in water quality testing and aquaculture methods. Her work consisted of testing wastewater samples for toxicity and culturing various aquatic species such as daphnia, microalgae, Americamysis bahia and Pimephales promelas. Seeking more field experience, Sarina worked as an oyster farmer at 401 Oyster Company in Rhode Island, managing a 9-acre farm which furthered her interest in shellfish aquaculture and the environmental factors affecting oyster health.