From studying Atlantic horseshoe crabs to researching fish habitats off the Jersey Shore, Nick O’Connor has made the most of hands-on learning opportunities throughout his time at URI. The marine biology and aquaculture and fisheries science double major from Burlington, Connecticut, has pursued a range of field and research experience that he says is setting him up for success in graduate school and beyond.

In 2024, O’Connor, completed his CELS Summer Research Fellowship with the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, examining the use of atypical spawning sites by Atlantic horseshoe crabs. The experience, he says, helped him build valuable research and field skills—and deepened his passion for marine life.

“I cultivated skills in critically analysing scientific papers, developed research methods, and learned important fieldwork skills such as using a quadrant and transect tape,” he says of the fellowship. “And working with horseshoe crabs strengthened my passion for marine science.”

O’Connor continued expanding his practical experience in 2025 through the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates program. He spent ten weeks at Rutgers University’s Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory in Port Norris, New Jersey—a center dedicated to research, education, and sustainable fisheries. There, he used camera-mounted fish traps to study fish distributions around artificial reefs off the Jersey Shore and contributed to the development of a new survey technique.

O’Connor says the CELS Summer Research Fellowship gave him a strong foundation for his future career as a scientist. Developing his own research project from start to finish, he explains, equipped him with the skills and confidence to succeed in graduate school and beyond.

“Along with the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates experience in my back pocket, I’ve become a more competitive applicant for graduate programs and professional careers alike,” he adds. “These experiences have connected me with a wide range of resources and individuals who have supported me throughout the process of finding a graduate advisor, joining a lab, and succeeding in my future career.”