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Photograph of Chelsea Koch

Chelsea Koch Assistant Professor Environmental Science

Degrees
B.S. Environmental Science, University of Mary Washington
M.S. Marine Science, University of South Carolina
Ph.D. Marine, Estuarine and Environmental Science, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science

Bio
I am a marine scientist with a focus on Arctic ecosystems. My research involves the measurement of biomarkers, stable isotopes, and contaminants to understand how climate change and pollution are impacting the marine food web, with a particular interest in subsistence or wild foods for Arctic Indigenous communities. Working alongside communities to co-produce knowledge and promote equitable research is a central focus of my work.
See Also
Research Website
For the Media
To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.

Teaching

Summer 2024

  • ENVS-312 Oceanography

Fall 2024

  • ENVS-160 Biodiversity and Ecosystems

  • ENVS-160 Biodiversity and Ecosystems

Spring 2025

  • ENVS-310 Environmental Methods

  • ENVS-496 Selected Topics:Non-Recurring: Arctic Climate Change

Scholarly, Creative & Professional Activities

Selected Publications

  • Chelsea W Koch, Sarah Sonsthagen, Lee W Cooper, Jacqueline M Grebmeier, Ann Riddle-Berntsen and Robert S Cornman, Prevalence of pelagic diatoms and harmful algae in tellinid bivalve diets during record low sea ice in the Pacific Arctic determined by DNA metabarcoding, Frontiers in Marine Science (in press).
  • Apassingok, M., Holland, M.M., Kelly, B.P., Koch, C.W., Metcalf, V., Rookok Jr., B. & Walsh, J. (2024) How does the changing marine environment affect hunters’ access to Pacific walruses? Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research. 56 (1), 2367632. doi:10.1080/15230430.2024.2367632.
  • Koch, C.W., Brown T.A., Amiraux R., Ruiz-Gonzalez C., Maccorquodale M., Yunda-Guarin G.A., Kohlbach D., Loseto L.L., Rosenberg B., Hussey N.E., Ferguson S.H., Yurkowski D.J., Year-round utilization of sea ice-associated carbon in Arctic ecosystems, Nature Communications 14, 1964 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-37612-8
  • O. Ahkinga, E. Alexander , M. D. Apassingok , B. Baker , M. Baker , M. Berman , M. Blair, E. Bloom, N. J. Burns, A. E. Copenhaver, E. Q. Cravalho , J. Donatuto , K. Dunton, S. V. Fletcher, E. Froehlich, J. C. George, C. Harris, M. Heavner, M. Hoffbeck, M. Holland, M. T. Jorgenson, B. P. Kelly, E. Kerttula, G. W. Kling, C. W. Koch, L. Landrum, S. Lange, M. K. Lukin, E. Marino, V. K. Metcalf, C. Nunn, R. Pincus, P. Pungowiyi, M. Robards, J. Q. Schaeffer, A. Shahbazi, A. Shultz, D. T. Turner, J. E. Walsh, F. Wiese, G. Wong, J. Wilson, 2022. Consequences of Rapid Environmental Arctic Change for People. Arctic Report Card 2022, M. L. Druckenmiller, R. L. Thoman, and T. A. Moon, Eds., https://doi.org/10.25923/kgm2-9k50
  • Koch, C.W., Cooper, L.W., Woodland, R.J., Grebmeier, J.M., Frey, K.E., Stimmelmayr, R., Magen C. and Brown, T.A., 2021, Female Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) show greater partitioning of sea ice organic carbon than males: Evidence from ice algae trophic markers. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255686
  • Koch, C.W., 2021, The significance of sea ice algae in the Pacific Arctic determined by highly branched isoprenoid biomarkers. (PhD Dissertation) University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, https://doi.org/10.13016/jtti-zi4e