2018/9 NOAA Fisheries Scholars and Interns

NOAA Fisheries hosts scholars and interns in our science centers and regional offices around the country. View other intern cohorts.

Rachel Sanchez

School: University of Houston

Degree: BS in Biology

Why did you choose this field?

I chose biology because I love animals and resource management and wanted to work in conservation biology.

Internship/Scholarship Program: NOAA Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship

Position Title: Biological Sciences Student Trainee

NMFS Office and Program: NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region, Protected Resources Division

Describe your internship and associated projects.
I worked on creating a visual aide to guide researchers through the Endangered Species Act research permitting process.

Why did you choose this position?
I chose this office and project because, as a participator in scientific research, I wanted to know more about how it plays into larger conservation efforts.

What has been your favorite internship project and how has it made an impact?
I loved getting to know the Region through field days where I got to know the species and how they are cared for and utilized.

What is the most unexpected/challenging thing you have learned?
Research permits are the product of a cooperation between researchers and federal agencies by which we obtain vital information about a species.

What is the most personally rewarding part of this experience?

Learning how much agency staff care about protected species.

Who are important heroes and/or mentors in your life?

I was fortunate to be mentored by Shivonne Nesbit and Jennie Franks throughout my internship and will carry their guidance with me, always.

Rachel Assink

School: University of Washington, School of Marine and Environmental Affairs

Degree: Master of Marine Affairs

Why did you choose this field?

The ocean has always amazed me, so I decided to pursue a career studying and protecting the ocean and marine life.

Internship/Scholarship Program: The Pathways Program

Position Title: Biological Sciences Student Trainee

NMFS Office and Program: NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region, Protected Resources Division

Describe your internship and associated projects.

The Pathways Program provides current students the opportunity to explore careers with the federal government. I have been working on a variety of marine mammal projects including contaminants in Southern Resident killer whales, large whale entanglements, and tourism impacts on marine mammals.

Why did you choose this position?

I previously worked for a marine mammal rescue organization and wanted to gain experience in marine mammal management and policy.

What has been your favorite internship project and how has it made an impact?

My favorite project has been combining different samples from Southern Resident killer whales to look at the life histories of each individual animal, particularly related to contaminant levels. This is still a work in progress, but I hope it will add to the body of knowledge regarding this small, endangered population.

What is the most unexpected/challenging thing you have learned?

It has been really interesting to attend many of the Southern Resident killer whale working group meetings. By observing these meetings, I have learned a lot about the policy process and how decisions are made.

What is the most personally rewarding part of this experience?

Getting to see marine mammal management first hand.

Who are important heroes and/or mentors in your life?

My parents! They have always been really supportive of whatever I've wanted to do.

Katie Conroy

School: Stony Brook University

Degree: M.A. Marine Conservation and Policy

Why did you choose this field?

I wanted to work within a field that is actively protecting the marine environment. In the past, I have enjoyed translating important research about the marine environment to communities through education, but this summer I had the opportunity to continue doing similar work but to more directly help protect it.

Internship/Scholarship Program: The Pathways Program

Position Title: Biological Sciences Student Trainee

NMFS Office and Program: NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region, Protected Resource Division

Describe your internship and associated projects.

I interned for the Protected Resource Division which focuses on ESA-listed species management. I have mainly been working on two projects throughout the summer: kelp habitat restoration for the recovery of two ESA-listed Rockfish species, as well as a project focusing on the Chinook salmon fishery for the management of the Southern Resident killer whales. However, I have also been helping on many smaller projects including marine mammal stranding network educational materials and the whale entanglement forensics project.

Why did you choose this position?

Previously, I had worked with another marine mammal stranding network in Washington and really enjoyed my time there. I wanted to experience what it would be like working at the regional office for the marine mammal stranding network, so when the opportunity to be an intern within the Protected Resource Division was available, it was the perfect chance.

What has been your favorite internship project and how has it made an impact?

I don't have a favorite! I have been able to be apart of many projects and learn something different from each one of them. That is what I like about this internship, I can be exposed to many things related to the protection of ESA-listed species, I don't have to pick just one!

What is the most unexpected/challenging thing you have learned?

Before working here I thought the answer to some of these environmental issues were so simple. During my time here I’ve learned that when it comes to management, there is always a lot more going on then what I was previously aware of. Managing some of these ESA species is a lot more complex and difficult to achieve then I had originally believed.

What is the most personally rewarding part of this experience?

Recently, I was given a chance to present my analysis from my kelp habitat project to people within the Washington Department of Natural Resources. Seeing their reaction was very rewarding. It made me realize that the work I have been doing is important to management and will be used with on-going projects within the field.

Who are important heroes and/or mentors in your life?

I do not have any one hero or mentor in my life. With each school and job, I have met people along the way who have influenced me and have shaped the way I have grown. In the past, I have looked up to professors, coworkers and even my friends.

Wesley Noone

School: Oregon State University-Cascades

Degree: Biology

Why did you choose this field?

I have always been passionate and fascinated by animals. Growing up near the ocean introduced me to marine life and I eventually learned about salmon which spend their lives in freshwater and saltwater. Biology was a natural fit for me to learn all about animals, their environments, and how everything is connected at a molecular level.

Internship/Scholarship Program: Oregon Sea Grant

Position Title: Oregon Sea Grant Summer Scholar

NMFS Office and Program: NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Anadromous Production and Inland Fisheries Program

Describe your internship and associated projects.

My task is to develop analytical frameworks for analyzing effects of salmon and steelhead hatchery issues under the National Environmental Policy Act. My project consists of a literature review for peer reviewed climate change articles related to steelhead and salmon hatcheries.

Why did you choose this position?

