RESEARCH INTERESTS
My research explores the diversity of deep-sea molluscs, their geographical connectivity, and behavioral ecology as a path to understanding both the biological interactions and abiotic pressures of the deep ocean. I work on topics that are not only of scientific interest, but those that can be easily shared with the broader community to inspire an appreciation for the natural world and a desire to keep it thriving.
CURRENT POSITION
Research Associate
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute & Monterey Bay Aquarium
Research Collaborator Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History
Research Collaborator Deep Pelagic Nekton Dynamics of the Gulf of Mexico (DEEPEND) consortium
PREVIOUS POSITIONS
Postdoctoral Fellow
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute & Monterey Bay Aquarium
Advisor: Dr. Bruce Robison, Senior Scientist, Midwater Ecology Lab
Postdoctoral Fellow
Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History
Advisor: Dr. Karen Osborn, Curator of Invertebrate Zoology
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island
Advisor: Dr. Brad Seibel, Professor of Biological Sciences
EDUCATION
2004-2009, Ph. D. in Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA
Deep-sea squid defensive behaviors: ink release, body patterning, and arm autotomy
Major Advisor: Dr. Roy L. Caldwell, Professor of Integrative Biology
Field-site: MBARI/Monterey Bay Submarine Canyon, CA
On-site Advisor: Dr. Bruce Robison, Senior Scientist, MBARI
2002-2003, Three Seas Program, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Intensive marine biology field- and course-work at 3 locations: The Marine Science Center, Nahant, Massachusetts; Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory, Discovery Bay, Jamaica; and Friday Harbor Laboratories, San Juan Island, Washington
1998-2002, B. S. in Biology, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL Magna Cum Laude, May 2002
2000-2001, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Study abroad concentrating on marine biology, animal behavior, and statistics coursework
PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Burridge, A.K., Hörnlein, C., Janssen, A. W., Hughes, M., Bush, S. L., Martétaz, F., Gasca, R., Pierrot-Bults, A. C., Michel, E., Todd, J. A., Young, J.R., Osborn, K. J., Menken, S. B. J., and K.T.C.A. Peijnenburg. In press. Time-calibrated molecular phylogeny of pteropods. PLoSONE.
Hoving, H.J.T., Zeidberg, L.D., Benfield, M.C., Bush, S.L., Robison, B.H., & M. Vecchione. 2013. First in situ observations of the deep-sea squid Grimalditeuthis bonplandi reveal unique use of tentacles. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 280:20131463
Bush, S.L. 2012. Economy of arm autotomy in the mesopelagic squid Octopoteuthis deletron Young 1972. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 458: 133-140.
Bush, S.L., Hoving, H.J.T., Huffard, C.L., Robison, B.R., & L.D. Zeidberg. 2012. Brooding and sperm storage by the deep-sea squid Bathyteuthis berryi (Cephalopoda: Decapodiformes). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 92(7):1629-1636.
Hoving, H.J.T., Bush, S.L., & B.H. Robison. 2012. A shot in the dark: Same-sex sexual behavior in a deep-sea squid. Biology Letters. 8(2): 287-290.
Sherlock, R.E., Reisenbichler, K.R., Bush, S.L., Osborn, K.J., & B.H. Robison. 2010. Near-field zooplankton and ice-face biota of free-drifting Antarctic icebergs. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography. 58: 1457-1468.
Bush, S.L., Robison, B.H., & R.L. Caldwell. 2009. Behaving in the dark: locomotor, chromatic, postural and bioluminescent behaviors of the deep-sea squid Octopoteuthis deletron Young 1972. Biol. Bull. 216:7-22.
Bush, S.L. & B.H. Robison. 2007. Ink utilization by mesopelagic squid. Marine Biology. 152(3):485-494.
LaJeunesse, T.C., Lee, S., Bush, S.L., & J.F. Bruno. 2004. Persistence of non-Caribbean algal symbionts in Indo-Pacific mushroom corals released to Jamaica 35 years ago. Coral Reefs. 24(1):157-159.
Bush, S.L., Precht, W.L., Woodley, J.D., & J.F. Bruno. 2004. Indo-Pacific mushroom corals found on Jamaican reefs. Coral Reefs. 23(2):234.
PUBLICATIONS IN PREPARATION
Bush, S.L., Wirshing, H.W., Robison, B.H. & K.J. Osborn. Population connectivity in an open ocean taxa, the Pteropoda (Mollusca: Gastropoda).
