College and Supported Education Students of 2024 Express Glimpses into Their Academic Journeys
In the summer of 202X, six students from six different colleges and universities participated in the NOAA college-funded summer internship program at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC). This programme provides participants with hands-on experience in fisheries science, including research and conservation projects under NOAA's mission.
One of the students, Bethany DeLoof, a Master's degree student at the University of Rhode Island, enjoyed interviewing fishermen participating in the Cooperative Shark Tagging Program as part of her project. Her work aimed to highlight the Apex Predators Program's work for a public audience.
Anna Weiner, a student at Wellesley College majoring in Biology and Spanish, focused her project on studying the impact of urbanization and contaminants on River Herring populations. She found the advice she received from her mentor and other researchers during her internship experience inspiring and made a career in research seem attainable and exciting.
Molly Spencer, a Master's student in coastal sciences at the University of Southern Mississippi, reevaluated the Atlantic Surfclam Stock Assessment Survey Design as part of her project. The most exciting part of her work was that it hadn't been done before, and the outcome will inform a major U.S. shellfish fishery on stock sustainability in a time of global climate change.
Alison Trackman, a student at Carleton College majoring in Physics, gained significant hands-on lab experience at the Sandy Hook Lab as part of her project. She worked on understanding River Herring condition through lipid content and fatty acid composition.
Daniel DeMilia, an Environmental Studies and Health student at Brandeis University, was involved in the validation of coldwater fish age by spontaneous amino acid racemization.
The internships offered the opportunity to participate in multidisciplinary team projects, learn from NOAA scientists, and gain practical experience in marine biology, ecology, and environmental science. The projects focused on science communication, fish ageing and condition, eDNA, stock assessments, and the impacts of urbanization and contaminants on fish populations.
For more detailed current-year information about the NEFSC internship, NOAA Fisheries’ website or contacting the NEFSC education office directly would provide the most comprehensive and updated program specifics.
References:
- NOAA Fisheries. (n.d.). Internships. Retrieved from https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/education/internships
- Northeast Fisheries Science Center. (n.d.). Internships. Retrieved from https://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/education/internships/
- NOAA Fisheries. (n.d.). COASTSPAN. Retrieved from https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/science/coastal-change-and-interactions-program/coastspan
- Northeast Fisheries Science Center. (n.d.). COASTSPAN. Retrieved from https://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/science/coastal-change-and-interactions-program/coastspan/
- NOAA Fisheries. (n.d.). Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. Retrieved from https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national-marine-sanctuaries/northeast-canyons-and-seamounts-marine-national-monument
- Southern Connecticut State University. (n.d.). Integrative Biological Diversity. Retrieved from https://www.southernct.edu/academics/programs/biology/integrative-biological-diversity/
- Bethany DeLoof, Alison Trackman, and Daniel DeMilia utilized online-education resources to enhance their knowledge of climate change, allowing them to approach their research projects with a deeper understanding of its implications on fish populations and marine ecosystems.
- The NOAA college-funded summer internship program at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) not only provides education-and-self-development opportunities through hands-on experience in fisheries science but also encourages students to share their learning with the public through science communication, furthering the cause of climate change awareness.
