Rebecca G. Asch – curriculum vitae
Rebecca G. Asch
Princeton University
Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
Sayre Hall, 300 Forrestal Road, Princeton, NJ 08540
Office phone: +1 609 258-2904
Cell phone: +1 617 697-8375
Email: [email protected]
Education
University of California San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA. Ph.D.
in biological oceanography. 2013.
• Dissertation title: Interannual-to-decadal changes in phytoplankton phenology, fish spawning
habitat, and larval fish phenology (Advisor: Dr. David Checkley)
University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI. Master of
Science in biological oceanography. 2006.
• Thesis title: A photographic analysis of bottom fishing disturbance and microhabitat
associations among the colonial epifauna of Georges Bank (Advisor: Dr. Jeremy Collie)
Smith College, Northampton, MA. Bachelor of Arts in cultural anthropology. Graduated summa
cum laude. Minor in environmental science. 2000.
• Independent research project: Environmental and social impacts of ecotourism in Costa
Rica (Advisor: Dr. Elliot Fratkin)
Additional coursework
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, Satellite Remote Sensing Training Program, 2009
University of Maryland, College Park, MD, Introduction to Physics, 2002
University of Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, Study Abroad Program, 1998-1999
Research Experience
Postdoctoral Research Associate and Senior Nereus Fellow, Princeton University, Program
in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Princeton, NJ (September 2013-Present). Co-advisors:
Drs. Jorge Sarmiento and Charles Stock (NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory).
• The Nereus Fellowship Program aims to build interdisciplinary, global scientific expertise to
assess the future state of fish stocks under a changing climate. I have contributed to this
goal by using an Earth System Model to develop the first projections of whether future fish
recruitment is likely to decline due to changes in seasonal mismatches between fish
spawning and phytoplankton blooms.
• Supervised research projects conducted by nine undergraduate students from Princeton
University and Swarthmore College.
• Organized two workshops with participants from 12 universities and research institutions.
Organized a conference session at the 7th World Fisheries Congress.
Graduate Student Researcher, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA (June 2007August 2013)
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Rebecca G. Asch – curriculum vitae
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Dissertation explored how climate change alters seasonal cycles of upwelling, phytoplankton
blooms, and economically and ecologically important fishes in the California Current.
Developed spawning habitat models for sardine, anchovy, and jack mackerel in which sea
surface height was identified as a key variable influencing the distribution of fish eggs.
Co-authored a paper quantifying ingestion of plastic debris by mid-water fishes in the North
Pacific Subtropical Gyre, an area often referred to as the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch.”
Conducted experiments demonstrating that elevated CO2 concentrations increased the size
of fish otoliths (ear bones). This research was published in Science and has improved
understanding of how ocean acidification may impact fish populations.
NOAA Nancy Foster Scholar Research Collaboration, Southwest Fisheries Science Center,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Pacific Grove, CA (OctoberNovember 2010)
• Developed and compared three methods of detecting seasonal shifts in remotely sensed
time series. Interannual variability in the timing of peak chlorophyll concentration, upwelling,
and sea surface temperature (SST) was examined in 3 regions of the California Current.
IGERT Fellowship Interdisciplinary Research Collaboration, Boston University, Department
of Geography and Environment, Boston, MA (July-August 2009)
• Developed an algorithm to investigate climate-induced changes in the timing of
phytoplankton blooms. This algorithm used remotely sensed ocean color data to detect
changes in the California Current over interannual time scales.
Research Assistant, University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography,
Narragansett, RI (September 2002-May 2004)
• Analyzed benthic megafaunal samples and photographs of the seafloor. Trained and
supervised two undergraduate workers in laboratory protocols.
• Participated in four research cruises to Georges Bank. Assisted in the development of a new
sampling protocol to collect juvenile, demersal fishes. These cruises were pivotal in
detecting the invasion of Didemnum vexillum (a colonial tunicate) and tracking its spread.
• Created an educational website and CD-ROM to inform laypeople about the impact of
bottom fishing disturbance on benthic ecology.
Teaching Experience
Instructor for Swarthmore College Externship Week, Princeton University, Program in
Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Princeton, NJ (January 2014)
• Introduced visiting Swarthmore College students to ocean biogeochemistry by co-leading an
intensive, one-week class, which culminated in students presenting an independent
research project.
• Students learned key concepts in chemical and biological oceanography, analyzed data
from Bio-Argo floats and the HOT and BATS time series, and were introduced to technical
computing in MATLAB.
