NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) is celebrating our FY 2024 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:
Alexander Balladares is a Florida International University student who worked with AOML’s Physical Oceanography Division in the Engineering Group, under the guidance of Pedro Peña, to learn about the technology and instruments used in oceanography so as to better understand the tools for ocean conservation.
Jacqueline Bloome was a communications volunteer intern during her gap year between high school and starting college abroad. During her internship, she learned how to create an animation with water color paintings to outline a story about how ship ballast water impacts coral reefs. Jacqueline nows attend Leiden University in the Netherlands studying international relations.
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 involved 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.
Alexandra Ceurvorst is pursuing a Masters degree in Tropical Marine Ecosystem Management at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School and joined the AOML communications team as a University of Miami-CIMAS Communications Intern. Her background in marine mammal stranding response, aquatic animal husbandry, journalism, photography and graphic design give her a unique perspective to make science more accessible to the public.
Kenzie Cooke joined 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 is 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. Joining the AOML communications team marks an exciting step towards realizing these ambitions, offering a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful scientific research.
Dunnel Fennell was 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 worked in AOML’s Ocean Chemistry & Ecosystems Division with mentor Nick Macknight. He assisted with a microbial ecology computer-focused 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 worked with Ghassan Alaka and Michael Fischer, from AOML’s Hurricane Research Division, on vortex tilt reduction using the HAFS model.
Deelan Jariwala is an undergraduate student at the University of Miami studying meteorology and math. This summer, he has been working 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 worked 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 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, 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 with CIMAS at AOML, Devon supported the communications team by developing innovative and engaging public outreach and social media strategies.
Christopher Malanuk was a CIMAS communications intern at AOML working primarily in association with the Ocean Chemistry and Ecosystem Division. Having graduated with a Masters of Professional Science Degree in Marine Conservation from the University of Miami, he excelled at combining his passions for writing and marine biology to engage broader audiences in the work being done at AOML.
Alicia Marley holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and geography from the University of St. Andrews and is 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.
Shannon McCloskey is a master’s student studying Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School. She joined AOML as an intern with the Hurricane Research Division and worked with Dr. Michael Fischer on a project aimed at improving our understanding of tropical cyclone intensity change during eyewall replacement cycles. Shannon analyzed airborne Doppler radar observations from Hurricanes Harvey (2017) and Ian (2022).
Ashvin Namboodiri is pursuing a Masters of Professional Science Degree in Natural Hazards and Catastrophes from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School. He joined AOML as an intern with the Hurricane Research Division and worked primarily on developing an inventory of products and techniques that have the potential to go into the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS).
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.
Orianna Osorio-Jimenez is an undergraduate student at Miami Dade College (MDC), pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and a minor in Biology. She is part of the CIMAS/MDC internship program working with AOML’s Ocean Chemistry & Ecosystems Division and mentor Francis Serrano. This summer she investigated different preservation methods for eDNA and learned 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 pursuing a Master’s Degree in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the City College of New York. She joined the Ocean Chemistry & Ecosystems Division as a NOAA-Experiential Research and Training Opportunities (NERTO) intern and examined environmental drivers of planktonic communities in Florida waters and the Hudson River Estuary by using satellite, thermal, and ocean color data.
Marike Pinsoneault joined AOML as a University of Miami-CIMAS Communications Intern. Marike completed her BS degree at Dalhousie University with a double major in Marine Biology and Cinema and Media Studies and a Master of Professional Science degree in Marine Conservation at the University of Miami. Marike promoted the lab’s research efforts by writing scientific articles, producing engaging videos, supporting and growing the lab’s social media presence, assisting outreach initiatives, and more!
Myah Rather is a first-year PhD student at Howard University in the Atmospheric Science Program. She graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor’s degree in Atmospheric Science and Meteorology. While at AOML, Myah worked in AOML’s Hurricane Research Division alongside Sundararaman Gopalakrishnan, Andrew Hazelton, Ghassan Alaka on assessing the HAFs model. She has been running the model and learning about hurricane development.
Corinne Renshaw was 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 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 for the Hurricane Research Division.
Owen Rogers is a student at Mast Academy interested in engineering. While at AOML, he is working with Andrew Stefanick and Ulises Rivero in the Physical Oceanography Division.
Sydney Schumacher is a William M. Lapenta intern and third year undergraduate student at the University of Washington studying marine biology and oceanography. This summer she worked 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 where she is pursuing a Masters Degree in Biology. Reneisha worked 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 senior at Choate Rosemary Hall and a student at the Kohler Environmental Center there. This summer, she worked in the Coral Program assisting Taylor Gill with Mission: Iconic Reef Climate Monitoring.
Nikhil Trivedi is a 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.
Felipe Urrutia is pursuing an M.S. degree in marine biology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christ and is a NOAA EPP/MSI Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (CCME)-II, Cohort-II Scholar. During his internship at AOML, he conducted a comparative analysis of habitat suitability modeling and the VAST framework used in NOA ecosystem assessments.
Lillian Zhou is a student at the University of Maryland and a NOAA-William Lapenta intern. While at AOML, she worked with Emily Osborne, Enrique Montes, and Luke Thompson in the Ocean Chemistry & Ecosystems Division.