Jarrod Ludwig
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ECOLOGY (MS)
Sharing his research results and experience with hundreds of professionals in the scientific community at conferences has allowed Jarrod Ludwig to make a real contribution to his field, and it has opened doors to future opportunities.
Describe your most significant academic accomplishment.
“The most significant academic accomplishment I have had at Brockport is the research I am currently involved in for my master’s degree. My thesis research investigates the diet of California Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead trout experiencing thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency. This research aims to understand if a potential shift in the diet of these salmonids has been the cause of the deficiency, which was first observed in Chinook salmon in 2020. This deficiency can lead to early mortality of developing embryos and has contributed to significant declines in these populations of adults returning to spawn in freshwater streams after maturing in the ocean. This research has allowed me to travel to California to gain a better perspective of the system I am studying, but also allow for networking with the many colleagues associated with this project. These collaborators range from scientists at the United States Geological Survey (USGS), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, University of California — Davis, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA).”
How has the above experience impacted your future plans?
“This experience has impacted my future plans as it has given me the opportunity to connect with future employers on the other side of the country, which I would never have met otherwise. Just because we are based in New York does not mean your research can not expand outside of our state and make a beneficial impact elsewhere. The conferences I have attended to present my research have allowed me to share my results and experience with hundreds of other professionals, putting my name on the hard work I share with the scientific community. This research has the opportunity to lead to publications and make a real contribution to a field I am most passionate about.”
What would you tell a future student interested in your field of study?
“I would tell a student to immerse themselves into as many experiences as possible to really develop their interests even if they are sure of what they want to do. It is not unlikely your passions will change and lead you in a new direction or area of study that you didn’t know existed. Putting yourself out there to learn and connect with professors is a great way to understand your aspirations as a student and professional. Lastly, you will only get as much out of an experience as you put in. Hard work is the key to success and reaching your goals; put your best effort forward with everything you do. Even if an experience probably won’t be what you want to do in the future, it is still beneficial in learning what you don’t like and leads you one step closer to a profession that you do.”
Tell us a little bit about yourself and why you chose Brockport?
“I chose Brockport because I heard tremendous things about the Environmental Science & Ecology program. This department has a personal connection with its students, ensuring everyone receives the resources they need to succeed. The small class sizes and the ability to explore the outdoors through our classes and labs have been key to my development. Each one of our professors will know every student by the end of the year and really do their best to promote any available opportunities. My background of growing up on our family farm really initiated my passion to understand the environment around us. Learning about the impacts we have as humans on our landscape and the organisms it supports is important to promote sustainability and benefits we hope to conserve for future generations. I knew I wanted to study environmental science going into college, and my passions did turn away from a terrestrial interest to that of an aquatic interest, a whole new dimension of our world that is not always viewable, but nonetheless just as important and needs to be explored.”
Learn more about the Environmental Science and Ecology (MS).