On National Intern Day, NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) is celebrating our 2024 summer internship class! From high school students to post doctoral fellows, these exceptional individuals are joining us from schools across the country, from Hawaii to Florida. They are researching corals, microbes, hurricanes, air-sea interaction, ocean acidification, communications strategies, and much more.
Some of the 2024 interns, fellows, and scholars are participating in NOAA programs that provide hands-on opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of ocean and atmospheric sciences, such as NOAA Experiential Research and Training Opportunities (NERTO), Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program, William M. Lapenta – NOAA student internship program, and Knauss Fellowship program. Other students join AOML through collaborations with our partners, such as the University of Miami, CIMAS, and Miami-Dade College (through the CIMAS/Miami-Dade College internship program). However they found us, we are so grateful for their outstanding work during their time at AOML. To learn more about student opportunities with NOAA, please visit the NOAA student opportunities database.
Meet the 2024 AOML interns:
Sterling R. Butler is a William M. Lapenta scholar joining AOML’s Ocean Chemistry and Ecosystems Division as an intern under Dr. Stephanie Rosales. His work as an intern involves microbes, environmental stressors, and their role in Acropora cervicornis success and fitness. This work builds on his studies as a Master’s of Science Student at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School for Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science.
Alexandra Ceurvorst is pursuing a Masters degree in Tropical Marine Ecosystem Management with the University of Miami Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Science and joins the AOML communications team as a year-long intern. Her background in marine mammal stranding response, aquatic animal husbandry, journalism, photography and graphic design give her a unique perspective to make marine and atmospheric science more accessible to the public.
Kenzie Cooke joins AOML’s Coral Program as a CIMAS Undergraduate Student Assistant. Kenzie is currently a student at the University of Miami, earning a B.S. in Marine Biology and Ecology and will be assisting the Experimental Reef Lab with experiments and related water chemistry analysis, as well as helping with current and future design and manufacturing needs.
Nolan Dietz Velarde is an undergraduate at the University of Miami, majoring in Political Science with a focus on Environmental Science & Policy. Passionate about uniting legal frameworks with environmental advocacy, Nolan aspires to become an environmental attorney dedicated to advocating sustainable practices and equitable policies. Joining the AOML communications team marks an exciting step towards realizing these ambitions, offering a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful scientific research and policy development.
Dunnel Fennell is an intern with the CIMAS/Miami-Dade College internship program. He recently earned a Bachelor of Biological Science degree with a focus on biotechnology. This summer he is working in AOML’s Ocean Chemistry & Ecosystems Division with mentor Nick Macknight. He is assisting with a microbial ecology computer-focused (bioinformatics) project using bacterial sequence data from Pacific coral.
Leonardo Fernandez Bringas is a Senior at MAST Academy and a Team Leader in the Robotics Club. He designed and constructed a six-legged walking robot as part of a STEM project. He will intern during the 2024-2025 academic school year, assisting in engineering tasks focused on acquiring oceanographic observations.
James Haynes Jr. is a Senior at MAST Academy. He is a member of the National Honor Society and organizes club events like tutoring and drives. He has taken AP classes in Calculus, Environmental Science, and Biology. He will intern during the 2024-2025 academic school year, assisting in engineering tasks focused on acquiring oceanographic observations.
Luis Hernandez is a first-year PhD student from the University at Albany, SUNY, and a fellow at NOAA’s Center for Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology II (NCAS-M II). Luis is working with Ghassan Alaka and Michael Fischer, from AOML’s Hurricane Research Division, on vortex tilt reduction using the HAFS model.
Deelan Jariwala is a rising junior undergraduate student at the University of Miami studying meteorology and math. This summer, he has been working remotely with the Hurricane Research Division’s Dr. Michael Fischer and Dr. Trey Alvey on a project analyzing Tail-Doppler Radar data in the context of sheared, weak tropical cyclones and how their vortexes align or misalign.
Jose Jerez is an intern with the CIMAS/Miami-Dade College (MDC) internship program. He recently completed his Associate’s Degree in civil engineering from MDC. This summer he is working in AOML’s Physical Oceanography Division with mentors Tiago Bilo and Marlos Goes. His project is assessing the relationship between sea level measurements from Biscayne Bay and climate, oceanographic, and atmospheric phenomena.
Krithika Layagala is a rising senior undergraduate student at the College of William & Mary majoring in Biology with a minor in Conservation. She joined the AOML’s coral research program as a NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Scholar Intern this summer to investigate the transmissibility of stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) to Pacific coral species Pavona clavus and Pocillopora damicornis.
Devon Ledbetter is a Masters student at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Science. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Professional Science in Marine Conservation. Devon has an interdisciplinary background in science communication ranging from social media management, web writing, and public outreach. Through her internship at AOML, Devon will support the communications team throughout 2024 by developing innovative and engaging public outreach and social media strategies.
Alicia Marley holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and geography from the University of St. Andrews and is currently pursuing a professional master’s degree in Marine Biology and Ecology at the University of Miami. At AOML, Alicia works remotely with NOAA Ocean Exploration, handling and visualizing data generated by Argo floats to explore subsurface temperature anomalies in the Gulf of Mexico. Alicia hopes to apply her improved data analysis skills and penchant for fieldwork to a future career in coastal marine ecosystem management.
