Meet Your Representatives

Zach Vayder (he/him)

Treasurer

Based in Fairbanks. Zach is an M.S. student in Marine Biology under Dr. Katrin Iken as a part of the Gulf Watch Alaska program. He is studying how mussels respond to heat stress in regards to marine heatwaves and the thermal microhabitat in rocky intertidal systems along the northern Gulf of Alaska. Beyond research, he enjoys skiing, hiking, camping, snowshoeing, and just enjoying the outdoors. 

zevayder@alaska.edu

Emily Nicholson (she/her)  

Secretary

Based in Fairbanks. Emily started her M.S. Marine Biology program in the fall of 2024 as a student in Dr. Brenda Konar’s lab. She is studying oyster farm biofouling growth and how environmental factors affect fouling patterns. When Emily has free time she enjoys knitting, sewing, reading, video games, and playing the hurdy-gurdy. 

eknicholson@alaska.edu

Julia Matteucci (she/her)

Graduate Student Rep

Based in Fairbanks. Julia is a M.S. student in the Marine Biology department in Dr. Kristen Gorman’s lab. She joined CFOS in Fall 2024 and studies the non-breeding marine habitat use and individual quality of Black-legged Kittiwakes and Thick-billed Murres breeding on St. Paul Island, Alaska. Outside of school and research, Julia enjoys running, camping, cooking, and observing birds visiting her backyard birdfeeder with her two cats. 

jmatteucci@alaska.edu

Khrista Nicholas (she/her)

Graduate Student Rep

Based in Fairbanks. Khrista joined CFOS as an M.S. student in the Oceanography Department in Fall 2025. She is working with Dr. Kay McMonigal to investigate historic trends in the flow of the Agulhas Current off of South Africa and hopes to connect these trends to impacts on regional ecosystem dynamics. Khrista is passionate about exploring the outdoors, community engagement, crafting, and looking under the microscope.

     kmnicholas@alaska.edu

Coral Stellon  (She/her)

Undergraduate Student Rep

Based in Fairbanks. Coral is a current Junior completing a B.S in Marine Science and Fisheries Management with a concentration in Marine Biology! Currently she works both at the UAF museum and as an undergraduate researcher in partnership with current grad students working on the EvoME grayling otolith project. As a born and raised Fairbanks girl she loves all things outdoors including scuba at any temperature!

castellonodonnell@alaska.edu

Ayla Benson (they/them)

Undergraduate Student Rep

Based in Fairbanks. Ayla is a current junior pursuing a B.S. in Fisheries and Marine Sciences. They are interested in many fields and are focused on the interdisciplinary nature of the marine environment. In the past they have worked for Alaska Department of Fish and Game and they are currently a mentee of Alorah Bliese, a CFOS Ph.D. student. You often can find them birding around Fairbanks. They also enjoy subsistence, hiking, ice skating and art. 

arbenson@alaska.edu