This summer, the Northeast Fisheries Science Center hosted 22 students from 10 states and 11 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.
Kayla Adams
Intern Program: NOAA Experiential Research and Training Opportunities
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
University: University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Undergraduate Major: Biology
Mentor: Dr. Ali Ishaque, Dr. Ashok Deshpande
Project Title
Analysis of Microplastic Abundance and Polymer Composition in Atlantic Ribbed Mussels
Best Part of Research Project
The part of my research project that I enjoy the most is counting the number of microplastics I see under a microscope. Microplastics are so small that they're almost invisible to the naked eye, so using the microscope to magnify them and see their actual structure is incredibly fascinating.
Best Part of Internship Experience
So far I have really enjoyed meeting new faces and listening to their experiences and learning more about their research projects. I've gotten the opportunity to build stronger connections with some of the summer interns and staff and I'm looking forward to the rest of my time here.
Tebyan Ahmed
Intern Program: Educational Partnership Program NOAA Experiential Research & Training Opportunity
Hometown: Maryland
University: The University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Undergraduate Major: Agricultural soil and water sciences
Mentors:
Dr. Ashok Deshpande, Dr. Ali Ishaque, Dr. Paulinus Chigbu, Dr. Mark Wuenschel, and Dr. Timothy Miller
Project Title
Comparing Microwave-Assisted Lipid Extraction Methods in Atlantic Herring
Best Part of Research Project
I enjoyed learning and applying advanced laboratory techniques to evaluate the lipid content and nutritional quality of Atlantic herring. My project allowed me to compare two microwave-assisted extraction methods using a controlled, paired experimental design. I also gained experience with Iatroscan TLC-FID to measure different lipid classes. This research strengthened my analytical and method-validation skills and will support my future career in marine ecosystem science and fisheries research.
Best Part of Internship Experience
I valued the opportunity to work directly with NOAA scientists and receive hands-on training at the Sandy Hook Laboratory. The internship allowed me to connect my doctoral research with NOAA’s mission of supporting ecosystem-based fisheries management. I also appreciated learning new laboratory methods, discussing research challenges with experienced mentors, and building professional collaborations. This experience increased my confidence as a scientist and helped prepare me for a career in marine and environmental research.
Luis Mario Ramirez Cruz
Intern Program: Hollings
Hometown: Michoacán, Mexico
University: University of California, Santa Cruz
Undergraduate Major: Biology & Computer Engineering
Mentor: Burton Shank
Project Title
Modeling the American lobster fishery using high-resolution vessel tracking data
Best Part of Research Project
I greatly appreciated the opportunity to not only be one of the first people to work in a brand-new dataset, but also having the opportunity to sit down with my mentor and discuss where I wanted to take the project and what skills I could bring to the table. I had the opportunity to learn and expand my toolkit with new skills and also teach my mentor some of the skills I'd acquired in my past work. Overall, this made the experience feel extremely collaborative and welcoming.
Best Part of Internship Experience
I really enjoyed having the opportunity to feel what being a part of NOAA is and what the day to day of working in NOAA looks like, since it gave me clarity as to what I want to do in the future. I really enjoyed the opportunity to go on small trips to get to know new things, such as visiting the necropsy laboratory at Woods Hole Oceanic Institute, working and seeing what a normal day is like for lobster fishermen and more. Lastly, I loved having the space to create a community with my mentor, fellow scientists and other interns where we created relationships that will go beyond this 10 weeks together.
Grace Davis
Intern Program: Hollings
Hometown: Richmond, Virginia
University: University of North Carolina Wilmington
Undergraduate Major: Oceanography
Mentors: Kimberly Hyde and Haley Synan
Project Title
Satellite Oceanography: Developing phytoplankton bloom indicators from ocean color remote sensing
Best Part of Research Project
I've really enjoyed working with satellite data and learning about how much you can do with it. I've learned some really useful skills in working with satellite data and coding that I will be using later as I go onto graduate school and a career. I've learned a lot about how to find new ways to think about a problem to find a new solution from doing this project and am looking forward to seeing what happens with it in the future!
