Our 2025 NOAA-Supported Education Program Students Share Insights

This summer, the Northeast Fisheries Science Center hosted 19 students from 10 states and 12 different colleges and universities. Project topic areas ranged from ocean acidification, feeding and food web dynamics, and microplastics, to fish and fisheries, aquaculture, and protected species. Some projects involved technologies and techniques such as passive acoustics, mass spectrometry, GIS, and computer coding.

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.

Tebyan Ahmed

Hometown: Maryland

University: University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Maryland

Degree Program: Doctoral Program in Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences

Internship Program: Educational Partnership Program

Internship Mentor(s):

Project:

Impacts of Climate Change on Total Lipids and Food Web Dynamics of Forage Fish in the Northwest Atlantic

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

What I enjoyed most about my research was working with squid-an ecologically important and fascinating species. I loved exploring how total lipid content, fatty acid profiles, and energy density vary between the mantle and tentacle tissues. This comparison helped me understand how environmental variability may influence squid condition and nutritional quality. I also gained valuable skills in lipid extraction and biochemical analysis. This project strengthened my passion for marine ecology and will support my future career in fisheries science and ecosystem research.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

What I like most about my internship was experiencing the professional work environment at NOAA and seeing how research is done in a real-world setting. I also enjoy the opportunity to develop a new lipid analysis methodology using an Iatroscan-a specialized lab instrument used for analytical chemistry. My internship experience with Ashok Deshpande sets up a clear pathway for future researchers to use this instrument effectively. This hands-on experience strengthens my technical skills and gives me a clearer vision of my future career in marine science.

Nicholas Angeli

Hometown: Cary, North Carolina

University: University of North Carolina, Wilmington, in Wilmington, North Carolina

Major: Marine Biology

Internship Program: Hollings Scholarship Program

Internship Mentor(s):

Project:

Effects of Temperature on Haemolymph Macromolecules, Stress, and Active Metabolism in Adult American Lobster

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

I enjoyed the interdisciplinary nature of my research project. First and foremost, I learned about metabolism. More specifically, using intermittent-flow respirometry to measure oxygen consumption and calculating and interpreting standard and maximum metabolic rates. I got to conduct biological assays on lobster blood. This took quite a lot of effort and problem solving, but it was very satisfying to see the data. Lastly, and completely unexpectedly, I learned animal husbandry techniques like conducting water quality tests, water changes, and aquarium setup and design.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

My internship at the James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory was incredible. The highlight of my internship experience was the flexibility I was given. I was able to make decisions about my project and also explore the projects of my peers. I was even allowed to design and execute a tangential experiment using blood assays. I liked helping my peers conduct fieldwork not directly related to my research. Participating in fieldwork solidified my desire to continue pursuing environmental research. I hope to be able to conduct lab and fieldwork in the future. My internship experience was truly invaluable and I'm deeply grateful for this opportunity and the connections I made along the way

My mentor Andrij was very supportive, informative, and an admirable person. Overall the knowledge and relationships I gained during this internship experience was invaluable. Lastly, I would like to shout out lab techs Delan Boyce and Frank Santarsiero for their extraordinary help in completing the project.

Emory Barrett

Hometown: Milford, New Jersey

University: Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey

Major: Biological Oceanography

Internship Program: Hollings Scholarship Program

Internship Mentor(s):

Project:

Developing Infrastructure for Larval Shellfish Outplanting

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

I had a great time with my project. I love working with my hands almost as much as I love science, so designing, building, and troubleshooting new kinds of aquaculture gear was very interesting to me. It brings me joy to create something that can allow others to further their research. The containers I designed during my internship are versatile, allowing for them to be applied to a variety of research questions. I hope that they can be used to answer tough questions about shellfish larval ecology!

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

My experience in the Hollings internship program has been very insightful, helping me to direct my future career path. Working in the Milford Laboratory gave me a taste of what working in a federal science institution is like. It allowed me to build connections within my field, and learn new skills as well as refine existing ones. The people I worked with truly enjoy what they do and are excited to help others. They showed me that community can be built in any scientific institution.