NOAA Fisheries performs an amazing amount of duties for the American public, ocean resources, and habitat. I chose the position because I wanted to work with salmon and steelhead while addressing the threats they face. The project allowed me to use prior knowledge on steelhead ecology and utilize my understanding of climate change to advance the NOAA Fisheries mission.

What has been your favorite internship project and how has it made an impact?

My primary project has been the focus of my internship and it has been my favorite part of the experience. While I have attended meetings with Pacific Northwest tribes, state agencies, and local angling organizations I have been able to relate my project to the concerns of the stakeholders. Understanding the science behind the issues that salmonids are facing can play an important role in determining how to take action.

What is the most unexpected/challenging thing you have learned?

The most unexpected thing I have learned during my internship is the difficulty of addressing the issues facing salmon and steelhead. There is no "silver bullet" that will both lead to recovery of the species and satisfy all the stakeholders. Rather the solutions are complex and involve collaboration with the public, private industry, and tribal communities to achieve results.

What is the most personally rewarding part of this experience?

For me, getting a chance to work with the leadership at NOAA Fisheries has been very rewarding. I have seen the branch chiefs working with tribal and state partners through difficult topics and achieving a meaningful dialogue that can lead to action.

Who are important heroes and/or mentors in your life?

My parents and professors have influenced me a lot to get to where I am. Their stories of success and failure provided me with lessons to learn, often helping me through tough decisions.

Spencer Showalter

School: University of Washington, School of Marine and Environmental Affairs

Degree: Master of Marine Affairs

Why did you choose this field?

I've loved the ocean for as long as I can remember, and when I was eight years old I went clamming in south Puget Sound with a family friend who was also a kelp biologist for the state. To me, at that time, she knew everything there was to know, and I decided to go into marine science. I got that degree from Boston University, but along the way my love for the open ocean and the rocky intertidal had to fight with my interest in stewardship and not only studying marine life, but ensuring it would remain for generations to come. So for graduate school, I took a slight left turn into fisheries management, to bring together my love of the ocean and my passion for responsible stewardship of our natural resources.

Internship/Scholarship Program: The Pathways Program

Position Title: Biological Sciences Student Trainee

NMFS Office and Program: NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region, Sustainable Fisheries Division

Describe your internship and associated projects.

I got to help with the two major rulemakings that are currently being rolled out. I drafted the National Environmental Policy Act Finding of No Significant Impact and wrote the Compliance Guide for the 2019-2020 Harvest Specifications, and I contributed to the Environmental Assessment for the Trawl Gear Change rule. I also generated web content about all of the Endangered Species Act biological opinions that are currently in effect for the groundfish fishery.

Why did you choose this position?

I wanted to help manage fisheries in Seattle, and here I am!

What has been your favorite internship project and how has it made an impact?

I really enjoyed working on the Environmental Assessment for the Trawl Gear Change rule. The Environmental Assessment examines the potential environmental impacts of rescinding several gear restrictions whose purposes have been taken over by the implementation of the individual fishing quota (IFQ) system. It ensures that despite the removal of some regulations, the stocks will continue to be protected and managed sustainably.

What is the most unexpected/challenging thing you have learned?

The intricacies of the legal mandates to which NOAA is beholden are super interesting to me; I've read the Endangered Species Act at least three times this summer.

What is the most personally rewarding part of this experience?

I love feeling like I'm doing work that has somewhere to go!

Who are important heroes and/or mentors in your life?

The kelp biologist mentioned above was very influential for me. I also had a string of incredible mentors throughout school—my shift supervisor when I was a volunteer at The Marine Mammal Center, my high school biology teacher, my and a few of my professors at Boston University were incredibly encouraging and I learned a lot from all of them. My supervisor for this position, Aja Szumylo, has been an incredible boss and is always encouraging me and making the space for me to learn and experience as many things as possible. I am incredibly grateful that so many people have taken me under their wings and believed in me throughout my education.

Kong Pheng Vang

School: University of California Santa Barbara

Degrees: B.S. Aquatic Biology

Why did you choose this field?

I chose this field because I have never been to the ocean before attending the University of California Santa Barbara. Upon my arrival, I fell in love with the place more than the major itself. I developed a firm interest for oceans by taking upper division courses, volunteering at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center, and interning with labs on campus such as the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO) and Moorea Coral Reef Long Term Ecological Research (MCR LTER).

Internship/Scholarship Program: Oregon Sea Grant

Position Title: Oregon Sea Grant Summer Scholar

NMFS Office and Program: NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Anadromous Production and Inland Fisheries Program

Describe your internship and associated projects.

My internship with NOAA Fisheries involves developing outreach materials for the different Endangered Species Act (ESA) mechanism and consultation processes for salmonid hatchery programs.

Why did you choose this program?

I chose this program because I wanted to learn about hatcheries, the ESA consultation process, and to create outreach materials. I also wanted to experience working in an office setting, having my own cubicle.

What has been your favorite internship project and how has it made an impact?

My favorite internship project was creating the outreach materials. I am at the final stage where I am finalizing everything. I hope my project will clear up some confusion for applicants and save time for both parties. I will not be here but I hope to have applicants review the materials to see if additional improvements are needed and how helpful my project was.

What is the most unexpected/challenging thing you have learned?

Without any background in law or policy, the most challenging thing I learned was the Endangered Species Act.

What is the most personally rewarding part of this experience?

The most rewarding part of my experience was getting to meet new people, and talking to them about their career paths. After talking with so many people, it reassured me that there is no right path. However, there are many unexpected opportunities.

Who are important heroes and/or mentors in your life?

Important mentors in my life include my family. They taught me life lessons and skills I would not have otherwise encountered elsewhere.

Anything else you would like to share?

As a minority, low-income, and first generation college student, I struggle to be motivated because everyone I know is unmotivated. I have to stay self-motivated so I am always on the road searching for new opportunities given my underprivileged background.