Best Part of Internship Experience
I've really enjoyed getting to meet all of the people who work at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center and hearing about their passions and paths to pursue those passions. I've also had really great mentors who have been so helpful in helping me navigate the ups and downs of research. Everyone has been super supportive and I have really enjoyed getting to work with everyone!
Michael Fahey
Intern Program: NOAA College-Supported Internship Program
Hometown and State: Vienna, Virginia
University: St. John's College
Undergraduate Major: Liberal Arts and Sciences
Mentors: James Vasslides, Jeffrey Pessutti
Project Title
The Effects of Changing Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Composition on Economically and Ecologically Important Fishes
Best Part of Research Project
I enjoyed how surprisingly interdisciplinary my project became. At the start of my internship, I focused purely on researching similar projects to help synthesize a plan of operation and a camera mount design for underwater recording. That research phase turned developmental, as I helped fabricate camera mounts and program GoPros. Alongside all of that, I also worked on learning the basics of R and BORIS to aid with data analysis. Each stage involved different skills and the project was always exciting because of that.
Best Part of Internship Experience
What I enjoyed most about my experience was the unexpected opportunities that came out of it. I was able to join a work trip to Woods Hole, Massachusetts to inspect and transport a boat, visit commercial fishing vessels in Cape May (and get to meet and talk to some of the fishermen), tour the NOAA Hassler, and get involved with my branch's annual softball game. I always felt welcomed here and was thrilled to get to know my coworkers better through these trips/events.
Ned Gable
Intern Program: Hollings
Hometown: Richmond, Virginia
University: University of Mary Washington
Undergraduate Major: Environmental Science, Chemistry
Mentors:
Joseph Caracappa, Kimberly Hyde
Project Title
Validating the MOM6-COBALT model's historical ocean acidification and hypoxia events across the U.S. Northeast Shelf
Best Part of Research Project
I am super grateful for the opportunity to have worked on a project with serious impact and implications for coastal fisheries and ecosystem management. It also taught me more about the ocean in general, particularly with the Northeast region and how ocean biogeochemistry can impact nature and industries alike. It was amazing being able to learn and apply a new skill, that being computer coding with Python, to a project that has real impacts on how we view the world. I will definitely be walking out of this experience with an expanded toolset that I intend to use in my upcoming research in undergraduate and graduate school.
Best Part of Internship Experience
I enjoyed the people and the atmosphere of my workplace at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center the most. It was awesome being surrounded by people with inquisitive minds studying all sorts of impactful subjects around the Northeast, spanning biology to physical oceanography. My mentors were incredibly intelligent and gave wonderful guidance, not only for my project but for my life and career. Being so close to the University of Rhode Island and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute also allowed for really interesting networking opportunities with students and faculty.
Brede Gibson
Intern Program: Educational Partnership Program NOAA Experiential Research & Training Opportunity
Hometown: Maine
University: University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Princess Anne, MD)
Major/Degree Focus: Biology, now tox Ph.D. student
Mentors:
Ashok Deshpande, Ali Ishaque, Ahmed Elnabawi
Project Title
Mercury Methylation Responses to Saltwater Intrusion in the Chesapeake Bay
Best Part of Research Project
I really enjoyed working with mercury. It was scary at first, especially working with MeHg, but moving past that fear was exhilarating. It was akin to waking up each morning and having the opportunity to handle a deadly venomous snake each day at work. It was a great incentive for getting out of bed.
Best Part of Internship Experience
I loved how safety focused the Sandy Hook lab was. For weeks I was learning much more than I had prior about how to reduce contamination risk to both myself and my team. This environment and my advisor provided me with the abstract tools which I've already begun to think about how I can use back at my home institution.
