Ella (Ellie) Rothermel is PDE’s Urban Resilience Manager. Ellie has been assisting with living shorelines research since she first joined the PDE team in 2020. In her current role, she uses her background in ecology to lead new projects in the Delaware Estuary’s urban corridor that will improve habitats and increase resilience in vulnerable communities. Fascinated with water and all things living in it since childhood, Ellie knew she wanted to be a scientist at an early age. She went on to get her Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine Science from the University of Delaware in 2016. After spending a year in Florida getting her feet wet in a more temperate estuarine environment, Ellie moved back north to embark on her Master’s degree research, studying the oceanic migrations of striped bass and Atlantic sturgeon. Ellie joined PDE soon after completing her Master’s degree. Although Ellie loves marine and estuarine environments, her favorite place in the Delaware Watershed is White Clay Creek State Park, near her home in Newark, Delaware. She loves any activity that gets her outside, whether it be running, hiking, biking, or kayaking. Her favorite pastime is ultimate frisbee, which she can be found playing most weekends.