Fellowship spotlight: Phoebe Koenig

Kelp farming has the potential to boost Alaska’s economy, but inconsistent seed quality is one of the issues holding the industry back. Without high-quality kelp seed, farmers struggle with low and inconsistent yields. Factors such as wild sorus (or seed) availability, contamination, permitting rules, and water quality all contribute to the problem.

To help tackle this, Phoebe Koenig is spending a year as an Alaska Sea Grant State Fellow with the Alaska Mariculture Cluster (AMC), which is managing a $49 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge. Koenig is overseeing a request for project proposals which will allocate approximately $700,000 to selected projects that will improve kelp seed quality and scalability in the state. The initiative seeks to tackle key scientific and logistical uncertainties, including research on the population genetics of kelp. This research has the potential to lead to improvements in permitting regulations, further supporting industry growth.

In addition to addressing kelp seed challenges, Koenig has been analyzing AMC’s overall progress by tracking investments across Alaska’s diverse regions and ensuring statewide benefits. Her work supports an industry vision of mariculture that enhances Alaska’s economy and prioritizes sustainability and conservation.

Koenig earned a PhD from Cornell University, where she studied acorn ants. Her research focused on a fascinating behavior—social parasitism. One ant species raids another’s nest, steals its brood, and exploits them for labor. Phoebe studied how the hosts defend themselves from these raids.

“I applied for the Alaska Sea Grant State Fellowship because I worked seasonally in Alaska as a teenager and have always had a dream to move back,” said Koenig. “I wanted the opportunity to try something new for a year, and apply the skills I’ve gained through my education and work experiences in a different context.” While the request for project proposals that Koenig is working on has closed, mariculture farmers and researchers are encouraged to apply for future project funding opportunities from AMC.