Hoving, H.J.T., Bush, S.L., Haddock, S.H.D. & B.H. Robison. Bathyal feasting: spawned squid as a source of organic carbon for deep-sea benthic communities.
Bush, S.L., Walz, K., Bolstad, K., Lindgren, A., Hoving., H.J.T., Strugnell, J., Allcock, L., & B.H. Robison. Vampyroteuthis infernalis: Two populations, one species
Bush, S.L., Grasse, B., Payne, C., Bitondo, A. & Paul Clarkson. Opisthoteuthis adorabilis sp. nov. (Octopoda: Cirrata: Opisthoteuthidae), a new species of cirrate octopus in the Eastern North Pacific.
Choy, C.A., Bush, S.L., Hoving, H.J.T., Sherlock, R, Reisenbichler, K., and B. H. Robison. Trophic ecology of Japetella diaphana, a circumglobal pelagic octopod
Bush, S. L. & B.A. Seibel. Metabolic strategies of the oxygen minimum zone-associated, vertically migrating squid Pterygioteuthis hoylei
OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT
Pteropods: Swimming Snails of the Sea*
MBARI YouTube video, to be posted the week of Nov 8th, 2015
Naomi’s Nightmares in Nature*
BBC Children’s Show, episode showing that deep-sea animals aren’t as creepy as they seem
Children’s Book on Opisthoteuthis ‘adorabilis’*
Co-author Marisa Polanksy, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group
*forthcoming
You’re not hallucinating. That’s just squid skin
KQED Deep Look video, advisor
Isn’t this octopus adorabilis?
Science Friday video, part of Cephalopod Week 2015
http://www.sciencefriday.com/videos/isnt-this-octopus-adorabilis-2/
Aquarium Exhibit Opens Door for Octopus Naming
NPR KAZU article with audio
http://kazu.org/post/aquarium-exhibit-opens-door-octopus-naming#stream/0
What is a pteropod?
Scientist Is In, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History
The Deep Open Ocean
Congressional Night, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History
Pelagic parenting: A deep-sea squid broods its eggs
MBARI YouTube Video, https://youtu.be/Y6Rd1xVQ-o4
Grimalditeuthis bonplandi: A deep-sea squid with tentacle tips that “swim” on their own
MBARI YouTube video, https://youtu.be/boV-zXhWTAQ
Octopoteuthis deletron attack defense
MBARI YouTube video, https://youtu.be/81KF76ZTEIM
Octopoteuthis deletron arm tips flashing
MBARI YouTube video, https://youtu.be/9DzJDVLcXls
Science Fair Judge, Marshall High School, Falls Church, VA
Author, Dumbo octopus chapter, World Book Encyclopedia
Instructor, Kayaking & Snorkeling, Young Women in Science, Monterey Bay Aquarium, CA
Squid Science: Field Notes from Stephanie Bush, author
University of California Museum of Paleontology http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/science/profiles/bush_0704index.php
Science Fair Judge, The Aptos Academy, Aptos, CA
Workshop Leader, 9th Annual University of California, Santa Cruz Expanding Your Horizons
Conference in Science, Math and Engineering for 9th- 12th grade girls
OUTREACH TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Course Designer and Instructor - Cephalopods: Magicians of the Sea
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, California State University, Monterey Bay, 2015
Course Designer and Instructor - Tropical Islands: How Did Paradise Become…Paradise?
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, California State University, Monterey Bay, 2010
Course Designer and Instructor - Natural History & Human Interactions of Monterey Bay
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, California State University, Monterey Bay, 2009
Course Designer and Instructor - The Deep Sea
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, California State University, Monterey Bay, 2008
OUTREACH VIA PRESS COVERAGE
Re: Opisthoteuthis “adorabilis”
KSBW Monterey, Santa Cruz Sentinel, Discover Magazine, Washington Post, Daily Mail, Mental Floss, Tree Hugger, Business Insider, RT News, etc
Re: A shot in the dark: Same-sex sexual behavior in a deep-sea squid
MBARI press release, NY Times, BBC, Science Mag, The Guardian, Discover Magazine, Live Science, etc.
Re: Economy of autotomy in the mesopelagic squid Octopoteuthis deletron
Science Mag, Discover Magazine, Live Science, University of Rhode Island press release, Huffington Post, MSNBC, Death and Taxes, Wired UK, Daily Mail UK, Laughing Squid, Science Codex, Phys.org, ABA Spain, Kopalnia Wiedzy Poland, etc.
