Hi! I'm Sarah, a third year Master's candidate at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories in Moss Landing, CA. I'm raising funds to attend the 8th International Jellyfish Blooms Symposium in Cork, Ireland in 2026! My Master's thesis currently focuses on the environmental drivers of jellyfish blooms of Pacific sea nettles in Monterey Bay and their quality as prey for leatherback sea turtles. After I receive my Master's degree, I intend to enroll in a PhD program so that I can continue studying the weird and beautiful world of jellyfish physiology and ecology! I'm so passionate about marine science and jellyfish, and it would be such an incredible experience to travel to Ireland and personally connect with some of the most prominent researchers in my field. This would help extend my network internationally and potentially present me with more academic and career opportunities in the future. I've also dreamed of traveling to Ireland since I was a kid due to the country's natural beauty, my own Irish heritage and what I know of Irish history. International travel is very expensive, and as a graduate student, it's not easy for me to save up for opportunities like this.

I appreciate anything you are willing to give, even if that is just a share! I understand that there are a lot of great causes you can put your money toward, but it would mean the world to me if you contributed.