Jessica Muhlin

Jessica Muhlin is Professor of Marine Biology in the Ocean Studies department at the Corning School of Ocean Studies, Maine Maritime Academy, where she has served since 2007. An intertidal ecologist specializing in marine macroalgae, she maintains active research and community engagement programs.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Marine Biology, University of Maine
• B.A. in Biology (concentration in marine sciences, cum laude), Boston University

Research Interests: Professor Muhlin's work centers on fucoid algae reproductive ecology, population genetics of northwestern Atlantic seaweeds, and nearshore food web dynamics. She pioneers art-science collaborations using marine algae, integrating creative expression with ecological research. Her passion extends to public education through seaweed cooking and community science initiatives.

Funded Scholarship: Current projects include:

• Co-authoring the second edition of Life Between the Tides with Maine Sea Grant and University of Hawaii collaborators
• Developing a drone-based spectral library for nearshore seaweeds (NOAA SBIR Phase II and Maine Community Foundation funding)
• Investigating rockweed harvest impacts on intertidal ecosystems (Maine Sea Grant CRASSH project)
• Integrating Ascophyllum nodosum as an indicator species in Maine's phenology monitoring program

Community Engagement: She actively promotes algae appreciation through artistic projects, culinary applications, and citizen science programs, emphasizing accessible science communication to foster public understanding of marine ecosystems.