Cape Coral’s Rullo-Soletti receives fellowship for marine science research
Florida Sea Grant’s 50-year legacy of protecting coastal communities is built on a foundation of student-led research, and at the heart of this effort is its long-standing partnership with the Guy Harvey Foundation.
The GHF works with local, national, and international organizations to conduct scientific research, fund affiliated researchers and support graduate students at Florida colleges and universities who conduct research aimed at supporting the sustainable management of marine fish.
To support research in this field, the GHF and FSG partnered in 2010 to establish the FSG-Guy Harvey Fellowship, formerly the Guy Harvey Scholarship Award. This program provides each of the selected fellows with $5,000 for their research initiatives and to promote efforts to protect coastal and marine habitats and species. They also have the opportunity to work with the FSG communication team, allowing them to enhance their communication skills and share updates on their work.
Kylee Rullo-Soletti from Cape Coral is one of eight Florida Sea Grant Guy Harvey Fellowship recipients who received the $5,000 research stipend in 2026.
A Ph.D. student at the University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science, Rullo-Soletti specializes in marine resource assessment and her research focuses on the prevalence and bioaccumulation of “forever chemicals” within the Tampa Bay estuary.
By analyzing sediment samples and the tissues of key recreational fish species, including red drum, spotted seatrout and common snook, Rullo-Soletti also looks to understand how these contaminants move through the marine food web. Her work also involves conducting human health risk assessments to determine the potential impacts on local communities that rely on these fisheries.
Rullo-Soletti previously earned her M.S. in marine science from USF, where she used stable isotope analysis of tuna eye lenses to study life history patterns in the Gulf of Mexico. She is also a long-time mentor for the Oceanography Camp for Girls, dedicated to inspiring the next generation of marine scientists.
Since the inception of the FSG-Guy Harvey Fellowship, FSG and the GHF have awarded more than $500,000 in support of scholarships and fellowships for more than 100 students across 12 Florida universities and colleges.
Applications for the next FSG-Guy Harvey Fellowship will be available from June 9 to July 22. Stay updated on eligibility criteria and deadlines at flseagrant.org or reach out to Florida Sea Grant Student Programs Coordinator, Cassandra Sexson, at students@flseagrant.org.