Our 2024 NOAA-Supported Education Program Students Share Insights

This year, the Northeast Fisheries Science Center hosted 18 students from 12 states and 18 different colleges and universities. Project topic areas ranged from climate change, offshore wind, and microplastics, to fish and fisheries, aquaculture, and protected species. Some projects involved technologies and techniques such as passive acoustics, photography, biodeposition, mass spectrometry, and data analysis tools.

In each profile, students share a little about what they liked most about their research projects. They also share their insights about their internship experience, what they've gained from it, and more.

Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions

The Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions is a federal STEM education and NOAA workforce program. It focuses on:

• Supporting the training and graduation of students and increasing participation of students from traditionally underrepresented minority communities
• Developing eligible candidates in support of a diverse future workforce
• Post-secondary education and research capacity development in atmospheric, oceanic, and environmental sciences and remote sensing technology at minority serving institutions.

Lalah Choice (She/Her/Hers)

Hometown: Washington, D.C.

University: Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida

Major: Environmental Studies

Internship Mentor(s):

Project:

Performance Comparison of Two Heart Rate Sensors in Tagged American Lobster

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

My project researched technology to help better understand and protect coastal communities and marine species. I enjoyed integrating advanced sensors to study American lobsters physiological responses to changing environments. It really helped deepen my understanding of marine ecosystems. The hands-on experience with lobster husbandry and surgeries taught me valuable skills and sparked a new interest. This project enhanced my experimental design skills and will be valuable in my future marine biology and community engagement career.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

This internship was meaningful to me because it gave me the opportunity to build relationships and network with experienced researchers and fellow interns. Collaborating with a diverse team helped me to learn from others and exchange ideas. It enriched my understanding of marine science and the technology supporting research. The hands-on lab experience, particularly handling advanced sensor technologies and conducting lobster husbandry and surgeries, helped me expand my boundaries. These experiences strengthened my technical skills and taught me important lessons in teamwork and communication.

Andie Le Doux (She/Her/Hers)

Bio

Hometown: Kapolei, Hawai'i

University: University of Hawai'i at Mānoa in Honolulu Hawai'i

Major: Natural Resources and Environmental Management

Internship Mentor(s):

Project:

Characterizing Changes in the Ontogeny of Tautog Larvae

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

I loved being able to learn lab skills-especially with larval fish, as they require a lot of care and attention to detail. My favorite part of my project was photographing larval tautog at different ages and compiling them into a series. Looking at all the photos and being able to see how the fish developed was fulfilling.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

Being in EPP/MSI for the last two summers was a blast. The best part of the EPP/MSI internship experience was the small cohort and bonds I created with my peers. Being at the science center with interns from all other programs was also amazing. There were a lot of us at the lab this summer. We all had many laughs and got to learn from each other!

Experiential Research & Training Opportunity

The NOAA Experiential Research & Training Opportunity is a win-win for NOAA and its Minority Serving Institution Cooperative Science Center academic partners.

Jennifer Herrera (She/Her/Hers)

Bio

Hometown: Freeport, New York

University: University of Maryland Center of Environmental Science's Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology in Baltimore, Maryland

Degree program: Master's degree in Marine Estuarine Environmental Science

Internship Mentor(s):

Project:

Assessing The Morphological Responses of Larval-Stage Eastern Oysters to Olivine Dissolution

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

Working with my mentor Shannon was a delightful experience. Together, we overcame many of the challenges when working with olivine-a naturally occurring mineral-and mimicking environmental conditions in the lab. I enjoyed learning how to spawn oysters, examine larval growth and development, and so much more. It's been amazing to work with a supportive and collaborative team at the Milford Lab.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

I enjoyed being able to get first-hand experience of what it's like to work for the federal government. This opportunity has certainly guided me in deciding what I'd like to do for my future career. I plan to apply to federal positions after completing my doctoral degree. It was fascinating to meet members of Congress and to discuss the world's most pressing environmental issues. I will forever be thankful for the opportunities this experience has given me.

Hollings Scholars

Established in 2005, the Hollings Scholarship Program provides successful undergraduate applicants with awards that include academic assistance (up to $9,500 per year) for 2 years of full-time study. It also includes a 10-week, full-time, paid ($700/week) internship at a NOAA facility during the summer.

