Biography of Ann Zellers
Ann Zellers received a BS in Fisheries Management from the University of Michigan. She began her career in the field of marine biology as a lecturer and then Laboratory Manager for Marineland of the Pacific( formerly located on the Palos Verdes Peninsula CA). At Marineland Ann specialized in fish diseases and water quality. She also worked with the University of Southern California where she gave lectures to students on the Research Vessel Seawatch and did water quality studies in Marina del Rey. Additionally she spent several years as the Manager and Associate Manager of two different aquaculture/research facility’s (Nationwide Seafood, Occidental College). Then she was a research technician(urban stormwater studies) with the Southern California Water Research Project. During these years Ann served as Treasurer and Vice President for the professional society American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists.
At her current position with Algalita Marine Research Foundation (AMRI) Ann manages a lab in Redondo Beach. In this capacity she has been responsible for overseeing the processing of samples and data analyses for all of AMRI’s sampling projects. The samples have been taken in a wide range of environments including urban, beach, river, and oceanic sites; from California to throughout the world. She has also been responsible for overseeing the processing of samples and the data analyses of Albatross boluses from the Midway Atoll and Guadalupe Island projects. Presently she manages as many as 12 volunteers who help with the processing of samples. In conjunction with the sample analyses Ann works with the SEALab* staff (where the AMRI lab is located) to educate them about the ongoing findings of AMRI. Ann also works with the Surfrider Foundation’s high school program to teach students about water quality.
Ann has given numerous presentations at conferences, annual meetings, and to students; such as at the Plastic Debris, Rivers to Sea Conference, the Southern California Academy of Sciences annual meeting, and to students at surrounding schools, at the SEALab and at the University of Hawaii, Hilo.
*The SEALab is a part of the Los Angeles Conservation Corps which was created to broaden the horizons of inner city and low income young adults through a work/education program.
