Through the Fenske Fellowship opportunity, I will work closely with Dave Caroffino and Randy Claramunt from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. My project will focus on exploring the uncertainties that surround lake whitefish recruitment and their subsequent management. I will gain “hands on” experience with the collection and analysis of both fishery dependent and independent biological data and be exposed to how such data is used in the management of this species in the Upper Great Lakes. Additionally, I hope that the information I collect during this project will be useful to state and tribal agencies as they manage the region’s most valuable commercial fish species.