Ruby Krasnow (She/Her/Hers)

Bio

Hometown: Newburyport, Massachusetts

University: Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts

Major: Biology

Internship Mentor(s):

• Burton Shank, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Project:

Modeling Spatial Variation in Jonah Crab Size at Maturity

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

I loved conducting a systematic literature review of the different methods used to estimate Jonah crab size at maturity from allometric data. I found so many inventive computer modeling approaches and have enjoyed seeing the trajectory of progress as new computational tools become available. By gaining a comprehensive picture of the existing literature, I felt more equipped to work on developing my own novel modeling approaches. I'm starting a doctoral degree in January 2025 and plan on incorporating a systematic review into my graduate work. I also enjoyed learning more about Jonah crabs. The Jonah crab is a growing fishery in New England, but we know relatively little about their biology and ecology. I am grateful for the opportunity to help advance the science around this enigmatic species.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

It was a lot of fun to translate statistical techniques developed almost 50 years ago into modern R, a statistical computing and graphics software. Using R meant I could run code in seconds that might have taken days in the 1970s. The Hollings program gave me the opportunity to present my research at the Ecological Society of America conference in August and American Fisheries Society conference in September. Beyond traveling to such incredible places, these meetings were incredibly valuable for building my professional network and connecting with other researchers doing similar work.

Emily Lekas (She/Her/Hers)

Bio

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida

University: University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia

Major: Biology

Internship Mentor(s):

Project:

Effects of Ocean Acidification on Feeding in Atlantic Surfclams

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

This summer, I investigated the effects of ocean acidification on feeding in Atlantic surfclams to understand how our changing climate may impact this species and its $40 million fishery. I learned valuable shellfish research skills like the biodeposition method and how to execute a research project from an idea, to experiments and results, to impact. I plan to attend graduate school to earn a doctoral degree in marine biology studying invertebrates and their roles in ecosystem health and human health. This internship expanded my shellfish knowledge and gave me the tools to continue to advance what we know about marine invertebrates.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

When I visited the Milford Lab in January before my summer internship, I was immediately impressed by the community here. Through morning chats over coffee cake at fika, dinner with my mentors after a 12-hour fieldwork shift, and working together to complete various experiments, it was such a rewarding experience to be a part of the lab this summer. The scientific rigor that this lab has cultivated since the 1920s is well represented today and I look forward to hearing about new scientific breakthroughs from this community in the future.

Aileen McDonald (She/Her/Hers)

Bio

Hometown: Kingston, Massachusetts

University: American University in Washington, D.C.

Major: Environmental Science

Internship Mentor(s):

Project:

Evaluating Sustainability Metrics for Maine River Herring Populations in the Penobscot River

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

I really liked learning about population dynamics, processing biological samples, and using the data science skills I gained through my undergraduate minor. My project studying how restoration of Maine's Penobscot River has impacted river herring had a great mix of both hands-on lab work and data analysis, which I greatly enjoyed.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

I learned so much from my mentors and really appreciated all of the opportunities they gave us interns this summer. From participating in a river measurement training and teaching children about river herring at an outreach event, to touring federal fish hatcheries and attending a statewide meeting about the state of salmon-the opportunities this internship gave me helped me learn so much beyond just the work of my project.

Kennedy McGrath (She/Her/Hers)

Bio

Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri

University: University of New Hampshire in Durham, New Hampshire

Major: Marine, Estuarine, and Freshwater Biology

Internship Mentor(s):

Project:

Environmental Impacts and Risk on Juvenile Oyster Growth and Survival in Long Island Sound

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

My project focused on investigating multiple threats to natural and aquacultured oyster populations in Connecticut. I'm most grateful for the amazing team I got to work with during my research project. I really valued working in an environment defined by uniquely large natural oyster populations, as well as a growing aquaculture industry. I hope to work in the shellfish aquaculture industry someday. Having this experience of seeing the interactions between natural and cultured oyster populations through the lens of disease spread will be extremely useful. I also enjoyed learning how to use R, a statistical computing and graphics software, for data analysis.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

I enjoyed having a diverse internship experience with lab, field, and virtual components. It allowed me to learn how to study and communicate findings about oysters in different ways. I have extensive field experience, but it was really interesting to learn new lab protocols for disease testing in oysters. I also enjoyed getting to help with other projects. It helped strengthen my sense of community with the lab even though I was only there for a short time. Outside of work, I grew to be close friends with one of the other Hollings Scholars I was living with and look forward to maintaining that friendship in the future.