Mary Brantley

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

University: University of Rhode Island in Kingston, Rhode Island

Major: Marine Biology and Marine Affairs

Internship Program: Hollings Scholarship Program

Internship Mentor(s):

Project:

Effects of Temperature on Cardiac Function and Resting Metabolism in Adult American Lobster

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

Coming from a marine affairs background and going to school in a location that relies heavily on the lobster industry, the results of our project meant much more to me than just numbers on a screen. I enjoyed being able to apply my research project to a larger scale. It was a great example of what I want to do in my future career-conduct research that can be used to help develop conservation policy.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

I really enjoyed working in a collaborative lab environment. There were multiple people involved in so many different aspects of this project. Even the people not directly involved loved staying up to date with what was going on. I made so many new connections and have learned so much from everyone working in this lab. I am grateful for being welcomed into a lab that constantly encourages asking questions and learning. This experience was eye-opening for me in terms of career possibilities.

Lydia Clark

Hometown: Stevensville, Maryland

University: University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Maryland

Degree Program: Master's Program in Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences

Internship Program: NOAA Experiential Research & Training Opportunity

Internship Mentor(s):

• Brian Smith, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Project:

Examining Trophic Interactions to Explain Common Trends in Northern Shrimp Abundance

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

The best part of my research project was gaining more experience coding with R, a statistical computing and graphics software, and RStudio. These tools and skills introduced me to computer modeling concepts and techniques I hadn't encountered before. It was also interesting to learn about Atlantic northern shrimp, and how projects on trophic interactions are structured.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

I liked being able to meet people and learn about the work they're doing, and learn about future career opportunities. I also enjoyed learning about the different labs and science organizations in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and visiting the area.

Jamie Fogg

Hometown: Dedham, Maine

University: University of Maine in Orono, Maine

Major: Marine Science

Internship Program: Hollings Scholarship Program

Internship Mentor(s):

• Julia Zeh, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Project:

Evaluating Detector Performance for North Atlantic Right Whale Acoustic Monitoring in a High-Traffic Shipping Corridor

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

My project provided a robust understanding of near real-time passive acoustic monitoring's power in mitigating vessel strikes on North Atlantic right whales. I got to hone:

• Manual passive acoustic data review skills, differentiating between right whale upcalls and humpback whale song
• Detector evaluation
• Computer coding
• Public speaking

I also gained hands-on experience assisting with a harbor porpoise necropsy, building passive acoustic monitors for deployment, and participating in fieldwork in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

This internship opened my eyes to a future in research that directly influences policy. Building on my background in whale genetics, photo identification, and stranding networks, I was thrilled to add passive acoustic monitoring to my repertoire. Woods Hole, Massachusetts-with its abundance of intelligent scientists and ocean accessibility-was a truly magical place to spend the summer. I met all kinds of inspiring individuals who showed me that there's no single route to a rewarding career.

Audrey Fox

Hometown: Morristown, New Jersey

University: University of New England in Biddeford, Maine

Major: Aquaculture and Aquarium Sciences

Internship Program: Maine Sea Grant-NOAA Fisheries Undergraduate Internships in Sea-run Fish Research

Internship Mentor(s):

• John Kocik, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Project:

An Assessment of Shelter Availability for Juvenile Atlantic Salmon in the Narraguagus River

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

One of the most enjoyable aspects of my internship was seeing a project from start to finish-from the development of the question to the communication of the findings. I also enjoyed participating in fieldwork and surveys, exploring the rivers of Maine, and looking at the environment through a scientific lens. I strengthened both my fieldwork and data processing skills. This was valuable not only to this project, but also to my broader academic and career pursuits.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

One of the best parts of the internship program was the connections I made with others in fisheries. My professional network has grown considerably throughout this program. I truly enjoyed meeting many different people from different educational and career backgrounds. Seeing the wide range of paths has only solidified my interest in sea-run fisheries, and I hope to continue to contribute to the field!