Re: Tentacles: The Astounding Lives of Octopuses, Squids, and Cuttlefishes
Subsea World News, KSBW Monterey, KQED San Francisco, San Jose Mercury News, Monterey Herald, SFGate, Monterey County Weekly, etc.
Re: Diversity of Pteropoda
SmithsonianMag, Huffington Post
INVITED LECTURES AND PRESENTATIONS
Design Your Own Deep-Sea Organism: Adaptations to Cold, Darkness and Pressure
Student Oceanography Club, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, CA 2015
The Importance of Links Between Education and Science
Monterey Bay Aquarium Board of Trustees and Leadership Council 2015
Finding an (octopus) needle in a (deep-sea) haystack
San Jose State University, Department of Biological Sciences 2015
Fostering Links Between MBARI & MBA: Benefits to Scientific Research & Public Outreach
Day of Engineering, Science, and Technology, MBARI Board of Directors 2014
Using integrative taxonomy to reveal hidden biodiversity in the open ocean and deep sea
Stanford University, Hopkins Marine Station, Fall Lecture Series 2014
Squids (and other cephalopods) around Saba
Sea & Learn on Saba, Dutch Caribbean, Caribbean 2014
Tentacles: The Science Behind The Exhibit
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Open House 2014
Deep-sea cephalopods of the Monterey Bay
Staff Enrichment Program, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, CA 2014
Oh What Fun Deep-sea Squids Are!!
Student Oceanography Club, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, CA 2014
The role of arm regeneration in the behavioral ecology of a deep-sea squid
Cephalopods as Models for Tissue Regeneration, Stazione Zoologica, Naples, Italy 2013
Living with the Lights Out
National Museum of Natural History, Natural History Research Experiences interns 2013
Physiology of Deep-Sea Invertebrates: Predicting Responses to Climate Change
National Museum of Natural History, Invertebrate Zoology Lecture Series 2012
A tale of two species: Polarization camouflage and climate change physiology in squids
Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island 2011
Lost limbs and flashing lights: defensive behaviors of deep-sea squids
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island 2010
Behavioral Ecology of Deep-sea Squids
NOAA Ocean Explorer Teacher Enrichment Workshop, San Diego, CA 2010
Squids Will Be Squids
Biology and Geomorphology of Tropical Islands, University of California, Berkeley 2009
Deep sea squid: What are they inking?
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Colloquium, Hartnell College 2009
Hunting and hiding in the dark: Predator-prey interactions in the deep sea
Sea Creatures Rediscovered, Pacific Grove Natural History Museum 2009
How to survive as a squid in the deep sea
NOAA Ocean Explorer Teacher Enrichment Workshop, San Diego, CA 2009
Deep sea research: Understanding animal adaptations
California State University, Channel Islands, Resource Management Course 2008
Arm autotomy in a mesopelagic squid
Micheli Lab, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University 2008
Deep sea research and squid defenses
UC Berkeley Lawrence Hall of Science, MARE Summer Leadership Institute 2008
Animal adaptations to the deep sea
Camp SEA Lab 2007
CONFERENCE AND SYMPOSIUM TALKS
Behavioral ecology, reproductive biology, and public display of an undescribed cirrate octopus 2015
Cephalopod International Advisory Council
Deep-sea squid covert activities… 2009
TONMOCON III
Defensive behavior of a deep-sea squid
American Society of Limnology & Oceanography Conference 2007
Posing in the dark: Behavioral components of the deep-sea squid Octopoteuthis deletron
World Congress of Malacology 2007
Autotomy as a deep-sea squid defense
Society of Integrative & Comparative Biology Conference 2007
Ink release by deep-sea squid
11th International Deep-sea Biology Symposium 2006
Why do deep-sea squids release ink in the dark?
American Malacological Society Conference 2006
How does a midwater squid avoid becoming a sperm whale (or ROV) meal?
MBARI Summer Intern Symposium 2006
A day in the life of a squid
Bermuda Biological Station for Research Scientific Photography Course Symposium 2004
It’s pitch-black down here: Why are the squids still inking?
MBARI Summer Intern Symposium 2003
POSTERS
Bush, S. L., & B. A. Seibel. Measuring the anaerobic response of the deep-sea mysid
Gnathophausia ingens to low oxygen: Implications for oxygen minimum zone expansion.
5th International Zooplankton Production Symposium. Pucon, Chile 2011
Kaufmann, R. S., Garcia, D. N., Robison, B. R., Sherlock, R. E., Reisenbichler, K. R., Bush, S.