Learn more about Kennedy's intern experience

Madison Medina (She/Her/Hers)

Bio

Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga, California

University: University of California, Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, California

Major: Marine Biology

Internship Mentor(s):

Project:

Understanding Beaked Whale Distribution Through Passive Acoustics

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

There were a few things I enjoyed about my project. I really liked that I could check in regularly with my mentor to make sure my species identifications were accurate and coordinate our mini goals before NOAA Office of Education's Science and Education Symposium (PDF, 192 pages). Discovering click trains-rapid sequence of clicks produced by whales and dolphins-and observing multiple species with similar bearings was always exciting. I also liked learning PAMguard -an open source software for passive acoustic monitoring-to detect, localize, and manually classify click train events.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

I appreciated the flexibility to work remotely when necessary and enjoyed meeting in person with my fellow interns, mentor, and the Passive Acoustics Branch. I really valued traveling to a new environment, gaining office experience, and going on a field excursion. Preparation prior to presenting my research project at the symposium was thorough, and participating in meetings and webinars deepened my interests further. I'm looking forward to seeing my fellow interns give presentations on their projects and sharing in a professional setting what we did during our internships. I think this internship experience will help me to pursue a career in passive acoustics, especially with marine mammals.

Caroline Monaco (She/Her/Hers)

Bio

Hometown: Ramsey, New Jersey

University: Union College in Schenectady, New York

Major: Environmental Science and French

Internship Mentor(s):

Project:

Assessment of Microplastic Distribution and Composition In a Contaminated Tributary of the Mohawk River

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

As a Union College student, I really enjoyed sampling our campus stream which had confirmed microplastics, but no chemical analyses of the plastics. My research project helped me further my knowledge about plastic contamination in the Mohawk Watershed-an area close to the heart of my college's faculty and students. I've previously worked with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance analysis. Learning to use pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry has been an entirely different experience-one that taught me a lot. I'm constantly fascinated by our analysis and identification abilities thanks to resources like mass spectral libraries. Being able to determine which plastic is in a sample based on a pyrogram-a plastic's chemical signature-was both frustrating and rewarding!

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

My internship experience helped me learn to enjoy the scientific journey. It's not a linear process. The journey includes setbacks, and I've enjoyed learning how to navigate the setbacks rather than become frustrated by them. This internship experience has pushed me to become a much more resilient scientist, and for that I am very grateful!

Rose Nolan (She/Her/Hers)

Bio

Hometown: Cambridge, Massachusetts

University: Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts

Major: Computer Science and Environmental Studies

Internship Mentor(s):

Project:

Sperm Whale and Dolphin Presence In the Gulf of Maine

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

As a computer science and environmental studies double major, I enjoyed how my project allowed me to expand my understanding of sperm whale conservation in the Gulf of Maine. I really liked that I could use my technical skills when analyzing data and create visuals using R, a statistical computing and graphics software. I hope to continue working with data analysis and conservation projects in the future!

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

I enjoyed getting to know the other interns in the Hollings Program and Woods Hole Partnership Education Program. Everyone came from different places with different interests. I really appreciated the Passive Acoustics Branch. They're incredibly supportive and focused on ensuring we all had the best time possible. They even let us join on trips to deploy acoustic recorders!

Madeline Rich (She/Her/Hers)

Bio

Hometown: Richmond, Virginia

University: University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina

Major: Marine Science

Internship Mentor(s):

Project:

Identifying Anthropogenic Sounds in an Offshore Wind Energy Site Prior to Construction

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

I really enjoyed working with the Passive Acoustics Branch! My mentor and all staff involved were very welcoming and so passionate about their work! One thing I liked about my research project was that I got to learn how to use Raven Pro-a software program for the acquisition, visualization, measurement, and analysis of sounds. It allowed me to develop a new skill centered on acoustic monitoring and human-causednoise. I even got to do a day trip to do fieldwork in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. We saw whales, dolphins, and seals-it was a great day!

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

Even though we only have 9 weeks to complete a research project through the Hollings Program, the passive acoustics group made it easy to stay on task and provided support throughout the whole project! I chose Woods Hole and the science center for my internship location because of how well respected the science community is. I'm so grateful to have been a part of such a talented group of scientists for a summer! It was awesome to see how much collaboration there is between coworkers and different branches.

Peyton Steffek (She/Her/Hers)

Bio

Hometown: San Diego, California

University: University of California, San Diego in San Diego, California

Major: Marine Biology

Internship Mentor(s):

Project:

Spatiotemporal Distribution Of Dolphins In the Gulf of Maine Wind Energy Area

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

One of the things I liked the most about my research project was that by working with my mentor, Amanda, I was able to directly contribute to what we currently know about dolphins in the Gulf of Maine. It was exciting to be involved in a project that is the first of its kind! We hardly know anything about these dolphins so I really valued being one of the first to analyze their spatiotemporal patterns.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

This internship experience gave me the opportunity to be a part of a wonderfully collaborative and welcoming work environment. Aside from the fact that I found my research project very interesting, I also feel very lucky to have experienced such a wonderful office in the workforce. The passive acoustics team showed me what qualities to look for in a future career space and the lessons I've learned here will help me with that!