• Quotes from students: “It was a fantastic experience, and I learned a lot about
oceanography”; “I have a better understanding of how a biologist might go forward into a
field such as yours and the knowledge will definitely help me.”
Lecturer, University of San Diego, Department of Environmental and Ocean Sciences, San
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Rebecca G. Asch – curriculum vitae
Diego, CA (January-May 2011)
• Taught ENVI 121 Life in the Oceans, an introductory marine biology class.
• Prepared 25 lectures, created exams and assignments that emphasized critical thinking, and
tutored students individually and in small groups during review sessions.
• Quotes from student evaluations: “[T]he instructor was incredibly knowledgeable…and did a
terrific job”; “[Professor Asch] tried to make this course engaging and fun with videos and
real life examples,” and; “I liked Rebecca a lot – she welcomes questions, explains things
well…everything we learned is really interesting.”
NSF Graduate Teaching Fellow in K-12 Education, University of Rhode Island, Office of
Marine Programs, Narragansett, RI (May 2004-June 2005)
• Led 2-4 classroom activities per week, teaching junior high school students about marine
and environmental science.
• Organized a summer science institute for elementary and secondary schoolteachers.
Presented lectures on marine resources, world population growth, seawater chemistry, salt
marsh ecosystems, and demersal fishes in Narragansett Bay.
• Participated in a one-week workshop on STEM teaching strategies focused on inquiry-based
learning.
English as a Second Language (ESL) Instructor, Literacy Council of Montgomery County,
Rockville, MD (November 2000–August 2002)
• Taught two classes per week to small groups of students who were recent immigrants to the
United States.
Environmental Policy and Consulting Experience
John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow, Climate Program Office, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Silver Spring, MD (February 2006-June 2007)
• Coordinated strategic planning for three programs within NOAA’s Climate Goal.
• Co-authored the annual Program Operating Plan for the NOAA Climate and Ecosystems
Program. Developed proposals to address emerging issues, such as the loss of Arctic sea
ice and ocean acidification.
• Completed a four-month assignment at the U.S. Global Change Research Program. Served
as a coordinator for two inter-governmental working groups that examine the human
dimensions of climate change and the impact of climate change on the water cycle.
Biological Oceanographer, Applied Science Associates, Inc., Narragansett, RI (July 2005February 2006)
• Wrote five Environmental Impact Statements, Natural Resource Damage Assessments, and
technical reports evaluating the effects of oil spills, the release of hazardous chemicals, and
the construction of a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal.
• Developed a biological database for modeling the trajectory of contaminants from a chemical
spill and determining the scope of the spill’s impact on fisheries resources.
• Translated material from Spanish to English to create a database on weather conditions, the
oil release rate, and geographic areas affected after a major oil spill off the coast of Spain.
Environmental Scientist and Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE)
Fellow, Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
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Rebecca G. Asch – curriculum vitae
Administration (NOAA), Silver Spring, MD (July 1999-August 2002)
• Co-author of the first report to Congress on the health of U.S. coral reef ecosystems.
• Designed and administered a survey inventorying over 450 coral reef monitoring projects.
Information collected was used to identify gaps in monitoring initiatives.
• Developed a geographic information system (GIS) pinpointing the exact locations of coral
reef monitoring sites in the United States and its territories.
• Conducted fieldwork in the Gulf of Mexico, San Francisco Bay, and Chesapeake Bay.
Grassroots Organizer, Clean Water Action, Boston, MA (Summers 1997 and 1998)
• Educated the public about local and national environmental issues, ranging from the
concentration of waste incinerators in low-income neighborhoods to the potential effects of
energy deregulation.
• Generated a weekly average of $500 for the organization. Recruited approximately 10 new
members per day.
• Lobbied state congressional representatives.
Awards and Fellowships
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Nereus Program Senior Fellowship, 2013-Present, Nippon Foundation
Best Early Career Scientist Presentation, 2015, Third International Symposium on the
Effects of Climate Change on the World’s Oceans
Travel award to attend the Third International Symposium on the Effects of Climate Change
on the World’s Oceans, 2015, North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES)
Selected to participate in Ecological Dissertations in the Aquatic Sciences (EcoDAS), 2014.
EcoDAS is a symposium designed to foster cross-disciplinary collaborations between the
next generation of leading researchers in ecological oceanography and limnology.
Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship, 2009-2013, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Grant awarded in support of dissertation research by California Sea Grant, 2010-2013
ARCS Scholar, 2011-2013, San Diego Chapter of the Achievement Rewards for College
Scientists (ARCS) Foundation
Sally Richardson Award for Best Student Paper, 2012, 36th Annual Larval Fish Conference
Early Life History Section Travel Grant, 2012, American Fisheries Society
Joint travel award to attend the ClimECO2 workshop, 2010, U.S. GLOBEC and PICES
Integrative Graduate Education and Research Trainee (IGERT) Fellowship, 2007-2009,
Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, Scripps Institution of Oceanography,
funded by NSF
John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship, 2006-2007, National Sea Grant College Program
MacMillan Fellowship in Fisheries Oceanography, 2005, Graduate School of Oceanography
(GSO), University of Rhode Island (URI)
GK-12 Fellowship, 2004-2005, GSO, URI, funded by NSF
Henry S. Farmer Award in Biological Oceanography, 2004, GSO, URI
Alumni Association Travel Award, 2004, GSO, URI
Friends of Oceanography Fellowship, 2002, GSO, URI
Recognized for “outstanding leadership and determination” by the U.S. Coral Reef Task
Force, 2002
Phi Beta Kappa, 2000, Smith College
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Rebecca G. Asch – curriculum vitae
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E.J. Murphy Fund Award in Coastal and Marine Sciences, 1999, Five College Coastal
Marine Science Program
First Group Scholar Award, 1996-2000, Smith College
Dean’s List, 1996-2000, Smith College
Peer Reviewed Publications
1. Stock, C.A., J.G. John, R.R. Rykaczewski, R.G. Asch, W.W.L., Cheung, J.P. Dunne, K.D.
Friedland, V.W.Y. Lam, J.L. Sarmiento and R.A. Watson. In review. Reconciling fisheries
catch and ocean productivity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
2. Checkley, D.M., R.G. Asch and R.R. Rykaczewski. In press. Climate, anchovy, and sardine.
Annual Review in Marine Science doi:10.1146/annurev-marine-122414-033819.
3. Asch, R.G., D.J. Pilcher, S. Rivero-Calle and J.M. Holding. 2016. Demystifying models:
Answers to ten common questions that ecologists have about Earth System Models.
Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin 25(3): 65-70. doi:10.1002/lob.10113.
4. Cheung, W.W.L., R.G. Asch, T.L. Frölicher, G. Reygondeau, M. Jones, M.L. Pinsky, K.B.
Rodgers, R.R. Rykaczewski, J.L. Sarmiento, C. Stock and J.R. Watson. 2016. Building
confidence in projections of the responses of living marine resources to climate change.
ICES Journal of Marine Science 73(5): 1283-1296. doi:10.1093/icesjms/fsv250.
5. Coble, A.A., R.G. Asch, S. Rivero-Calle, S.M. Heerhartz, J.M. Holding, C.T. Kremer, M.
Finiguerra and K.E. Strock. 2016. Climate is variable, but is our science? Limnology and
Oceanography Bulletin 25(3): 71-76. doi:10.1002/lob.10115.
6. Friedland, K.D., N.R. Record, R.G. Asch, T. Kristiansen, V.S. Saba, K. Drinkwater, S.
Henson, R.T. Leaf, R.E. Morse, D.G. Johns, S.I. Large, S.S. Hjøllo, J.A. Nye, M.A.
Alexander and R. Ji. 2016. Seasonal plankton blooms in the North Atlantic linked to the
overwintering strategies of copepods. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene 4:000099
doi:101.12952/journal.elementa.000099.
7. Asch, R.G. 2015. Climate change and decadal shifts in the phenology of larval fishes in the
California Current Ecosystem. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
112(30): E4065-E4074. doi:10.1073/pnas.1421946112.
8. Friedland, K.D., R.T. Leaf, J. Kane, D. Tommasi, R.G. Asch, N. Rebuck, R. Ji, S.I. Large, C.
Stock and V.S. Saba. 2015. Spring bloom dynamics and zooplankton biomass response
on the US Northeast Continental Shelf. Continental Shelf Research 102: 47-61.
9. Asch, R.G. and D.M. Checkley, Jr. 2013. Dynamic height: A key variable for identifying the
spawning habitat of small pelagic fishes. Deep-Sea Research Part I 71: 79-91.
10. Davison, P. and R.G. Asch. 2011. Plastic ingestion by mesopelagic fishes in the North
Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Marine Ecology Progress Series 432: 173-180.
11. Checkley, Jr., D.M., A.G. Dickson, M. Takahashi, J.A. Radich, N. Eisenkolb and R. Asch.
2009. Elevated CO2 enhances otolith growth in young fish. Science 324: 1683.
12. Asch, R.G. and J.S. Collie. 2008. Changes in a benthic megafaunal community due to
disturbance from bottom fishing and the establishment of a fishery closure. Fishery
Bulletin 106: 438-456.
