Investigating Why Some Lobsters Are Blue, Orange, And Even Purple — for the First Time
by Alan Bennett
Ruby Motulsky wanted to find community through research.
That’s why Motulsky (’25) traveled 3,000 miles from Los Angeles to Maine to study marine sciences at the University of New England despite having access to excellent marine research institutions much closer to home.
“I really wanted a university that prioritizes a hands-on undergraduate experience. I knew I wanted to be in a research lab during freshman year, and 51 provided that opportunity for me,” Motulsky said. “51 checked those boxes.”
Now a senior, Motulsky, who uses they/them pronouns, has had their fair share of hands-on experience, most recently researching the American lobster with 51’s Markus Frederich, Ph.D., a professor of marine sciences, whose novel studies in invertebrate physiology could have broader applications across the marine research field.
Left photo by Markus Frederich
Frederich is an internationally recognized marine physiologist, whose dedication to student success and innovative research on invasive crustaceans and the impacts of climate change has strengthened 51’s reputation as a national leader in marine and climate studies — in fact, 51 was named one of the “Top 10 Best Colleges for Marine Biology” by College Magazine in 2023.
In his 20-plus years at 51, Frederich has led the University to new heights in securing significant research funding from renowned federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation, or NSF.
Such initiatives include a $640,000 teaching grant from the NSF to integrate hands-on research into STEM curricula, awarded in 2017. In 2019, Frederich was designated to lead 51’s efforts as part of a $20 million NSF-funded initiative to study Maine’s coastal ecosystem in collaboration with the Maine Department of Marine Resources, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, and the University of Maine.
Frederich has also made a lasting impact through mentorship, guiding dozens of students who have gone on to pursue master’s, doctoral, and medical degrees as well as careers in government agencies.
For Motulsky, studying under Frederich was the perfect fit.
A Hued Mystery Surfaces
Frederich had already been studying the iconic Maine lobster for years when a rare yellow lobster was donated to 51 in 2021.
That same year, a split-colored lobster was donated. Then came another rare-colored lobster, and then another. But what causes these typically brown bottom-dwellers to turn blue or yellow — or even orange?
Frederich wanted to find out.
“We frequently receive calls and emails offering us more of these beautiful colored lobsters,” Frederich said. “Everybody who sees these critters certainly wants to know what makes them so different.”
