Welcome back to the Going Coastal Podcast. Jon Miller, Marissa Torres, and Deb Fernandes officially welcome Dane Lazarus as a new Going Coastal co-host.

Expect West Coast energy, Sea Grant insights, Dane’s not-so-linear path into coastal work (you will want to hear that!), what he’s excited to bring on the show, and the kind of “usable science” he is so passionate about. Also, yes, we get distracted by favourite beaches, bioluminescence, and kelp forests (as we should).

Thank you to our sponsor, the New Jersey SeaGrant.

The Student Research Spotlight Series is back for 2026, and we are welcoming a NEW HOST: Dane Lazarus!

For this episode, Dane Lazarus and Deb Fernandes chat with Liam McDermott (Virginia Tech) and Ruben Vruggink (UC Santa Cruz) about undergraduate research in probabilistic coastal hazard assessment (PCHA) and about an A-to-Z master's project on regional sediment management, bringing science, stakeholders, economics, and policy into the same conversation. Plus a lot of other cool stuff you’ll have to listen to find out ;)

Get involved:

• ASBPA SNP Mentor Program: join as a mentor or mentee via the ASBPA website

• California listeners: if you’re interested in building a stronger West Coast student / early professional network, reach out to Dane or Ruben, or email [email protected]

Thank you to our sponsor, the New Jersey Sea Grant.

Marissa Torres and Deb Fernandes sat down with Brad Pickel (SeaHaven Consulting; Managing Director, ASBPA) and Wendy Laurent (Taylor Engineering) to talk about conflict resolution: what to do when conversations get hard at work, especially for students and new professionals.

They cover quick, practical tools like grounding in the moment, the SBI method (Situation–Behavior–Impact), and how to prep for tough talks without making things worse.

All the personality tests:

RHETI Enneagram test:

• Free- https://www.9types.com/rheti/index.php

• Paid- https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/rheti/

People Map: https://www.peoplemapsystems.com/personality-types/

Clifton Strength: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/253715/34-cliftonstrengths-themes.aspx

Myers-Briggs / 16 personalities: https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test

In this episode of Going Coastal, Jon Miller and Marissa Torres have a chat with master’s student Marcus Landers (Stevens Institute of Technology) and incoming Stevens PhD student Margo Dietrich (currently at Yale) for a new Student Research Spotlight. They tell us about their paths into coastal engineering and experiences abroad - all roads lead to the coast. Get the episode on your favorite platform now to hear about the different stages of dune evolution and what coastal resilience looks like from the lens of construction and home owner’s insurance.

Thank you to NJ Sea Grant for sponsoring this episode.

What does it look like to break into coastal science as a student, and win national awards along the way?

In this episode, Marissa Torres and Deb Fernandes talk with Brenna Derby and Vicky Gao about REUs, harmful algal blooms, environmental economics, working with ASBPA’s Science & Technology Committee, and the honest advice they wish more students heard about finding funding, taking chances, and building a coastal career that fits who you are.

If you’re a student, early-career coastal nerd, or just coastal-curious, this convo is packed with stories, practical tips, and a lot of reassurance that there’s no single “right” way to build a life at the coast.

This month on Going Coastal, Marissa Torres and Deb Fernandes talk with Heather Korzun and Neal McMillin about their unique paths into coastal resilience and policy, and their experiences as NOAA fellows. From community engagement in New Jersey to shaping bipartisan ocean policy on Capitol Hill, they share insights, lessons learned, and advice for future fellows.

Thank you to NJ Sea Grant for sponsoring this episode.

In this episode of Going Coastal, Jon Miller and Deb Fernandes have a chat with PhD student Ian Day (Stevens Institute of Technology) and master’s student Tashae Thompson (University of South Alabama) for a new Student Research Spotlight series. They talk about their paths into coastal engineering, from Jamaica to China to New Jersey.

Hear how they’re tackling real-world challenges like dune erosion and flooding with nature-based solutions, and what it’s like to navigate conferences and careers in this tight-knit field.

Thank you to NJ Sea Grant for sponsoring this episode.

In this episode of Going Coastal, Jon Miller and Deb Fernandes talk with Erin Rooney (COPRI) and Halaina Hahn (ASBPA) about the role of student chapters in shaping the next generation of coastal professionals.

They share how these chapters connect students with industry networks, provide leadership opportunities, and bridge the gap between academic learning and practical experience.

We cover examples of successful collaborations, tips for starting a chapter, upcoming conferences like ICCE and ASBPA’s National Coastal Conference, and advice for students navigating the field.

Thank you to NJ Sea Grant for sponsoring this episode.

In this Student Research Spotlight, Marissa Torres and Deb Fernandes hear from Alexander Boland (UGA) and Ryan Schanta (UDel) as they share their paths into coastal engineering, their thesis work, and their next steps in PhD research. From modeling storm surge impacts on Georgia roads to improving sediment transport predictions with FunWave and XBeach, this episode explores the power and challenges of coastal numerical modeling.

In our latest Going Coastal episode, Jon Miller and Marissa Torres sat down with two accomplished academics in the coastal field:

Dr. Jens Figlus (Texas A&M University) and Dr. Peter Ruggiero (Oregon State University), who shared their career journeys, advice for students and early professionals, and a candid look into the realities of grant writing and research funding.

From fieldwork to proposal writing to finding your place in a tight-knit community, this episode dives into both the passion and practical skills needed to thrive in the field.

If you’re a student, educator, or coastal professional looking for real-world insights into research careers and growing the next generation in coastal science, this episode is for you.