13. Valentine, P.C., J.S. Collie, R.N. Reid, R.G. Asch, V.G. Guida and D.S. Blackwood. 2007.
The occurrence of the colonial ascidian Didemnum sp. on Georges Bank gravel habitat
— ecological observations and potential effects on groundfish and scallop fisheries.
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 342(1): 179-181.
14. Bullard, S.G., G. Lambert, M.R. Carman, J. Byrnes, R.B. Whitlatch, G. Ruiz, R.J. Miller, L.
Harris, P.C. Valentine, J.S. Collie, J. Pederson, D.C. McNaught, A.N. Cohen, R.G. Asch,
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Rebecca G. Asch – curriculum vitae
J. Dijkstra and K. Heinonen. 2007. The colonial ascidian Didemnum sp.: current
distribution, basic biology, and potential threat to marine communities of the northeast
and west coasts of North America. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
342(1): 99-108.
15. Asch, R.G. and D.D. Turgeon. 2003. Detection of gaps in the spatial coverage of coral reef
monitoring projects in the U.S. Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Tropical Biology
51(Supl. 4): 127-140.
Publications in Preparation
1. Asch, R.G., C.A. Stock and J.L. Sarmiento. In prep. Will climate change result in increased
mismatches between phytoplankton blooms and fish phenology?
2. Asch, R.G. and M.C. Long. In prep. Changes in phytoplankton phenology detected with the
Community Earth System Model 1.0 (CESM1): Long-term trends and the influence of
climate oscillations.
3. Tommasi, D., C.A. Stock, A.J. Hobday, R. Methot, I. Kaplan, J.P. Eveson, K. Holsman, T.J.
Miller, S. Gaichas, M. Gehlen, A. Pershing, G.A. Vecchi, R. Msadek, T. Delworth, C.M.
Eakin, M. Haltuch, R. Séférian, C.M. Spillman, J.R. Hartog, S. Siedlecki, J. Samhouri, B.
Muhling, R.G. Asch, M.L. Pinsky, V.S. Saba, S. Kapnick, C.F. Gaitan, R. Rykaczewski,
M.A. Alexander, Y. Xue, K.V. Pegion, P. Lynch, M.R. Payne, T. Kristiansen, P. Lehodey
and C. Werner. In prep. Managing living marine resources in a dynamic environment: the
role of seasonal to decadal climate forecasts.
Book Chapters
1. Asch, R. 2013. Student perspectives: Phenology in the California Current Ecosystem:
CalCOFI and beyond. p. 211-213. In: Regional Fisheries Oceanography of the California
Current System. The CalCOFI Program. S. McClatchie. Springer, New York, NY.
2. Turgeon, D.D. and R.G. Asch. 2002. National summary. In: The State of Coral Reef
Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2002. National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Ocean Service/National Centers for
Coastal Ocean Science, Silver Spring, MD. 265 p.
Technical Reports
1. Cheung, W., Y. Ota, W. Swartz, V. Christensen, P. Halpin, J. Sarmiento, C. Stock, C. Folke,
H. Österblom, L. Wood, C. McOwen, T. Spencer, M. Bithell, A.O. Eferink, E. Molenaar,
R. Asch, A. Boustany, R. Caddell, A. Cisneros-Montemayor, M. Colléter, L. Dellmuth, D.
Dunn, T. Frölicher, L. Geffert, N. Henschke, K. Kearney, M. Jones, V. Lam, M. Metian, A.
Merrie, M. de Oca, M. Oyinlola, C. Petrik, G. Reygondeau, R. Rykaczewski, P.
Underwood, A. Valls and J. Watson. 2015. Predicting Future Oceans. Climate Change,
Oceans, and Fisheries. The Nippon Foundation-University of British Columbia Nereus
Program, Vancouver, BC. 24 p.
2. French-McCay, D., R. Asch, N. Whittier and D. Schmidt Etkin. 2006. Environmental
Assessment: Hazardous Substance Response Plan Proposed Regulations for Tank
Vessels and Marine Transfer - Related Facilities. Prepared for Office of Standards
Evaluation and Development, United States Coast Guard. 117 p.
3. French-McCay, D., J. Rowe and R. Asch. 2006. Interim EIS of Beacon Port LNG Terminal.
Plankton, Benthos and Fisheries. Applied Science Associates, Narragansett, RI 02882.
