Summer Fellowship Program Immerses Students in Diverse Scientific Research

This summer, Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego welcomed a group of motivated undergraduate students from across the country who were selected to participate in the 2024 Jane Teranes - Scripps Undergraduate Research Fellowship (JT-SURF) program.

Funded by the National Science Foundation Division of Ocean Sciences and supported by D-ENTERPRISE, 18 students were engaged in hands-on science during the ten-week summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at Scripps Oceanography. During their fellowship experience, JT-SURF students conducted original research under the mentorship of a Scripps faculty member or researcher. They also gained important insight into graduate school studies and future careers in earth, ocean and atmospheric sciences.  

The program is named after Scripps Teaching Professor Jane Teranes, who passed away in 2022. Teranes played a major role in shaping and leading the SURF program, which relaunched at Scripps in 2011 after a long hiatus. She served as principal investigator and program director for SURF starting in 2014, working closely with Student Affairs Manager Joshua Reeves to grow the program and increase diversity at Scripps Oceanography and within geosciences. 

The JT-SURF program carries forward this mission and is now led by Assistant Teaching Professor Dovi Kacev and Student Success and Summer Programs Coordinator Anaí Novoa. The program strongly encourages applications from students who identify as underrepresented minorities, first-generation, economically disadvantaged, veterans, those from nontraditional backgrounds, and individuals from institutions with limited undergraduate research opportunities.

Application information for next year’s program will be available in early 2025. Visit the JT-SURF webpage to learn more, and check out this Innovate 8 segment from CBS 8 highlighting this year's JT-SURF program. Discover more about the 2024 research projects in the profiles below.

Meet the 2024 JT-SURF program fellows:

Katie Chan (she/her) 

Home University: UCLA

Major: Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

I worked in Dr. Sarah Gille’s lab under the mentorship of Dr. Saulo Soares at Scripps Oceanography. I analyzed a numerical model of the San Pedro Basin to evaluate the environmental impact of deep-ocean dumping sites containing DDT barrels. This model will be used to recreate San Pedro Basin bottom water masses to analyze the frequency of flushing events, flow dynamics, and sediment transportation. My favorite part of my JT-SURF experience was the opportunity to network with scientists, meet other interns and peers in the cohort and enjoy the ocean!

Yovanni Fabian (he/him) 

Home University: San Diego Miramar College 

Major: Mechanical Engineering 

I was a member of the Marine Physical Laboratory at Scripps Oceanography where I worked under the mentorship of Postdoctoral Researcher Vanessa ZoBell. My research focused on acoustical oceanography, specifically analyzing noise produced by vessels off the coast of Santa Barbara and identifying effective strategies to reduce this noise. My favorite parts about this program included working in coding to analyze huge amounts of data and noticing trends, getting to network with other like-minded peers, and having a fun time in the ocean!

Louise Gabrielle Tibia (she/her)

Home University: UCLA

Major: Environmental Science

I studied atmospheric chemistry in Dr. Lynn Russell’s lab where I analyzed the relationship between cloud droplet size and liquid water content. My research project focused on how liquid water content is distributed across different droplet diameters in coastal stratocumulus clouds. As one of the online interns, I didn’t have the opportunity to interact with everyone in-person until our symposium where we all presented our research. It was so fun being able to meet all of my peers outside of the screen and view the work they accomplished in our time together.

Zakari Howard (she/they)

Home University: Haskell Indian Nations University

Major: Environmental Science

In the JT-SURF program, I worked in the Smith Lab under the mentorship of Dr. Adi Khen, PhD candidate Danielle McHaskell, PhD candidate Kelsey Miller, and Kalani Ortiz. I studied the effects of human activities on marine ecosystems and created strategies to restore or conserve these environments. My research focused on the Tribal Intertidal Digital Ecological Survey (TIDES) Project to monitor rocky intertidal zones over time using large-scale imaging and 3D software modeling software. My favorite part of JT-SURF was getting close to my mentors and cohort, as well as experiencing the beauty of California and the ocean!

Willow Jackson (she/her)

Home University: CSU Channel Islands

Major: Environmental Science and Resource Management 

During my time in the JT-SURF program I worked with Dr. Dan Lubin. My research focused on analyzing meteorological and satellite ocean color data over the Western Antarctic Peninsula for the Antarctic Low Cloud Interaction with Natural Aerosol project. This study aims to establish foundational climatological data on aerosol and cloud optical properties to advance understanding of Antarctic cloud dynamics. My most memorable experiences in this program include learning how to use the Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) for future educational and professional purposes and creating lifelong memories and friendships with other students in the cohort.

Carlo Makeever (he/him)

Home University: San Diego Mesa College 

Major: Computer Science and Physical Oceanography 

At Scripps Oceanography, I worked in Dr. Kate Ricke’s lab analyzing how blue capital of the deep sea is affected by different climate change scenarios. I learned mainly the mathematics behind statistical analysis and how computer science is used as a tool to better understand the world around us. My favorite part of the JT-SURF experience was being able to gain experience in working with and at Scripps Oceanography, which is where I hope to be when I transfer and as a postgraduate student.

Stefani Martinez (she/her)

Home University: University of Alaska Anchorage

Major: Chemistry

This summer, I worked with Dr. Lisa Levin to characterize the macrofauna on carbonate rocks at methane seeps of the Aleutian Margin of Alaska and to analyze the stable isotope composition of the animal samples taken from the sea floor. I was the only Alaska Native (Yup’ik) scientist on the expedition in Alaska. My most memorable experience this summer was being a part of the marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) conference where I learned about the current methods and policies in removing carbon dioxide in marine environments.

