Sean Boisvert

• Developed a MATLAB-based particle tracking model to evaluate size selectivity in a novel modified scallop dredge aimed at minimizing the capture of undersized Atlantic sea scallops
• Utilizing a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model from NASA's FUN3D solver, the project analyzed how variations in the dredge's cutting bar angle influence scallop trajectories
• By simulating different dredge settings the research provided insights to optimize dredge designs for enhanced selectivity, contributing to sustainability initiatives within the commercial fishing industry
• Preliminary results have been presented at the American Fisheries Society (AFS) and the National Shellfisheries Association (NSA) conferences, in 2024
• Current work on the project will be published as my thesis.

Collaborative Project with Umass Dartmouth and Monmouth University (supported by the Moore Foundation Grant)

Work contributed to research on hydrodynamic indicators of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) model along the Northeast Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (NESLME). Primary responsibilities included:

• Downloading, processing, and interpolating large datasets from native to common grids to support modeling of species distributions along the Atlantic coast
• Managed over 20 years of ADCIRC tidal harmonics data to reconstruct depth-averaged tidal velocities, processed wave data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to compute bottom orbital velocities, and utilized environmental datasets from DOPPIO and GLORYS to derive a wide array of essential environmental predictors
• Technical skills encompass advanced data handling capabilities in MATLAB and Python, enabling effective management and analysis of extensive datasets.

• Deploy on 30' - 100' fishing vessels for multi-day commercial fishing trips to record detailed information on the gear and fishing activity of the vessels
• Data is collected on fish catch, discard, biological samples (length frequency, otoliths, scales, and whole samples), protected species information, and incidental takes such as marine mammals, seabirds, and marine turtles
• The database documents stock information and provides various end users with accurate information to protect the environment and preserve future generations of fish/fishermen
• Cross-certified in the Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (NEFOP) and At-sea Monitor (ASM) program.

• Video and image analysis of the biomechanics of jellyfish (E
• Indicans)
• The purpose of the research project was to formulate predictor values and understand the movement mechanics of the species for application in robotics
• Work included analysis of the turning frequencies and asymmetric patterns between the inside and outside bell margins in reference to the centroid of the animal.