Miles Jordan

Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee

University: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in Corpus Christi, Texas

Degree Program: Master's Program in Marine Biology

Internship Program: NOAA Experiential Research & Training Opportunity

Internship Mentor(s):

• Harvey Walsh, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Project:

Quantifying Zooplankton Prey Composition and Quality in a Changing Ecosystem

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

My project involved sorting and identifying major taxa of calanoid copepods from plankton samples collected during Ecosystem Monitoring Surveys. I got to use a bomb calorimeter to measure the energy content of copepod species. This experience will directly support my future career as a biological oceanographer studying zooplankton ecology and trophic dynamics.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

What excites me most about this internship was the hands-on experience I gained sampling zooplankton and conducting fieldwork. I'm especially thankful to Harvey Walsh and the Science Center's Narragansett Laboratory for their guidance and support in preparing me for both on and offshore research. My top three things I most looked forward to doing during my internship:

• Sail on a NOAA research survey for the first time
• Collect plankton and oceanographic data in the field
• Learn from NOAA scientists and graduate students

Samantha Kratman

Hometown: Lincoln, Rhode Island

University: Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania

Major: Biology

Internship Program: Hollings Scholarship Program

Internship Mentor(s):

Project:

Spatiotemporal Distribution of Dolphins in the Mid-Atlantic

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

I loved learning about the breadth of information you can get from passive acoustic monitoring. It's so applicable in management, research, and other research fields. I also learned a lot about different kinds of software and programming skills that I'm sure will be transferrable no matter where I find myself in my career.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to work on the management side of science. It was so rewarding to see how my work was benefitting not only the dolphins I was working on, but other animals, people, and communities. The collaborative nature of the office was also wonderful, and I learned so much from every person I worked with. And of course, the field work was awesome!

Miles Lubas

Hometown: Cary, North Carolina

University: University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida

Major: Marine Biology and Ecology

Internship Program: Hollings Scholarship Program

Internship Mentor(s):

Project:

Using Passive Acoustic Data to Study Sperm Whales Off the East Coast of the United States

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

I enjoyed learning about sperm whales, how they produce sounds, what those sounds translate to visually, and how to identify these sounds for data analysis. As I analyzed more data, it was interesting to see their presence and distribution take shape. I also enjoyed assisting in preparing passive acoustic instruments and moorings and learning about how they are deployed in the field. Finally, I liked that I had the opportunity to develop a basic understanding of computer coding in RStudio and had the freedom to design my own presentation.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

I loved the opportunity to collaborate with scientists from federal institutions and feel like I was contributing to meaningful research, especially research that I was interested in. I enjoyed that I was given flexibility in structuring the project, but I still had people I could rely on for guidance, like my mentor Annabel Westell. The environment was extremely welcoming, and I am thankful for all the connections I was able to make.

Nylah McClain

Hometown: Prince George's County, Maryland

University: University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Maryland

Degree Program: Doctoral Program in Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences

Internship Program: NOAA Experiential Research & Training Opportunity

Internship Mentor(s):

Project:

Analysis of Blue Crabs to Investigate Presence and Effects of Secondary Microplastics

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

What I liked best about my research project was actively addressing a microplastics research gap that I found while reading scientific papers. There's a gap in research on large crustaceans and secondary microplastics-fragments of larger, macroplastics. That's why my project focused on blue crabs, and the secondary microplastics that break down from macroplastics like polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and expanded polystyrene (EPS).

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

What I liked best about my internship experience was the access to different knowledge sources! I had so much help in learning how to set up tanks for my microplastic exposure experiment! I also had a lot of help learning when, where, and how to deploy crab pots for collecting blue crabs from the field. The staff at the James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory had more knowledge about going into the field than my home institution. I am so appreciative of the field experience!

Cali Roberts

Hometown: Salisbury, Maryland

University: University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Maryland

Degree Program: Doctoral Program in Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences

Internship Program: NOAA Experiential Research & Training Opportunity

Internship Mentor(s):

Project:

Microplastic Quantification, Characterization and Distribution Across Trophic Levels in Maryland Coastal Bay Species

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

My project marked the first phase of my doctoral research and represents the first cross-trophic, multi-species assessment of microplastic abundance, composition, and distribution in Maryland's coastal bays. I enjoyed learning using pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to chemically identify ingested microplastics. It was fascinating to compare ingestion patterns across trophic levels, which might provide insight into microplastic transfer from forage species to top predators. This experience sharpened my analytical and lab skills and helped prepare me for my future career in marine research and ecosystem-based management.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

What I liked most about my internship was working with expert mentors and learning advanced lab techniques. I also enjoyed connecting with other interns, learning about their diverse research, and seeing their interest in my work. The collaborative and supportive environment encouraged both curiosity and confidence. This experience helped me grow as a researcher and strengthened my commitment to tackling complex environmental challenges through interdisciplinary science.

