PMEL is excited to host 5 students this summer through NOAA’s Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship program, NOAA’s College-Supported Internship Program, and the University of Washington’s Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean (JISAO) internship program. They are working across various groups at PMEL: Genetics and Genomics, Ocean Carbon, Ocean Tracers and Atmospheric Chemistry.

Claudia Althoen

Claudia is a Hollings Scholar studying at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities majoring in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management with minors in Climatology, Earth Sciences, Marine Biology, and Creative Writing. Claudia is originally from Bemidji, Minnesota and enjoys playing piano, exercising, and exploring the great outdoors and has also taken up a new hobby recently: nephology.

For my internship, I'm working with Trish Quinn and the Atmospheric Chemistry group analyzing the OC-EC and cation/anion concentrations and the chemical composition of the sea spray aerosol samples collected during NAAMES expeditions. I'm looking to see what kind of role phytoplankton blooms play on SSA, and perhaps if there's time, whether synoptic meteorology plays a role as well. I really like how this internship is a combination of atmospheric science and ocean science, and that I'm researching something that I never knew much about (sea spray aerosols) before! It's been a great learning experience and the people here are terrific! I'm planning to pursue a dual degree in graduate school, and down the road I'd like to work in a federal agency doing research.

I would definitely recommend opportunities at NOAA to other students. It's a great way to get first-hand experience doing research in a federal agency, and the research experience gained is invaluable.

Dakota Hunt

Dakota Hunt is a JISAO summer intern working with PMEL's genetics and genomics group. He is originally from Australia but is studying chemistry at Carleton College.  

Virginia Parker

Virginia Parker is a rising senior at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland. As a Maryland native, this is her first time on the west coast. She is an environmental science major and also the philanthropy chair of her sorority- Alpha Omicron Pi. 

My internship is with the carbon group at PMEL under Adrienne Sutton and Sophie Chu, where I will be synthesizing my own analysis of subsurface carbon dioxide data and other chemical/physical water parameters. Then, I will be comparing this data to surface water data. I am a part of the NOAA College Supported Internship program, and heard about it from other classmates who had participated in this program at other NOAA locations. I would like to go on to pursue a PhD, hopefully one day ending up in a research position. 

Kelly Tingle

Kelly is a JISAO undergraduate intern from Rhode Island. She currently attends two community colleges in the San Francisco bay area; Berkeley City College and Laney College and plans to major in oceanography. She enjoys cooking, biking and camping.

This summer, I’m work with Dr. Rolf Sonnerup, Dr. Sabine Mecking, and Dr. Mariona Claret at UW and JISAO. My project focuses on methods of determining how much biological production occurs in the open ocean. I am testing techniques (measuring the rate of oxygen consumption and dating water parcels using CFC tracers) on model output to determine where they work in the global ocean. 

I would definitely recommend this internship to anyone hoping to pursue a career in oceanography! I've learned so much already, and it is only been a few weeks.

Treasure Warren

Treasure Warren is a rising senior at the University of California – Davis majoring in Environmental Chemistry. She is spending the summer as a JISAO undergraduate intern working with PMEL researchers in the Ocean Carbon program.  

My internship at PMEL is focused on ocean acidification by analyzing model output and mooring data from the California coast. Specifically, I am looking at seasonal variability of pH and aragonite saturation of subsurface seawater. I am elated to have this opportunity to learn about ocean acidification. Another reason I am excited about my project is I'm learning my first programming langue, python. 

At UC Davis, I am currently doing undergraduate research with the Mentorships for Undergraduate Research Participants in the Physical and Mathematical Sciences (MURPPS), focusing on electric chemistry. I also recently completed an internship with UC Davis’ Cross Cultural Center serving the Mixed Heritage Community! I am of mixed heritage with Jamaican and Irish roots.

I am looking forward to graduate studies after graduation, and would definitely consider a career with a federal agency. I highly recommend opportunities at NOAA to students because it is a great environment to grow and explore your interest in environmental science.