Division of Research at Texas A&M University Names Laura Picariello as Director of Texas Sea Grant

Laura Picariello with partner and owner of Prestige Oysters Inc.

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas (Nov. 20, 2025) — The Division of Research at Texas A&M University has appointed Dr. Laura Picariello as the new director of the Texas Sea Grant College Program, effective Oct. 1, 2025. Picariello previously served as interim director and has been with Texas Sea Grant since 2018, advancing coastal resilience, fisheries innovation and community-driven science across the state.

Picariello joined Texas Sea Grant in 2018 and has served in a series of leadership roles, including fisheries specialist, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture program manager, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture program director and co-extension lead, and interim director. She has overseen major applied research initiatives, supported partnerships with industry and coastal communities, and advanced Sea Grant’s mission to deliver science that supports the people of Texas.

Notably, Picariello’s use of best-available science and collaboration with resource managers and Prestige Oyster’s Inc. helped the company become the first private oyster fishery in the Americas to achieve Marine Stewardship Council sustainability certification, demonstrating her commitment to sustainable fisheries. She also played a key role in the Better BRDs Project, a partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Louisiana Sea Grant and industry in a cross-Gulf effort to improve bycatch, or nontarget catch, reduction in the Gulf shrimp industry, reflecting her dedication to practical solutions that support both coastal ecosystems and community livelihoods.

Earlier this year, Picariello guided Texas Sea Grant through a successful federal site review to recertify the program and ensure its continued service to coastal communities statewide. The review team offered especially strong praise for the program’s work in sustainable fisheries and aquaculture — a focus area where Picariello has spent much of her career. Her long-standing leadership in this field was evident throughout the process and has contributed to a smooth, well-aligned transition into her new role as director.

“Picariello has already been doing the hard work of directing Texas Sea Grant: strengthening collaborations, overseeing applied research and ensuring our extension specialists deliver science where it matters most,” said Dr. Brendan Roark, associate vice president for research, Centers and Institutes. “Naming her director provides continuity at a moment when the program is poised to expand efforts in areas such as emerging contaminants, coastal flood planning and workforce development. She is ready to lead, and the program is stronger for it.”

Under Picariello’s leadership, Texas Sea Grant will respond directly to the priorities of Texas communities and coastal industries through research and extension programs. The program is planning to expand its work in emerging issues along the Texas coast, including but not limited to:

• Contaminants of emerging concern in coastal environments and seafood
• Coastal inundation and flooding planning through research and community support
• Oyster mariculture innovation through new research and extension partnerships

“I’m deeply honored to lead the Texas Sea Grant team,” Picariello said. “Our mission is clear: to help Texas communities navigate their most pressing coastal challenges by connecting integrated research with responsive extension. Supporting relevant applied research and ensuring our extension specialists bring that science into meaningful community engagement is more important than ever. This approach strengthens long-term relationships across the coast and helps us deliver solutions that directly benefit Texans and our coastal environments, especially as we face increasing coastal hazards, emerging industries, population growth and other evolving concerns.”

Picariello also plans to grow workforce development opportunities that connect students, young professionals and community members to real-world learning experiences beyond the classroom. Programs like the Community Engaged Internship will remain a cornerstone of Texas Sea Grant’s mission, helping prepare a skilled and competitive coastal workforce while supporting community priorities.

Historically, Texas Sea Grant has been supported primarily through federal funding from the NOAA (which includes the National Sea Grant College Program), state appropriations and collaborative partnership grants. Recognizing the importance of sustaining and expanding our programs, the organization is now prioritizing engagement with industry partners, philanthropic donors and community organizations to diversify funding and expand Texas Sea Grant’s capacity to address coastal needs. Through these strategic partnerships, Texas Sea Grant will leverage additional support for coastal research, extension and education, enhancing long-term program capacity to serve Texas communities while continuing to deliver on its federally funded mission.

ABOUT TEXAS SEA GRANT

Texas Sea Grant is a unique partnership that unites the resources of the federal government, the State of Texas, universities and communities across the state to create knowledge, tools, products and services that benefit the economy, the environment and the citizens of Texas. It is administered through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and is one of 34 university-based Sea Grant Programs across the nation. Texas Sea Grant is a non-academic research and extension center at Texas A&M University. The program’s mission is to improve the understanding, wise use and stewardship of Texas coastal and marine resources.