L., Smith, K. L. Jr., Osborn, K. J., & M. S. Lowery. Effects of Free-Drifting Icebergs on the Abundance and Composition of Macrozooplankton and Micronekton Communities in the Southern Ocean.
ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Portland, OR 2010
Robison, B. H., Sherlock, R. E., Reisenbichler, K. R. & S. L. Bush. In situ studies of the dark ocean: deep pelagic biology and ecology.
ASLO, Aquatice Sciences Meeting, Nice, France 2009
UNIVERSITY TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Graduate Student Instructor - Biology & Geomorphology of Tropical Islands, UC Berkeley 2009
Graduate Student Instructor - Invertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley 2006
Graduate Student Instructor - Animal Biology: A Behavioral View, UC Berkeley 2005
Graduate Student Instructor - General Biology, UC Berkeley 2004, 2005
Teaching Assistant - Oceanography, Three Seas Program, Northeastern University 2004
Teaching Assistant - Marine Conservation Biology, Three Seas Program, NEU 2004
Lab Instructor/TA - Marine Biology for Non-Science Majors, Harvard University 2003
UNDERGRADUATE MENTORING
Haley Oleynik – Imaging and Documentation of Pteropod Molluscs at the SI-NMNH 2013
FELLOWSHIPS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND HONORS
UNOLS Chief Scientist Training Course & Cruise 2012
National Science Foundation, Graduate Research Fellowship 2006-2009
Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor, UC Berkeley 2007
UC Museum of Paleontology Remington-Kellogg Grant 2008
Robert and Nancy Beim Field Research Fellowship 2008
Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology, Student Support 2007
Graduate Research Funds, UC Berkeley 2007, 2008, 2009
Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research 2006
Julius Thomas Hansen Travel Fellowship, UC Berkeley 2006
Graduate Student Summer Fellowship, UC Berkeley 2006, 2007, 2008
Ralph I. Smith Grant for Marine Research, UC Berkeley 2005
Bermuda Biological Station for Research, Course Scholarship 2005
Phi Beta Kappa, National Honor Society inducted 2002
Beta Beta Beta, Biology Honors Society inducted 2002
Dean’s List, Illinois Wesleyan University 1998-2000, 2001-2002
Golden Key International Honor Society nominated 2001
Presidential Scholarship, Illinois Wesleyan University 1998-2002
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND DEVELOPMENT
Reviewer: Polar Biology, Biology Letters, The Biological Bulletin, Marine Biology, Marine Biology Research, Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Oregon Sea Grant
Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE)/Ocean Systems and New England Ocean Science Education Collaborative (NEOSEC)
“Strategies for Engaging in Broader Impact Programs” Workshop
Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE) - GEARS Workshop
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES AND ORGANIZATIONS
American Academy of Underwater Sciences - Scientific Diver American Malacological Society
American Society of Limnology and Oceanography
Animal Behavior Society
Sigma Xi, Associate Member
Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
RESEARCH AND FIELD EXPERIENCE
2012 – present Researcher, species delineations and population connectivity in pteropod molluscs Collaborator: Dr. Karen Osborn, SI-NMNH
2004 – present Researcher, deep-sea cephalopod ecology. Collaborator: Dr. Bruce Robison, MBARI
2010 – 2012 Researcher, climate change physiology in deep-sea animals associated with oxygen minimum layers (OMLs) Collaborator: Dr. Brad Seibel, Univ. Rhode Island
2010 – 2012 Researcher, polarization camouflage in cephalopods, part of an Office of Naval
Research MURI grant. PI: Molly Cummings, Univ. Texas, Austin
2007-2009 Researcher, liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy of cephalopod ink.
Collaborator: Dr. Ulla Anderson, University of California, Berkeley
2006 Researcher, animal camouflage. Sulawesi, Papua, and Ambon, Indonesia.
2006 Assistant intern coordinator and researcher, deep-sea squid arm autotomy. Advisor: Dr.
George Matsumoto, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.
2005 Researcher, stomatopod reaction to squid ink. Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, Coconut Island.
2003 Intern, deep-sea squid ink release. Advisor: Dr. Bruce Robison, Monterey Bay Aquarium
Research Institute.
2003 Researcher, courtship behavior in the Caribbean Reef Squid. Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles.
Collaborator: Dr. Jennifer Mather, University of Lethbridge.
2003 Researcher, heat shock response in anemones. Independent study, Three Seas Program.
Advisor: Dr. Michael Lesser, University of New Hampshire.
2003 Researcher, heterotrophy in corals. Discovery Bay, Jamaica. Independent study, Three Seas
Program. Advisor: Dr. Pete Edmunds, California State University, Northridge.
