Kylee Rullo-Soletti, a doctoral student in the USF College of Marine Science, has been awarded a Florida Sea Grant Guy Harvey Fellowship for her research on “forever chemicals” in the Tampa Bay estuary. She is one of eight recipients of the $5,000 fellowship provided by the Guy Harvey Foundation and Florida Sea Grant to support research initiatives and efforts to protect coastal and marine habitats and species.
Rullo-Soletti is studying how contaminants move through the marine food web by analyzing sediment samples and the tissues of key recreational fish species such as Red Drum, Spotted Seatrout, and Common Snook. She is also conducting human health risk assessments to understand the potential impacts on local communities that rely on these fisheries. Rullo-Soletti previously earned her M.S. in Marine Science from USF, where she researched life history patterns in the Gulf of Mexico using stable isotope analysis of tuna eye lenses. Additionally, she is a mentor for the Oceanography Camp for Girls, which aims to inspire the next generation of marine scientists.
Florida Sea Grant has a 50-year legacy of protecting coastal communities through student-led research. The organization partners with the Guy Harvey Foundation to conduct scientific research, fund affiliated researchers, and support graduate students at Florida colleges and universities who are studying marine fish management. Together, they are celebrating a significant milestone this year, having invested in students and the future of Florida’s marine fisheries.
Since the establishment of the FSG-Guy Harvey Fellowship, FSG and GHF have awarded over $500,000 in scholarships and fellowships to more than 100 students across 12 Florida universities and colleges. Dr. Sherry Larkin, Director of Florida Sea Grant, emphasizes the enduring strength of their partnership with the Guy Harvey Foundation and the importance of empowering young scientists to tackle challenges facing marine ecosystems and coastal economies. Each fellow not only receives financial support but also a certificate personally designed and signed by Dr. Guy Harvey.
Dr. Guy Harvey expressed pride in the tradition of supporting student research in collaboration with Florida Sea Grant, highlighting the program’s impact on marine ecosystem knowledge, student achievements, and public awareness of vital research efforts.