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Rebecca G. Asch – curriculum vitae
Prepared for U.S. Coast Guard.
4. French-McCay, D., J. Rowe, N. Whittier, R. Asch, S. Sankaranarayanan, A. Borowik, C.
Suárez and D. Schmidt Etkin. 2006. Phase II Final Report: Evaluation of the
Consequences of Various Response Options Using Modeling of Fate, Effects and NRDA
Costs for Oil Spills into Washington Waters. 29 volumes. Prepared for Washington
Department of Ecology.
5. French-McCay, D., N. Whittier, R. Asch, C. Swanson and M. Curry. 2005. Centredale Manor
− Woonasquatucket River Natural Resource Damage Assessment Approach. Prepared
for Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Providence, RI. 72 p.
6. French-McCay, D., N. Whittier, J. Rowe and R. Asch. 2005. Mosaic Acidic Process Water
Release of September 2004 in Hillsborough Bay, Florida: Modeling of Physical Fates
and Biological Injuries. Prepared for NOAA Damage Assessment Center. 70 p.
Presentations
1. Petrik, C.M., R. Asch, J. Sarmiento, C. Stock and J. Watson. Influence of spawning
phenology on modeled fish recruitment and biomass under projected climate change.
North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES) Annual Meeting, November 1-13,
2016, San Diego, CA.
2. Asch, R.G. 2016. Climate change and trophic mismatches between plankton blooms and fish
phenology. Plenary Talk at the Ocean Carbon and Biogeochemistry (OCB) Summer
Workshop, July 25-28, 2016, Woods Hole, MA.
3. Asch, R., G. Reygondeau, D. Dunn and W. Cheung. 2016. Multiple dimensions of ocean
climate change in the tropical Pacific and their implications for fishes and fisheries.
Workshop on Integrating Climate Change and Small-Scale Fisheries: Impacts, Shocks
and Responses, June 7-9, 2016, Monterey, CA.
4. Asch, R.G. and B. Erisman. 2016. Projected changes in the distribution and phenology of
Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) spawning aggregations. 7th World Fisheries
Congress, May 23-27, 2016, Busan, Korea.
5. Petrik, C., K. Andersen, R. Asch, J. Sarmiento, C. Stock and J. Watson. 2016. Influence of
spawning phenology on modeled fish recruitment and biomass under projected climate
change. 7th World Fisheries Congress, May 23-27, 2016, Busan, Korea.
6. Asch, R.G. and B. Erisman. 2016. Projecting the effects of 21st century climate change on the
distribution and phenology of reef fish spawning aggregations. Ocean Sciences Meeting,
February 22-26, 2016, New Orleans, LA.
7. Asch, R.G. 2016. Will climate change result in mismatches between fish and phytoplankton
phenology? Empirical evidence from the California Current and earth system model
projections. February 2, 2016, NOAA National Ocean Service Science Seminar, Silver
Spring, MD.
8. Dominguez, A., I. Frenger, M. Carranza, and R. Asch. 2015. Triggering of phytoplankton
bloom onset in the Southern Ocean. Ocean Carbon and Biogeochemistry (OCB)
Summer Workshop, July 20-23, 2015, Woods Hole, MA.
9. Asch, R.G. and B. Erisman. 2015. Future climate change effects on the spawning distribution
and phenology of reef fish aggregations in the Caribbean and Indo-Pacific. Fish Baste
Seminar at Rutgers University, May 20, 2015, New Brunswick, NJ.
10. Asch, R.G. 2015. Climate change and the oceans: How will fisheries be affected? Seminar
at the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), May
15, 2015, New York City, NY.
11. Asch, R.G., C.A. Stock and J.L. Sarmiento. 2015. Projected mismatches between the
phenology of phytoplankton blooms and fish spawning based on the GFDL Earth System
Model (ESM2M). Third International Symposium on the Effects of Climate Change on the
World’s Oceans, March 23-27, 2015, Santos, Brazil.
12. Erisman, B. and R. Asch. 2014. Spatio-temporal interactions between fish spawning
aggregations, fisheries, and climate change. 67th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute
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Rebecca G. Asch – curriculum vitae
(GCFI) Meeting, November 3-7, 2014, Christ Church, Barbados.
13. Asch, R.G. 2014. Will climate change result in in mismatches between fish and
phytoplankton phenology? Empirical evidence from the California Current and earth
system model forecasts. Invited seminar at Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB),
University of Hawaii, October 29, 2014, Coconut Island, HI.