2002 Researcher, primary productivity. Friday Harbor Laboratories, WA. Independent study, Three Seas Program. Advisor: Dr. Jan Newton, University of Washington.
2002 Researcher, bryozoan natural products. Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth Balser, Illinois Wesleyan
University.
2001 Researcher, coral colonization. Orpheus Island Research Station, James Cook University, Australia. Advisor: Dr. Bette Willis, James Cook University.
2001 Research assistant. Orpheus Island Research Station, James Cook University, Australia.
RESEARCH CRUISES: CHIEF SCIENTIST
R/V Pt. Lobos, Monterey Bay 2008 (1 cruise)
R/V Western Flyer, Monterey Bay 2013 (2 cruises)
R/V Rachel Carson, Monterey Bay 2013 – present (17 cruises)
RESEARCH CRUISES: PARTICIPANT
R/V Atlantis, dive to 1444m in DSV Alvin 2016
R/V Rachel Carson, Monterey Bay 2013 – present (3 cruises)
R/V Pt. Lobos, Monterey Bay 2003-2010 (64 cruises)
R/V Western Flyer, Monterey Bay; Oregon; Gulf of California 2003-present (18 cruises)
R/V Nathaniel B. Palmer, Antarctica 2008, 2009
R/V Derek M. Bayliss, Monterey Bay 2006
R/V New Horizon, Gulf of California 2006, 2010, 2011
R/V Pt. Sur, Monterey Bay 2008
R/V Endeavor, Northwest Atlantic 2011
R/V Kilo Moana, Hawai’i 2012
FSV Pisces, Northwest Atlantic 2012
R/V New Horizon, Santa Barbara Basin 2012
RESEARCH CRUISE BLOG POSTS IN WHICH I’M INCLUDED
Midwater Ecology Expedition: Studying Pteropods 2014
http://www.mbari.org/expeditions/Midwater2014-Fall/index.htm
Midwater Ecology Expedition: Patience and the Money Shot 2013*
http://www.mbari.org/expeditions/Midwater2013/logbook/day7.htm
Midwater Ecology Expedition: Stayin’ Alive! 2013
http://www.mbari.org/expeditions/Midwater2013-Fall/logbook/day6.htm
Gulf of California Expedition: Finding Squid on Cerralvo Bank 2012
http://www.mbari.org/expeditions/GOC12/legs/leg2/logbookL2/day1.html
Gulf of California Expedition: Over Already? 2012
http://www.mbari.org/expeditions/GOC12/legs/leg2/logbookL2/day10.html
Pacific Northwest Expedition: Setting Sail 2009
http://www.mbari.org/expeditions/Northern09/L2/july25.htm
Pacific Northwest Expedition: Our First Dive 2009*
http://www.mbari.org/expeditions/Northern09/L2/july26.htm
Pacific Northwest Expedition: Astoria Canyon 2009
http://www.mbari.org/expeditions/Northern09/L2/july28.htm
Antarctic Expedition Crew: Research Team 2009
http://www.mbari.org/expeditions/Antarctic09/crew.htm#bush
Antarctic Expedition Logbook: A Last Chance for Samples 2009
http://www.mbari.org/expeditions/Antarctic09/LogbookDays/a2.htm
Antarctic Expedition Shiplife: Staying Hydated in the Polar Desert 2009
http://www.mbari.org/expeditions/Antarctic09/ShiplifeDays/s21.htm
Antarctic Expedition Shiplife: A Little Good Luck Out Way 2009
http://www.mbari.org/expeditions/Antarctic09/ShiplifeDays/s8.htm
*authored post
TREE OF LIFE WEBPAGES COAUTHORED: DEEP SEA SQUIDS
Leachia danae http://tolweb.org/Leachia_danae/19587
Planctoteuthis danae http://tolweb.org/Planctoteuthis_danae/19492
Galiteuthis pacifica http://tolweb.org/Galiteuthis_pacifica/19573
PUBLISHED PHOTOGRAPHS OF ORGANISMS
Deep-sea squid H. heteropsis – UC Berkeley, Dept. of Integrative Biology, newsletter cover Deep-sea squid G. phyllura – UC Berkeley, Dept. of Integrative Biology, research pamphlet Antarctic krill – ICEBERG II/Exploratorium Picture of the Day
Squat lobster larva– MBARI Board Meeting Proceedings, cover
Caribbean Reef Squid, Sepioteuthis sepioidea – Byrne et al. 2010, Ferrantia