Shannon McCloskey is a master’s student studying Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School for Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. She joins AOML as an intern with the Hurricane Research Division and is working with Dr. Michael Fischer on a project aimed at improving our understanding of tropical cyclone intensity change during eyewall replacement cycles. Shannon will be analyzing airborne Doppler radar observations from the TC-RADAR database, with a focus on Hurricanes Harvey (2017) and Ian (2022).
Hanna Odahara is a 2024 Knauss fellow at AOML serving as a Transition Program Support. She completed both a bachelor of science degree in marine biology and a master of science in marine science at Hawaii Pacific University. Hanna’s research background was focused on corals, spanning from genetics to geochemistry. Her thesis used Raman spectroscopy to investigate how chemical processes that support coral growth are impacted by bleaching events. She is excited to spend this year learning how to transfer research into meaningful outcomes using communication and collaboration.
Orianna Osorio-Jimenez is an undergraduate student at Miami Dade College (MDC) later transferring to FIU pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and a minor in Biology. She is part of the CIMAS/Miami-Dade College (MDC) internship program as an intern with the AOML’s Ocean Chemistry & Ecosystems Division with mentor Francis Serrano. This summer she is investigating different preservation methods for eDNA as it serves for global biodiversity monitoring as well as learning all different laboratory techniques such as DNA extractions, PCR, and gel electrophoresis.
Carolina Perez is a NOAA Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies (NOAA CESSRST II) Cohort I Graduate Research Fellow. She is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the City College of New York. She joined AOML’s Ocean Chemistry & Ecosystems Division this summer as a NOAA-Experiential Research and Training Opportunities (NERTO) intern under the supervision of Enrique Montes and Chris Kelble. Carolina is examining environmental drivers of planktonic communities in Florida waters and the Hudson River Estuary by using satellite, thermal, and ocean color data to characterize oceanographic and water quality conditions in these areas. She is also learning to process net-tow samples with a plankton imaging device and integrate these measurements with satellite data.
Myah Rather is a first-year PhD student at Howard University in the Atmospheric Science Program. She recently graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor’s degree in Atmospheric Science and Meteorology. While at AOML, Myah has been working in AOML’s Hurricane Research Division alongside Sundararaman “Gopal” Gopalakrishnan, Andrew Hazelton, Ghassan Alaka on assessing the HAFs model. She has been running the model and learning tracking and steering of hurricane development, in this case Hurricane Ian. When not immersed in studying our atmosphere through weather books, you’ll find her running on trails or by the beach.
Corinne Renshaw is a Hollings scholar with the AOML Coral Program, simulating the response of Scleractinia corals to ocean acidification in the Experimental Reef Lab, under the leadership of Dr. Ian Enochs.
Pablo Rodriguez is a rising senior at Mast Academy interested in mathematics, biology and environmental sustainability. While at AOML, he is working with William Bouza and Neal Dorst on updating the aircraft mission historical database in the Hurricane Research Division IT room.
Sydney Schumacher is a William M. Lapenta intern and rising third year undergraduate student at the University of Washington studying marine biology and oceanography. This summer she is working with AOML’s Ocean Chemistry & Ecosystems Division with mentors Dr. Luke Thompson and Dr. Emily Osborne to assess eDNA data from a sediment trap in the Gulf of Mexico.
Emilia Silverberg is a year-long intern with AOML’s Coral Program supporting genetic, ecological, and biochemical research to elucidate anthropogenic impacts on corals and coral reef ecosystems.
Asher Spector is a senior at MAST Academy interested in math, physics, and computer science. He plans to pursue applied math at the graduate level. When not kayaking or rowing in Biscayne Bay, Asher is trying to automate plant growth to make his own hot sauce or programming bots to make jokes. While at AOML, he is working with Shaun Dolk and the Global Drifter Program.
Ashley Stevens is a year-long intern with AOML’s Coral Program. She recently graduated from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School with a Master of Professional Science degree in Tropical Marine Ecosystem Management. Ashley assists with ongoing research projects both in the field and the lab.
Reneisha Sweet is a NOAA Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems-II (CCME-II), Cohort 1 Scholar at Jackson State University. She is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Biology. This summer, Reneisha is working with AOML’s Ocean Chemistry and Ecosystems Division, through the NOAA Experiential Research and Training Opportunities (NERTO) program, on Spiny Lobster Environmental DNA (eDNA) with Dr. Stephanie Rosales.
Lily Thomas is a rising senior at Choate Rosemary Hall and a student at the Kohler Environmental Center there. This summer, she is working in the Coral Program assisting Taylor Gill with Mission: Iconic Reef Climate Monitoring.
Nikhil Trivedi is a rising junior undergraduate student studying Atmospheric/Oceanic Sciences and Computer Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This summer, he’s working with AOML’s Hurricane Research Division, specifically the Hurricane Modeling Group, as a William M. Lapenta intern to help assess the performance of the HAFS model under various conditions.
Lillian Zhou is a student at the University of Maryland and a NOAA-William Lapenta intern. While at AOML, she has been working with Emily Osborne, Enrique Montes, and Luke Thompson in the Ocean Chemistry and Ecosystems Division.