Cheryl graduated with a B.S. in Marine Biology from San Diego State University in 2006.  Before coming to Moss Landing Marine Laboratories in 2010, Cheryl worked as the Program & Outreach Director for the San Diego Oceans Foundation.  While there, she developed and implemented marine science curricula for grades K-12, conducted fish and invertebrate identification courses for the Reef Environmental Education Foundation, managed two White Seabass grow-out facilities for Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, and administered a variety of pollution prevention programs aimed at minimizing urban effects on coastal systems.

Cheryl’s thesis, “Reproductive characteristics of California Halibut (Paralichthys californicus) off central California, with comparisons to the Southern California Bight”, investigates spatial variation in the life history traits of an economically important species to provide information for resource management.  More specifically, this project will estimate growth, length- and age-at-maturity, and fecundity for halibut found off three central California locations, compare these sites, and use existing information to evaluate regional differences.