Chaya Gaberria

I grew up in Mukilteo, WA, a small ferry town 30 min north of Seattle.

My interest in working with aquatic species, fish in particular, was a major factor in my graduate school search. At first, I didn’t consider programs in eastern Washington because of their distance from the coast. However, after connecting with Dr. Phelps and learning about his work with salmonids, the WSU Animal Sciences program became a strong fit for my interests. I was especially drawn to the program’s emphasis on applying academic knowledge to real-world agricultural challenges, which strongly complements my industry experience in aquaculture and aligns with my career goals after graduation.

I am studying hypoxic response and adaptive phenotypes for hypoxia resilience in Rainbow Trout.

The most rewarding part of joining the AS community has been connecting with professors and students from around the world, learning about their diverse backgrounds, and expanding my knowledge through their varied research focuses.