2025-2026 MW CASC Graduate Student
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Laurel Sacco is a PhD student in the Conservation Sciences program at the University of Minnesota. Originally from rural Maine, she has lived and worked across the U.S. and Canada, gaining diverse experiences in fisheries management and conservation. She earned her BSc in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Maine and her MSc in Biology from the University of Saskatchewan.
At the University of Minnesota, her PhD focuses on applied fish health research. She is contributing to several projects: developing field-based molecular tools for the rapid detection of invasive microbes, creating a web-based application to support best management practices for disease prevention in aquaculture, and investigating the thermal tolerances of Minnesota walleye strains to inform the long-term management of this species as aquatic environments warm.
Beyond her research, Laurel is passionate about science education and communication and aims to integrate outreach and teaching into her career. Outside of academia, she enjoys reading and exploring the outdoors through hiking, canoeing, and gardening.
Research Topic: Are All Walleye Created Equal? Probably Not.