Greg Roitbourd

Hometown: Brooklyn, New York

University: Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts

Major: Physics and Theater Arts

Internship Program: Hollings Scholarship Program

Internship Mentor(s):

• Mike Jech, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Project:

Classification of Sand Lance Echoes from Surveys of Offshore Energy Development Areas

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

I greatly valued the interdisciplinary nature of my research experience. The opportunity to apply my background in physics to marine biology, particularly using acoustics to investigate the real-world impacts of offshore energy developments, was both intellectually engaging and rewarding. This experience also allowed me to strengthen my computer coding and GIS skills. Additionally, participating in a 2-week research survey provided firsthand insight into the practical applications of both active and passive acoustic technologies. Overall, this experience significantly broadened my understanding of how physics can be effectively applied in environmental research.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

This internship significantly expanded my professional network. It connected me with scientists from around the world and laid the groundwork for future collaboration. It's also opened important doors for both academic and career development. The opportunities for learning and interdisciplinary engagement have been truly unparalleled. Participating in a research survey gave me valuable insight into the role of fieldwork within physics and has reinforced my interest in applied scientific research. Additionally, attending workshops and lectures at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution exposed me to a broad range of topics within ocean science. This experience deepened my appreciation for the various research opportunities this field has to offer and it's helped me envision a potential future with NOAA.

Riley Stoppa

Hometown: Petoskey, Michigan

University: Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida

Major: Mathematics and Animal Studies

Internship Program: Hollings Scholarship Program

Internship Mentor(s):

• Conor McManus, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center
• Dvora Hart, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Project:

Investigating Sea Star Demographics of the Northeast U.S. Shelf from Optical Survey Data

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

My project focused on optical data. What I enjoyed most was learning how to apply survey data to projects outside of the original purpose. It was innovative and creatively challenging for me to think about how the visual data could be used in various ways. I valued the implications of the research project and learning how to handle data sets. Through my time at the Science Center, I was able to expand my skill set and develop several new techniques and methods that can be transferrable to future careers.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

The best takeaway from my experience this summer was being able to see how scientists network and the impact that those connections can have early on, and also in the long run. I really appreciated getting to work with the scientists and watch how their experiences helped shape a career in fisheries. I also valued the human and interpersonal work that is involved but not always mentioned. It was extremely impactful to see the reality of working in a governmental laboratory.

Kalie Tovar

Hometown: Austin, Texas

University: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in Corpus Christi, Texas

Degree Program: Master's Program in Coastal Marine System Sciences

Internship Program: NOAA Experiential Research & Training Opportunity

Internship Mentor(s):

Project:

Feeding in Atlantic Surfclams Exposed to Ocean Acidification

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

My research involved Atlantic surfclam grazing experiments that compared natural and uncommon diets under different ocean acidification treatments. I enjoyed the experience I got working on an ocean acidification project and learning everything that it takes to maintain it. I also enjoyed learning about Atlantic surfclams and getting to work with them in different stages of life. The opportunity to work with an experienced team was the greatest resource and gave me immeasurable insight into bivalve husbandry.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

During my internship experience I got to work in a multidisciplinary environment where I learned to work with algal cultures, which I used in my grazing experiments. I enjoyed having multiple responsibilities that allowed me to work cross-functionally within the Milford Laboratory. I've been able to grow my viewpoints and develop a broader skillset through collaboration and building connections with everyone I have met. Most of all, my favorite aspect of this internship program is that I have been able to gain hands-on experience working alongside expert NOAA scientists-a professional dream of mine.

Hannah Tucker

Hometown: Big Sky, Montana

University: University of Washington in Seattle, Washington

Major: Marine Biology

Internship Program: Hollings Scholarship Program

Internship Mentor(s):

Project:

Determining the Effects of Altered Survey Design on Relative Abundance Indices for Groundfish

What I enjoyed most about my research project:

For me, the most exciting part of my research project was the opportunity to explore real-life issues that NOAA scientists are tackling. Getting to meet and learn from so many people in the Population Dynamics Branch has shown me how important fisheries stock assessments and management are, and I love that my project could play a role in the work they do.

What I enjoyed most about my internship experience:

I have loved exploring the world of quantitative ecology! Meeting so many people, listening to their stories, and hearing about their work has truly cemented my enthusiasm for stock assessment work. It's also been amazing exploring Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and learning about all the cool research that happens here across all fields of marine science.