Matt LaGanke

Education

• B.S., University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2015 

About Matt

Matt LaGanke is a Master’s Student focusing on applied research in shellfish aquaculture. His work centers on improving production, increasing efficiency, and sharing knowledge about the benefits of shellfish farming and the services it provides. As part of his graduate work, he's investigating methods to improve inventory tracking by integrating Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to aid farm management. He's a member of the Commercial Shellfish Aquaculture Lab & Team (C-SALT), one sector of the greater Shellfish Aquaculture Science Initiative (SALT-SI) here at VIMS. 

After receiving his bachelor's degree in marine biology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, he worked as a shellfish biologist for three years, scuba diving in coastal systems up and down the Florida Gulf Coast. Matt's interest in shellfish aquaculture is rooted in his appreciation for: 

• sustainably-sourced seafood
• making a living on the water
• the services shellfish farming provides
• the multifaceted demands of the work
• connecting with farmers that share these views

In his free time, he likes to sit on his kayak with a fishing pole, spend time with friends at a local brewery, and explore new places above and below the waterline.  

Research Experience and Employment

• August 2020 – Dec 2020:  Commercial Diver, Fathom Resources, Middletown, RI
• Aug 2018 – Sep 2019:  Shellfish Biologist – Bay Scallop, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Eastpoint, FL
• Sep 2016 – August 2018:  Shellfish Biologist – Oyster, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Eastpoint, FL
• Sep 2014 – May 2015:  Undergraduate Research Assistant, Benthic Ecology Lab, Center for Marine Science, UNCW