- About
- With 500+ faculty, staff and students and three campus locations, the Batten School & VIMS are equipped to tackle pressing challenges through research, education and advisory service.
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- Research & Advisory
- Purple marsh crabs are significantly disrupting carbon cycling in salt marshes along the East Coast of the U.S., according to a study led by Batten School & VIMS scientists.
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- Batten School
- The R. Todd Stravitz Scholars Program will provide full tuition support for students pursuing the new bachelor’s degree in coastal & marine sciences at the Batten School & VIMS.
  
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- Engage
- Popular, free camps enable rising third through eighth graders to learn about the Chesapeake Bay, coastal ecosystems and environmental stewardship.
  
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- News & Events
- National TRAP Program funds large-scale cleanup of discarded fishing gear, first round of subawards totaling more than $1.4M supports 11 projects focused on removing derelict fishing gear from coastal waters in nine U.S. states and Palau.
  
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- Giving
- As an expression of parental pride in their daughter, Taylor Spencer ‘83 and Martha Spencer recently established an undergraduate field research endowment at the Batten School & VIMS.
  
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Leslie Speight Youtsey

Ph.D. Student

Email: lgspeight@vims.edu
Phone: (804) 684-7605
Office: CBH N205
Advisors: Jan McDowell and Kim Reece
Interests: Genetics, Genomics, Bioinformatics, Transcriptomics, Aquaculture, Shellfish, Clams, Bay Scallops

Education

B.S., Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Iowa, 2020
M.S., Marine Science, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, W&M, 2023

Research Interests

My current research focuses on understanding how the genetic diversity of the restored Virginia bay scallop population has changed overtime and what genetic group may be best for aquaculture practices in Virginia.

CV

Leslie Speight Youtsey CV