Since 2006, NOAA has partnered with selected colleges to provide undergraduate students college-funded summer internship opportunities. Students are enrolled in one of the partner colleges and participate and apply through that college. NOAA also collaborates with other universities to offer internship opportunities to help them fulfill their degree requirements.
This year, the Northeast Fisheries Science Center hosted eight students from six states and seven different colleges and universities in five states. Project topic areas range from ocean acidification, aquaculture, chemical pollution, to fish behavior, reproduction, and ageing. Some projects involved technologies like passive acoustics.
In each profile, students outline their project, explain why it's important, and—always the most compelling part—share insights they’ve gained into marine science as a career during their time with us.
Sally Ehlers (She/Her/Hers)
Bio:
Hometown: Little Silver, New Jersey
University: Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Major: Environmental science
Internship Mentor(s):
- Chris Chambers, Northeast Fisheries Science Center
- Ann Petersen, Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Project:
My internship began April 1. Since then, I’ve worked on several projects that address the impacts of environmental stressors on young life stages of marine and estuarine fish. These projects include:
- Sediment exposure study looking at the effects of sediments contaminated with dioxin on white perch
- Experimental assessment of impacts of long-lasting chemicals called perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances on forage fish
- Meta-analysis looking at the effects of ocean acidification on fish in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean along the U.S.-Canada transboundary
Insight:
This internship has been a rewarding learning experience. I‘ve gained many new skills such as microscopy, larval imaging, and fish husbandry. I especially enjoyed conducting fieldwork in nearby rivers and bays. I’m thankful for the opportunity to work with a welcoming and very knowledgeable lab team and gain insight into future career paths.
Lorelei Ing (She/Her/Hers)
Bio:
Hometown: Austin, Texas
University: Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts
Major: Biology
Internship Mentor(s):
- Chris Chambers, Northeast Fisheries Science Center
- Ehren Habeck, Northeast Fisheries Science Center
- Delan Boyce, Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Project:
My project focused on the damage caused by a class of chemicals called perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These long-lasting chemicals are widely used in industry and consumer products. They break down very slowly and may harm marine life. We’ve been exposing Atlantic silverside and mummichog fish embryos to a range of doses and assessing effects on growth, development, and survival of the embryonic and early larval stages.
Insight:
This summer, I’ve enjoyed working with other scientists and being involved in the behind-the-scenes work done in scientific experiments. Many of these activities aren’t mentioned in scientific literature. I’ve also been honing a variety of lab and field skills that I can apply in my future career, including:
- Rearing larval fish
- Strip spawning adult fish
- Taking photos of fish embryos and larvae for image analyses
- Measuring oxygen consumption rates in early life stages of larvae and eggs
Noah Laber (He/Him/His)
Bio:
Hometown: Ventura, California
University: Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont
Major: Biology and environmental science
Internship Mentor(s):
- Jessica McCordic, Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Project:
For my project, I’ve been using passive acoustics to document hourly baleen whale presence in Dampier Marine Park off the coast of Western Australia. Whale presence hasn’t been studied much at many of the marine parks in Australia. This work will help us learn about baleen whale migration patterns in this area of the world. Other soundscape data will help serve as background for future projects led by the Science Center’s passive acoustics group.
Insight:
This internship has introduced me to the experience of working in a team environment with the passive acoustics group. I've learned about public speaking, communicating scientific information, and collaborating with other researchers in my field.
Sonia Liu (She/Her/Hers)
Bio:
Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
University: Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts
Degree Program: Master's program in marine biology
Internship Mentor(s):
- Jessica McCordic, Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Project:
I’ve been interning with the Science Center’s passive acoustics group as part of my master’s degree program. I’ve been using a specialized software called Raven to review acoustic data collected by recorders deployed in various protected areas within Australia’s Marine Parks. This is the first time these parks have been looked at acoustically. To better understand park activities, I’ve been monitoring the presence of boats and other vessels in the parks as well as other soundscapes in the parks, including the presence of baleen whales. This work will provide valuable ground truthing that will be used to validate future soundscape measurements.
Insight:
This internship was a great starting point for me to get familiar with the world of acoustics. It has taught me skills that I may need to get a job in this field or enter a doctoral degree program studying dolphin acoustics and communication.
Samuel Pletcher (He/Him/His)
Bio:
Hometown: Mill Valley, California
University: Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut
Major: Ecology and evolutionary biology
Internship Mentor(s):
- Renee Mercaldo-Allen, Northeast Fisheries Science Center
- Julie Rose, Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Project:
For my project, I’ve been examining the behavior of scup that interact with oyster aquaculture gear in Long Island Sound, Connecticut. I’ve been using GoPro footage collected at a local oyster aquaculture farm and a specialized behavioral research software called Observer XT to assess scup behavior at different times of day. I’ve also been comparing how scup interact with oyster aquaculture cages with how they interact with natural rock reefs. This work is part of a larger study conducted by scientists at the Science Center’s Milford Laboratory.
Insight:
In addition to developing skills with new software, my time in the internship has given me a behind-the-scenes look at the scale of a large, complex research study. While attending meetings, scheduling workshops, and having conversations with mentors, I've been able to appreciate the hard work that goes into research as well as getting to know a fantastic and inspiring team.
Anne Smith (She/Her/Hers)
Bio:
Hometown: Fairfield, Connecticut
University: College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts
Major: Biology
Internship Mentor(s):
- Xavier Mouy, Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Project:
I’ve been using passive acoustics to analyze sound files for evidence of haddock in the Gulf of Maine. This project helps provide information about the distribution of haddock courtship and spawning. These need to be closely monitored to ensure a sustainable fishery.
Insight:
My internship with the Science Center’s passive acoustic group has introduced me to a whole new area of science technology. I've learned new acoustic programs that will help me in any future internships or jobs working with sound technology.
Bryn Stillwell (She/Her/Hers)
Bio:
Hometown: Narragansett, Rhode Island
University: University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, California
Major: Marine biology
Internship Mentor(s):
- Michelle Passerotti, Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Project:
I’ve been working with the Science Center's Apex Predators Program on a shark ageing study. There are still many unknowns when it comes to sharks and their age. However, like trees, most sharks deposit rings in their vertebrae yearly. I’ve been sectioning and analyzing night shark vertebrae to better understand their age and growth. This work will offer more insight into the life history of this shark, including the relationship between size and reproductive maturity. This will help with the management of their populations.
Insight:
Despite being in desperate need of protection, sharks are still one of the most misunderstood creatures on the planet. With the help of my mentor, I now have a deeper and more intricate understanding of the divisions that exist between research and conservation. Having the opportunity to witness the research needed to enact protection, along with what happens behind the scenes of fisheries management, has been invaluable to how I view and look forward to my future in the sciences.
For more information, please contact Heather Soulen.
