Ladd Macaulay Memorial Fellowship

Ladd Macaulay Memorial Fellowship

Overview: Established in 2014 to honor Ladd Macaulay's long-standing support of graduate studies in fisheries. The fellowship is funded through an endowment with the University of Alaska Foundation to support graduate students pursuing advanced research in fisheries at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Award Details:

Institution: University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences in Juneau (CFOS-Lena Point)

Degree Level: Master of Science (MSc) in Fisheries

Eligible Expenses: Tuition, research, stipend, insurance, supplies, and any other cost directly associated with the student's thesis

Award Amount: Determined by fellowship endowment earnings (varies year to year)

Purpose and Goals:

Support research for the enhancement and management of sustainable salmon fishing in Southeast Alaska

Educate future fisheries professionals at CFOS-Lena Point

Support graduate-level fisheries research addressing priority areas identified by DIPAC and the University

Research Focus Areas:

Enhancement and management of sustainable salmon fishing

Hatchery and wild salmon interaction

Salmon predation and survival

Hatchery management practices

Salmon dispersal and straying behavior

Salmon enhancement consequences and genetics

Selection Process:

The Director of UAF CFOS Fisheries Division works with the DIPAC Scholarship Committee to identify productive research areas

University issues a Request For Proposals (RFP) for graduate student projects

A Review Board is established including representation from:

- CFOS-Lena Point
- DIPAC
- Fisheries management sector (e.g., ADF&G, NMFS)

Review Board reviews proposals and makes recommendations

Director makes final fellowship award determination

Recent Fellowship Recipients:

Casey McConnell (2014-2017): Thesis on straying, stress, and reproductive interactions between hatchery-produced and wild Chum Salmon in Southeast Alaska

Douglas Duncan (2016-2019): Thesis on consumption of hatchery- and wild-born juvenile chum salmon by nearshore marine fishes

Molly Payne (2019-2022): Thesis on predicting stream attractiveness to stray hatchery-origin chum salmon

Mary Commins (2023-Present): Thesis on second-generation consequences of sockeye salmon enhancement in Auke Creek

Background: Ladd Macaulay maintained close relationships with the University of Alaska from DIPAC's inception. He included laboratory research space in the Macaulay Hatchery's initial design. From 1992-2007, twelve graduate students completed thesis research in this lab, with nine going on to public-agency careers in Alaska fisheries conservation and nine publishing results in peer-reviewed literature. DIPAC's in-kind contribution levered approximately $1 million in extramural research funding.

Contact Information:

Email: lmmsc@dipac.net

Douglas Island Pink and Chum, Inc.

2697 Channel Drive, Juneau, AK 99801

Main Office: (907) 463-5114

Administrative Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 7AM-4PM