14. Cheung, W.W.L., R. Asch, M. Jones, R. Rykaczewski, C. Stock and J. Sarmiento. 2014.
Global vulnerability of fish recruitment to climate change: insights from Hjort’s legacy.
Johan Hjort Symposium on Recruitment Dynamics and Stock Variability, October 7-9,
2014, Bergen, Norway.
15. Erisman, B. and R. Asch. 2014. Spatio-temporal interactions between fish spawning
aggregations, fisheries, and climate change. American Fisheries Society Annual
Meeting, August 17-21, 2014, Quebec City, Canada.
16. Asch, R.G., C.A. Stock and J.L. Sarmiento. 2014. Will climate change result in increased
mismatches between phytoplankton blooms and fish phenology? IMBER Open Science
Conference, June 23-27, 2014, Bergen, Norway.
17. Asch, R.G. and M.C. Long. 2014. Variations in phytoplankton phenology across the North
Pacific hindcasted with the Community Earth System Model 1.0 (CESM1). Ocean
Sciences Meeting, February 24-28, 2014, Honolulu, HI.
18. Asch, R.G. 2013. Interannual-to-decadal changes in the phenology of fishes, plankton and
oceanic variables in the California Current. Oceanography Brown Bag Seminar, Climate
and Global Dynamics Division, National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR),
March 6, 2013, Boulder, CO.
19. Asch, R.G. 2012. Can spawning habitat models explain changes in the phenology of forage
fishes in the California Current? Phenology 2012 Conference, September 10-13, 2012,
Milwaukee, WI.
20. Asch, R.G. 2012. Climate change and the seasonal occurrence of larval fishes in the
southern California Current Ecosystem. 36th Annual Larval Fish Conference, July 2-6,
2012, Bergen, Norway.
21. Asch, R.G. 2012. Detecting interannual changes in phenology with remotely sensed data: A
comparison of three methods. Ocean Sciences Meeting, February 20-24, 2012, Salt
Lake City, UT.
22. Asch, R.G. 2011. Decadal changes in the phenology of larval fishes in the southern
California Current Ecosystem. California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations
(CalCOFI) Conference, December 12-14, 2011, La Jolla, CA.
23. Asch, R.G. 2011. Climate change leads to earlier seasonal occurrence of larval fishes in the
southern California Current. Long-Term Ecological Research Graduate Student
Symposium, February 1, 2011, Santa Barbara, CA.
24. Asch, R. and A. Cawood. 2010. SEAPLEX 2009: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. LIFE
lecture series at MiraCosta College, August 20, 2010, Oceanside, CA.
25. Asch, R.G. and D.M. Checkley, Jr. 2010. Climate change leads to earlier seasonal
occurrence of larval fishes in the southern California Current. ClimECO2: Oceans, Marine
Ecosystems, and Society Facing Climate Change – A Multidisciplinary Approach, August
23-27, 2010, Brest, France.
26. Asch, R.G. and D.M. Checkley, Jr. 2010. Climate change leads to earlier seasonal
occurrence of larval fishes in the southern California Current. International Symposium
on Climate Change Effects on Fish and Fisheries: Forecasting Impacts, Assessing
Ecosystem Responses, and Evaluating Management Strategies, April 26-29, 2010,
Sendai, Japan.
27. Asch, R.G. and D.M. Checkley, Jr. 2010. Dynamic height: a key variable for identifying the
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Rebecca G. Asch – curriculum vitae
spawning habitat of small, pelagic fishes. Ocean Sciences Meeting, February 22-26,
2010, Portland, OR.
28. Asch, R.G. and D.M. Checkley, Jr. 2008. Identification of sardine spawning habitat in the
Southern California Bight using dynamic height measurements. California Cooperative
Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) Conference, November 17-19, 2008, La
Jolla, CA.
29. Asch, R.G. 2008. Bottom fishing disturbance and microhabitat associations among colonial
epifauna on Georges Bank, Northwest Atlantic. Marine Ecology Seminar Series, Centro
de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), April 4,
2008, Ensenada, Mexico.
30. Checkley, D., A. Dickson, M. Takahashi, A. Radich, N. Eisenkolb, and R. Asch. 2008.
Effects of high CO2 on otolith growth in a marine fish. 2008 Ocean Sciences Meeting,
March 2-7, 2008, Orlando, FL.
31. Asch, R.G. and J.S. Collie. 2006. How does mobile fishing gear affect epifauna? The role of
depth and life history in mediating responses to disturbance. American Fisheries Society
Annual Meeting, September 10-14, 2006, Lake Placid, NY.
