Meet the Stock Assessment Scientists

The Division of Marine Fisheries’ Stock Assessment Program staff work hard to compile and evaluate data and apply state-of-the-art modeling techniques to assess the state’s important commercial and recreational fisheries species. In addition to state stock assessments, the staff participate in regional and coast-wide stock assessments through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and federal councils. All division Stock Assessment Program staff are active members of the American Fisheries Society, are published and present regularly at scientific conferences. The staff of the Stock Assessment Program bring a wealth of educational and professional experience to the division.

Laura Lee is the Senior Stock Assessment Scientist and started with the division in 2011. Originally from Pennsylvania, she received her B.S. in biological oceanography from Millersville University in 1997, and her M.S. in fisheries and wildlife sciences from North Carolina State University in 2005. Prior to coming to the division, Laura worked with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (contracted to the Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife) for seven years, followed by three years with the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. She is a member of the American Fisheries Society, including the Fisheries Information and Technology Section, Marine Fisheries Section, Southern Division, and Tidewater Chapter member and newsletter editor. She enjoys spending time with her dogs and cats and enjoys reading, traveling, painting and photography.

Yan Li holds a B.S. in Biology (2005) and an M.S. in hydrobiology and conservation biology (2008) from Shanghai Ocean University in China. She also holds an M.S. in fish and wildlife conservation (2010) and an M.S. in statistics (2013) from Virginia Tech. Yan obtained her Ph.D. in fish and wildlife conservation at Virginia Tech with Dr. Yan Jiao in May 2014. Yan worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California at Davis with Dr. Laura Rogers-Bennett (2014-2015) and at Pennsylvania State University with Dr. Tyler Wagner (2015-2017). She joined the division in June 2017 as a stock assessment scientist. Yan has been working on statistical analysis of fisheries related data, modeling of population dynamics, fishery stock assessments, ecological risk assessments and natural resources management since 2008. As of 2018, Yan has 13 fishery-related publications in scientific journals and has served as a reviewer for seven scientific journals worldwide. Yan enjoys hiking and reading in her spare time, and every precious minute with her family.

Amy Flowers holds a B.S. in marine biology (2008) and a minor in oceanography from Hawaii Pacific University, as well as an M.S. in natural resources (2017) from Delaware State University, with a specialization in highly migratory and anadromous fishes. In between finishing her undergraduate and master’s degree, Amy worked as a research associate for NOAA Hawaii where she participated in fisheries research cruises and spent about 150 days at sea, sailed through more than 40-foot seas, and crossed the equator, thus securing her shellback status. Amy joined the division in July 2014 as the Multi-Species Tagging Program coordinator. In August 2015, Amy was promoted to a permanent position in the Habitat Enhancement Section as the artificial reef biologist, where she designed a reef monitoring program and two new state artificial reefs. In 2017, she joined the Fisheries Management section as a stock assessment scientist, where she works on statistical modeling of population dynamics, fisheries stock assessments, fish tagging models and more. In her free time, Amy enjoys fishing, boating, traveling, reading, playing sports and spending time with her family.