Erika Tam

Erika Tam grew up in Anaheim, California. She began her undergraduate studies pursuing a double major in Biology and English at William Penn University before returning to the West Coast, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Oceanography from Cal Poly Maritime (formerly California State University Maritime Academy). Her experience includes oceanographic data analysis, marine field research, and geospatial modeling using MATLAB and GEBCO datasets. Erika is passionate about applying oceanographic data and technology to better understand and support coastal and marine ecosystems, with interests in sustainable aquaculture, environmental monitoring, and coastal resource management. She is excited to continue her academic journey through Rutgers’ M.S. in Operational Oceanography, where she hopes to develop interdisciplinary research skills and contribute to science that informs resilient and sustainable coastal communities. Outside of academics, she enjoys SCUBA diving, fishing, reading, and staying active through fitness.