32. Asch, R.G., J.S. Collie and P.C. Valentine. 2006. Microhabitat associations among
megabenthos and colonial epifauna on Georges Bank. Benthic Ecology Meeting, March
8-12, 2006, Quebec City, Canada.
33. Asch, R.G., J.S. Collie and P.C. Valentine. 2006. How does mobile fishing gear affect
epifauna? The role of the physical environment and life history characteristics in
mediating responses to disturbance. Southern New England Chapter of the American
Fisheries Society, Winter Meeting, January 18, 2006, Narragansett, RI.
34. Valentine, P.C., J.S. Collie, R.N. Reid, R. Asch, V.G. Guida and D.S. Blackwood. 2005. The
invasive tunicate Didemnum sp. on Georges Bank - ecological observations and
potential effects on groundfish and scallop fisheries. 1st International Invasive Sea Squirt
Conference (IISSC), April 21-22, 2005, Woods Hole, MA.
35. Asch, R.G. 2005. The Georges Bank closed areas: an experiment in ecosystem-based
management. Public lecture sponsored by the Friends of Oceanography, March 3, 2005,
Narragansett, RI.
36. Collie, J.S., R.G. Asch and P.C. Valentine. 2004. Biomass in the bank: reserve effects on
the benthic fauna inside a closed area. Annual Science Conference of the International
Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), September 22-25, 2004, Vigo, Spain.
37. Asch, R.G. 2004. Evaluating the effects of bottom fishing disturbance on the sessile
epifauna of Georges Bank. Fisheries and Marine Ecosystems (FAME) Graduate Student
Conference, April 30-May 2, 2004, Vancouver, Canada.
38. Asch, R.G. and D.D. Turgeon. 2001. Detection of gaps in the spatial coverage of coral reef
monitoring projects in the U.S. Caribbean. 30th Scientific Meeting of the Association of
Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean (AMLC), June 24-29, 2001, La Parguera, Puerto
Rico.
Supervision of Graduate and Undergraduate Research
William Christopher Thaxton, Masters Student, East Carolina University (August 2016Present)
• Thesis title: To be determined
Keo Chan, Princeton Environmental Institute (PEI) Internship, Princeton University (JuneAugust 2016)
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Rebecca G. Asch – curriculum vitae
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Project title: How stable are relationships between fish and ocean climate in the California
Current?
Evan O’Brien, Junior Project and Senior Thesis, Princeton University (September 2014-May
2016). Co-advised by Desiree Tommasi
• Fall semester junior project title: Inverse production of salmon stocks in Alaska and the West
Coast of the United States: An update of Hare et al. (1999)
• Spring semester junior project title: Effects of rising North Pacific sea surface temperatures
on chinook salmon populations via impact on offshore prey sources
• Senior thesis title: A multiple stressor model of climate change effects on growth and
survival of larval Crassostrea gigas
Joanna Sobolewska, Princeton Environmental Institute (PEI) Internship and Senior Thesis,
Princeton University (June 2015-May 2016)
• PEI internship project title: Detecting thresholds in linkages between climate and marine
fishes in the California Current Ecosystem
• Senior thesis project title: Under the sea: Incorporating climate change and bycatch
considerations into fishery management strategy
Alex Dominguez, Princeton Environmental Institute (PEI) Internship, Princeton University
(June-August 2015). Co-advised by Ivy Frenger and Magdalena Carranza
• Project title: Triggering of phytoplankton bloom onset in the Southern Ocean
Shanna Christian, Junior Project, Princeton University (September 2014-January 2015)
• Project title: Interannual variability in zooplankton phenology in subtropical and subpolar
biomes
Michelle-Ann Tan, Princeton Environmental Institute (PEI) Internship, Princeton University
(June-August 2014)
• Project title: Biological and physical controls on chlorophyll concentration in the Southern
Ocean
Dustin Chen, NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program, University of
California San Diego (June-August 2012)
• Project title: Assessing the school trap hypothesis: An analysis of habitat overlap of three
coastal pelagic fish species in the Southern California Current ecosystem
Research Cruises
FSV Bell Shimada, September 2010, Southern California Bight
• The objective of this cruise was to test standard operating protocols aboard a newly
commissioned research vessel. Deployed CTD and collected water samples. Sorted
samples of mesopelagic fishes and invertebrates collected with a mid-water trawl.
R/V New Horizon, July 2010, Monterey Bay
• Deployed CTD, MOCNESS, and SOLO floats with a laser optical plankton counter (LOPC)
to test the hypothesis that zooplankton predation influences the depth distribution of sinking
particles that comprise marine snow.