Miles Guillot
Intern Program: Hollings
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
University: Cal Poly Humboldt
Undergraduate Major: Biochemistry B.S., Astrophysics B.S.
Mentor): Dr. Ashok Deshpande (NOAA Fisheries), Dr. Jenny Cappuccio (Cal Poly Humboldt)
Project Title
Lipid Speciation in Atlantic Mackerel with Iatroscan TLC-FID
Best Part of Research Project
My favorite part of this project has been seeing the lipid data I have collected reveal some of the biochemical cycles happening within the mackerel. Having just finished my year of biochemistry coursework at my university, it is fresh in my mind all of the pathways that these lipids are cycling through. Learning about it in a textbook is one thing, but getting to see direct evidence of that in front of me is another thing entirely and gives me a spike of that excitement that drives me to do more research.
Best Part of Internship Experience
Throughout the summer the standout experience was simply getting a foot in the door in a NOAA laboratory and experiencing the research firsthand. My goal has always been to pursue federal service after a Ph.D., and this experience has only reinforced that. Throughout the summer I learned new instrumentation, reinforced my understanding of lipids and solvent properties, got experience with dissections and mackerel anatomy, and learned from Dr. Deshpande throughout about how to be an effective NOAA researcher.
Sloane Hauck
Intern Program: The William M. Lapenta - NOAA Student Internship Program
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
University: Duke University
Graduate Focus: Masters in Environmental Management
Mentors: Dana Morton
Project Title
R Shiny Application Development for Shellfish Survey Data Visualization
Best Part of Research Project
For my project I built an R Shiny dashboard using R/RStudio to increase transparency and facilitate data visualization of the scallop dredge survey data for public access. I enjoyed continuing to build my coding skills, as well as creating a tool that can be useful to a wide range of people and interested parties.
Best Part of Internship Experience
A highlight of the summer was actually going on the scallop dredge survey and getting a deeper understanding of how the data is collected. We spent 10 days at-sea doing the sampling and were able to see some cool marine life from the boat, including whales, dolphins, sunfish, a tuna, and many seabirds.
Alexis Heath
Intern Program: NOAA College-Supported Internship Program
Hometown: Providence, Rhode Island and Staten Island, New York
University: Smith College
Undergraduate Major: Integrative Biology Major, Marine Science and Policy Minor
Mentor(s): Sean Hayes, Brian Battaile, Elizabeth Josephson
Project Title
Protected species research and conservation theory: Gray seal pupping trends and 2026 population estimate in New England
Best Part of Research Project
One of the most rewarding aspects of my internship was gaining more experience using geospatial analysis and machine learning tools used in marine mammal research. I particularly enjoyed using ArcGIS to geo-reference aerial imagery for gray seal population estimates. I had the opportunity to learn new software platforms such as VIAME, which gave me experience training models to automate population estimates from the imagery. This research project has strengthened my technical skills, allowing me to apply what I have learned in the classroom to the field of marine mammal conservation.
Best Part of Internship Experience
The most impactful experiences of my internship were touring the International Fund for Animal Welfare dolphin rescue facility with Animal Care Manager Jane Hoppe, participating in a gray seal necropsy conducted by Dr. Andrea Bogomolni, and attending the Motorboat Operator Certification Course. These opportunities provided valuable insight into pathology, clinical care, rehabilitation, and conservation of marine mammals. I passed the course, and I am now certified to operate small boats in Massachusetts. I enjoyed how interdisciplinary the internship was; I would have never thought I would be leaving with the ability to drive a boat. All together, this internship has strengthened my technical skill sets and my passion for pursuing a career in marine mammal rehabilitation and conservation.
