Before applying to be part of ASLO’s “Limnology and Oceanography Research Exchange (LOREX)” in 2019, I already realized that international travel requires much planning and flexibility. This exchange would bring together researchers from Miami University (Ohio) and the University of Montréal (UdeM), and I communicated with my collaborators via email to plan and ensure the project would be successful as part of my dissertation. In February of 2020, I attended the Ocean Science Meeting to meet other participants and receive training helpful for international collaborations. Just a few weeks later, I started to learn that successful international collaborations require infinitely more planning and flexibility during a global pandemic.  In the summer of 2022, I was finally able to travel to UdeM’s field station to conduct my research exploring the impact of parasites on nutrient excretion by fish in a warming world. The collaboration brought together researchers with different expertise allowing for a project that would not otherwise be feasible. Additionally, this project pushed me outside my comfort zone as I selected my weekly meals in French, acquired tons of blackfly bites, and worked to share living organisms with other graduate student researchers. Ultimately, my LOREX was advantageous as it allowed me to experience planning and executing a collaborative project, build relationships with other scientists, and expand my knowledge. 

Primary Presenter: Carrie Sharitt, Miami University, OH (sharitca@miamioh.edu)

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