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Rebecca G. Asch – curriculum vitae
R/V New Horizon, August 2008, Southern California Bight
• Participated in a quarterly cruise organized by California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries
Investigations (CalCOFI). Deployed CTD and collected water samples. Preserved sizefractionated phytoplankton samples and prepared slides.
NOAA Ship Delaware II, August 2005, November 2004 and October 2003, Georges Bank
NOAA Ship Albatross IV, August 2002, Georges Bank
• Collected and preserved samples of benthic megafauna caught with a Naturalist dredge.
Identified demersal fishes and invertebrates caught with otter and beam trawls. Dissected
fishes and identified stomach contents.
NOAA Ship Ferrel, September 2001, Chesapeake Bay
Small boats, August 2000, San Francisco Bay
Ocean Survey Vessel Peter W. Anderson, August 1999, Gulf of Mexico
• Deployed CTD and collected sediment samples for analysis of pollutants, meiofauna
community composition, and total organic carbon content.
Professional Service and Skills
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Computer proficiency: MS Office, MATLAB, R and SPlus, IDL, PRIMER (Plymouth
Routines in Multivariate Ecology Research), ArcGIS and ArcView, HTML programming,
basic UNIX, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
Languages spoken: English (native speaker), Spanish (near fluent), Portuguese (basic)
Statistics: Extensive experience with parametric statistics (multiple regression, ANOVA,
MANOVA); multivariate, non-parametric statistics (PCA, NMDS, cluster analysis); computer
intensive statistics (bootstrap analysis, permutation testing, Monte Carlo simulation), and
development of statistical models (GLMs, GAMs)
Communications skills: Participant in the following workshops that train scientists how to
best communicate with the press: (1) Workshop organized by the New York Times science
editor held at University of Rhode Island (April 2004); (2) COMPASS science communication
training (August 2016)
Media Coverage
1. Davison and Asch (2011): This study documenting plastic ingestion by mid-water fishes
was covered in 38 media outlets, including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times,
CNN, NPR, and Fox.
2. Asch (2015): This study examining the influence of climate change on shifts in the
seasonal cycle of fish reproduction was reported on by the San Diego Union Tribune,
NPR, and FishSens Magazine.
Reviewed proposals and manuscripts for National Science Foundation; Nature
Communications; PLoS ONE; Journal of Geophysical Research – Oceans; Marine Ecology
Progress Series; Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology; ICES Journal of
Marine Science; Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science; Fisheries Oceanography; Fisheries
Research; and New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research
Academic Service
1. Co-convener of session on the “Future of Marine Fisheries under Climate Change:
Exploring Uncertainties, Future Scenarios, and Multi-Scale Transformative Pathways” at
the 7th World Fisheries Congress in Busan, Korea (May 23-27, 2016)
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Rebecca G. Asch – curriculum vitae
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2. Guest editor of a special issue of Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries that will feature
manuscripts based on climate-related presentations given at the 7th World Fisheries
Congress in Busan, Korea (May 2016-Present)
3. Leadership committee of Princeton Women in GeoSciences (2014-2015)
4. Coordinator of the interdisciplinary student forum organized by the Center for Marine
Biodiversity and Conservation (2009-2011)
5. Student representative to search committee for the marine population dynamics faculty
position at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) (2010)
6. Member of student committee to evaluate instruction in the biological oceanography
curricular group at SIO (2009)
7. Co-coordinator of the ecology seminar series at SIO (2008)
Recent Science Outreach
1. Contributor to the Oceanography, Climate, and Fisheries magazine on
www.flipboard.com (2016). Target audience: General public.
2. PPPL Young Women’s Conference in Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics, Princeton, NJ (2015 and 2016). Target audience: Girls in grades 7-10.
3. New Jersey Ocean Fun Days, Seaside Park, NJ (2015). Target audience: General
public.
4. Developed lesson plans on the ecology of marine fishes that are publicly available
through the California Current Ecosystem Long Term Ecological Research (CCE LTER)
Program. URL: http://cce.lternet.edu/outreach/lesson-plans
5. BE WiSE Science Overnight at the Birch Aquarium, La Jolla, CA (2013). Target
audience: Girls in grades 7-8.
6. Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) Conference, San Diego, CA (2013). Target audience:
Girls in grades 6-8.
Mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students through the MentorNet and Princeton
Women in GeoSciences Programs. Both of these organizations aim to broaden participation
in STEM careers by providing mentors to students from underrepresented groups.
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