Eleni Mouyos
Intern Program: Hollings
Hometown: Windham, New Hampshire
University: University of Rhode Island
Undergraduate Major: Ocean Engineering & Marine Biology
Mentors: Julia Zeh, Amanda Holdman, Renea Briner
Project Title
Analyzing trends in humpback whale occurrence in the Gulf of Maine
Best Part of Research Project
One of the most exciting parts of my project was getting to explore passive acoustics for the first time. I enjoyed learning manual review, where I listened to recordings to identify humpback whales. Working with large datasets and turning them into clear figures was especially rewarding. Also, I incorporated temperature data into my analysis which was an interesting addition to the trends I saw. This experience allowed me to develop my science communication skills, which I can take into future work in marine science.
Best Part of Internship Experience
I appreciated gaining a deeper understanding of acoustics and seeing how it can be applied across different areas of science. Contributing to a project in the Passive Acoustics Branch, even one done on a shorter timeline, felt meaningful because it fit into a larger effort. The shared excitement people had for my results made me feel encouraged. I also loved connecting with people across such a large science hub and learning about all the different work happening here.
Jayce Oldham
Intern Program: Hollings
Hometown: Wellington, Florida
University: Nova Southeastern University
Undergraduate Major: Marine Biology
Mentors:
Michael Conor McManus, Cameron Fairclough
Project Title
Investigating Jonah crab life history from a fisheries-independent optical survey
Best Part of Research Project
I enjoyed getting exposed to many versions of advanced tech that I would not have had the chance to apply otherwise. My project involved learning to use methods and applications that at the time were new to me, but I had the chance to learn, and I now feel very confident in my abilities. What I enjoyed most, however, was being able to be part of a project that I felt like was something that could make a real difference in a way I would not have been able to otherwise.
Best Part of Internship Experience
What I enjoyed most was the first-hand experience of what a role in this field would look like. There is always an idea of how you want your future position to look, and this internship gave me a lot of insight into the many roles that go into a project like this and the importance I can play in them. It very much strengthened my desire to continue down this path.
Aaron Pickett
Intern Program: EPP/MSI
Hometown: Felton, Delaware
University: Delaware State University
Undergraduate Major:Wildlife & Fisheries Management
Mentors: Katyanne Shoemaker, Mariah Kachmar, Kyra Lenderman, Sarina Dery
Project Title
Learning Experience in Shellfish Population Dynamics and Breeding
Best Part of Research Project
What I liked best about the project I worked on was the variety of different tasks involved. There were multiple procedures for me to learn, and I enjoyed many of them, such as field sampling and tissue processing. I also gained experience with the molecular biology side of shellfish by doing DNA extractions. This internship helped me become more confident in my laboratory skills and taught me several transferable skills that I can apply in other settings.
Best Part of Internship Experience
This internship showed me what a day in the life of a fisheries scientist looks like. I formed lasting relationships and friendships with the employees. I also enjoyed exploring the town of Milford and learning about each employee’s role in the lab. Throughout the internship, I had multiple great mentors who took the time to instruct me on completing both lab and field work.
Jayde Waibel
Intern Program: Hollings
Hometown and State: Dalton, PA
University: College of the Holy Cross
Undergraduate Major: Mathematics and Biology; Minor: Environmental Studies
Mentors: Renea Briner ,Julia Zeh
Project Title
Spatiotemporal patterns of sei whale acoustic presence in the Gulf of Maine
Best Part of Research Project
My research project is completely different from anything that I have ever done before! I loved that my project gave me the opportunity to learn about new avenues of data collection and analysis. My favorite part of passive acoustic monitoring is that it is non-invasive! There is so much valuable information that is stored in the sounds of the ocean, and it was so exciting to be a part of extracting it and making sense of it.
Best Part of Internship Experience
I loved that my internship program combined data analysis with hands-on experiences. For instance, mentors in the lab taught us (the interns) how to program the hydrophones before a deployment. It was incredible to hold the instruments that were responsible for collecting the data that I had spent all summer analyzing. I also really enjoyed the collaborative environment of the science center! Everyone was so welcoming and kind, and it was a wonderful place to work.
