Laura Picariello named director of Texas Sea Grant College Program at Texas A&M
Appointment strengthens Texas Sea Grant’s work connecting applied research with responsive extension to support Texas coastal communities.
The Division of Research at Texas A&M University has appointed Laura Picariello as 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.
“Laura’s leadership embodies the very best of Texas A&M’s sea-grant mission, uniting rigorous research, collaborative extension and community partnership to solve real-world challenges,” said Dr. Costas Georghiades, Texas A&M’s interim vice president for research. “Her appointment ensures that Texas Sea Grant will continue forging strong partnerships, supporting applied science and creating practical solutions that benefit the entire Texas coast.”
Since joining Texas Sea Grant, Picariello has held leadership roles spanning fisheries research, sustainable aquaculture and extension, overseeing major applied research projects and strengthening partnerships with industry and coastal communities. Among her accomplishments, she helped Prestige Oysters Inc. become the first private oyster fishery in the Americas to achieve Marine Stewardship Council certification, and championed the Better BRDs Project, a Gulf-wide effort with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Louisiana Sea Grant to improve bycatch reduction in the shrimp industry.
Earlier this year, Picariello guided Texas Sea Grant through a successful federal site review. The team noted particularly strong performance in sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, an area where she has spent much of her career, supporting a smooth transition into her new role as director.
“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.”
Under Picariello’s leadership, Texas Sea Grant will continue focusing on priorities that directly serve Texas communities and coastal industries, including research on contaminants of emerging concern, coastal flood planning and innovative oyster mariculture partnerships. She also plans to expand workforce development opportunities through the Community Engaged Internship, providing students and emerging professionals with hands-on experience in coastal research and community engagement.
“Laura 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.”
Historically funded through the NOAA (which includes the National Sea Grant College Program), state appropriations and collaborative grants, Texas Sea Grant is now expanding efforts to diversify support through partnerships with industry, philanthropic donors and community organizations, enhancing long-term capacity to serve Texas coastal communities.