NOAA and Maine Sea Grant Sea-run Fish Internship Program

We've partnered with Maine Sea Grant to provide opportunities for undergraduates to gain experience in the field of fisheries. These are paid internships based at mentor locations in Maine including the University of Maine in Orono and the Maine Department of Marine Resources offices in Augusta and Jonesboro.

Victoria Meringer (She/Her/Hers)

Bio

Hometown: Belmont, Massachusetts

University: Colby College in Waterville, Maine

Major: Environmental Science

Internship Mentor(s):

Project:

Compensatory Growth of Atlantic Salmon in the Narraguagus River Prior to Smolt Emigration

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

I really enjoyed being able to learn new skills like ageing and measuring Atlantic salmon smolt (young) fish scales. I also liked applying data tools and analytics to create a project and looking at historical data for Maine's Narraguagus River for trends. My favorite thing about my project was getting to experience all of the different kinds of work being done on Atlantic salmon-trapping, dam passage, hatcheries, sampling-in addition to data analyses.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

I really appreciated all of the new skills I got to learn during my sea-run fish internship. Not only did I get to learn how to mount, age, image, and measure smolt scales, but I also got to participate in and learn about other projects. I was able to help with prep for the Greenland Atlantic salmon sampling project. The best part of my internship experience was traveling to Maine to see Atlantic salmon hatcheries, dam passages, and hear about the experiences of other Maine Sea Grant sea-run fish interns.

Woods Hole Partnership Education Program

Celebrating its 16th year, the Woods Hole Partnership Education Program hosted 15 students from populations underrepresented in marine and ocean sciences who want to spend a summer gaining practical experience in marine and environmental science. Three of the students were mentored by science center staff.

Emmanuelle Bogomolni (She/Her/Hers)

Bio

Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts

University: Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts

Major: Marine Science

Internship Mentor(s):

• Sean Hayes, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Project:

Small Home for a Big Whale: Fin Whale Use of Marine Protected Areas

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

I enjoyed analyzing fin whale tagging data using R, a statistical computing and graphics software, and RStudio programming. I know these programming skills will be useful in my future. This summer was my first time conducting research and it helped me learn more about marine science. I really liked doing a week's worth of fieldwork and seeing how the data I analyzed was collected.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

I have really liked being immersed in the community of Woods Hole, Massachusetts. It was quite eye opening and exciting to be surrounded by scientists that research such a diverse array of marine science topics. I enjoyed talking with fellow college students with similar interests and forming strong bonds with them. This internship exposed me to many opportunities I wasn't aware of before. I'm extremely grateful for such an incredible summer internship.

Akil Smith (He/Him/His)

Bio

Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland

University: University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida

Major: Marine Biology

Internship Mentor(s):

• Kathyrn Dever, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Project:

Substrate Dependent Burrowing Patterns in Squilla Empusa: Analysis on Their Excavation Process

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

I loved being able to study an animal that is small but mighty! Studying mantis shrimp was fascinating and being able to watch them use their raptorial appendages-specialized forelimbs used to capture prey-was really cool. From my research I learned what aquariums should do to reduce stress on mantis shrimp and help promote burrowing activity when placing this species on exhibit. I believe this project will help me in the future because it gives me ideas for experiments that could help promote conservation of animals in captivity.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

What I loved most about my internship experience was being able to learn new skills and see how versatile you have to be to work at NOAA's Woods Hole Science Aquarium. I got to get inside the tanks to clean them, clear animals from quarantine to put them on exhibit, and perform dissections, veterinary work, and water quality sampling. These were things I've never done before and I'll never forget how to do them! I also loved the aquarium staff. They were knowledgeable and everyone felt the family and loving atmosphere!

Madeleine Stewart (She/Her/Hers)

Bio

Hometown: Washington, D.C.

University: University of California, Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, California

Major: Marine Biology

Internship Mentor(s):

• Mike Asaro, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Project:

Modeling Entanglement Risk and Reduction for Large Whales

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

My project focused on understanding how the risk reduction actions implemented to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales might have affected humpback and fin whales. The most valuable skills I gained from my research project are using R, a statistical computing and graphics software, and learning how science can inform policy. My project really helped me refine and develop my R skills and become more confident using it. This was also my first experience working with an interdisciplinary team focused on conservation, science, and policy, and I liked that.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

The Woods Hole Partnership Education Program gave me the opportunity to spend the summer at the science center with a supportive cohort-other interns. It introduced me to new career paths, facilitated networking, and provided a strong community in Woods Hole. Working alongside other interns in the science center expanded my network and friendships. I left with lifelong connections and a network to support my goals. This summer was one of the most fulfilling professional and personal experiences of my life, and I'm grateful to have been part of it.

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