Yeishmary M. Soto Muñiz (she/her)

Home University: University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus

Major: Environmental Science

I worked with Dr. Brice Semmens and Dr. Farooq Azam on optimizing molecular biology techniques to utilize environmental DNA (eDNA) for detecting beaked whales in the Pacific Ocean. This involves extracting DNA from water column samples and conducting processes such as PCR, qPCR, and gene sequencing to identify the presence of whales. The most memorable part of my JT-SURF experience was working in such an incredible environment and gaining hands-on experience with molecular biology practices.

Sydney Perkins (she/her)

Home University: UC Berkeley

Major: Physics

I worked with Dr. Jennifer MacKinnon and postdocs Alejandra Sanchez-Rios and Filipe Pereira in the Multiscale Ocean Dynamics lab. My research looked at the ocean and surface heat flux to see how heat moves through the ocean and into the atmosphere during the formation of tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal. The most memorable part of the program was meeting all the other cool interns at Scripps Oceanography, attending all of the community events in my lab and with JT-SURF, and getting to surf at sunset.

Micah Pratt (he/him)

Home University: UC San Diego

Major: Geoscience

At Scripps Oceanography, I worked in the Scripps Tectonorockphysics Lab led by Dr. Vashan Wright. The project I worked on this summer involved finding the boundary stresses along landslides and determining how different grain properties and slopes of hills influence these stresses. My favorite part of the JT-SURF experience was meeting all the other interns and people related to Scripps Oceanography.

Alyssa Raynor (she/her)

Home University: University of South Carolina - Honors College

Major: Marine Science

I worked in Dr. Anela Choy’s lab and I was mentored by PhD student Rachel Chen. My research focused on how mercury concentrations vary in small crustaceans and fish (micronekton) based on factors such as depth, distance from shore, and species. Micronekton are commonly the small animals consumed by larger seafood species, like tuna. By studying them, we hope to get a better understanding of what to expect for mercury levels in our seafood as a result. The most memorable part of my JT-SURF experience was getting to connect with others, both in my cohort and inside of my lab!

Demian Rodriguez (he/him)

Home University: University of Southern California

Major: Astronautical Engineering

I worked with Dr. Yassir Eddebbar in the Marine Ecosystem Sensing, Observation and Modeling (MESOM) laboratory analyzing the biogeochemistry of the tropical Pacific Ocean and how it is affected by the El Niño Southern Oscillation event. I compared data from a NOAA satellite and BGC-Argo floats, and I also analyzed sea-surface temperature anomalies during El Niño years. My most memorable part of the summer was having my code work perfectly after countless hours of debugging! We also took a tour of the Scripps Pier and that was pretty awesome, especially after learning that a pier tour is very exclusive.

Kiko Rubio (they/them)

Home Universities: Southwestern Community College/Kumeyaay Community College

Majors: Anthropology and Baja Studies/Kumeyaay Studies

This summer, I was an intern in the Smith Lab focusing on interdisciplinary research that analyzed human interactions with marine environments and the biodiversity of coastal marine ecology in the California/Baja region. I assisted with non-native species research, the TIDES project, and the seaweed aquaculture lab. One of my most memorable moments during the JT-SURF program was receiving intertidal species identification training by my mentors and getting to witness these species in their habitat while tidepooling and snorkeling in La Jolla Shores.

MariaJose Ruiz (she/her)

Home University: Southwestern College

Major: Biochemistry

At Scripps Oceanography, I worked under the mentorship of graduate student Sho Kodera in the Gilbert Lab where my research focused on microbial oceanography. I analyzed coral reef microbiome data from the Ryukyu Islands to enhance understanding of the complex interactions between coral reefs and their associated microbial communities, ultimately contributing to broader conservation efforts. The most memorable parts of JT-SURF included gaining knowledge from the experience, obtaining a deeper understanding of coding, working with microbiome data, making fun memories with new friends, and being near the beach!

Savanna Saunders (she/her)

Home University: University of Arizona - W.A. Franke Honors College

Major: Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

At Scripps Oceanography, I was a part of Dr. Geno Pawlak’s lab, working with postdoc Pallav Ranjan. I analyzed flow interactions on an offshore macroalgal farm by looking at GPS data and biomass estimates. I helped build a MATLAB code to digest the GPS data and find the flow velocity of the kelp farm. This research is beneficial for regenerative aquaculture and biofuel production. My favorite part of the JT-SURF experience was meeting so many amazing scientists and people in my cohort whom I can go to the beach and explore San Diego with.

Anderian Sawa (he/him)

Home University: UC San Diego

Major: Aerospace Engineering

My journey at Scripps Oceanography began with an internship with the NSF-funded Scripps-GEO program and continued with my project in the JT-SURF program funded by D-ENTERPRISE. I had the honor of working with Dr. Ross Parnell-Turner on the heat flow measurements taken on the International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 395. This research helps us better understand how heat is transferred in oceanic settings. My most memorable part of the JT-SURF experience was working in a professional academic environment with supportive peers and the beautiful nature of Scripps Oceanography.

Julia Sutton (she/her) 

Home University: Howard University 

Major: Biology 

This summer I worked in the Jensen lab under Dr. Paul Jensen and mentor Dr. Douglas Sweeney. My research focused on analyzing the natural products produced by marine microbial communities to discover potential inhibitors that could be used for cancer drug discovery. This involves learning and understanding microbiological processes, as well as analytical chemistry techniques. My most memorable part of the SURF experience was getting the opportunity to meet such genuine and nice people, peers and lab coworkers, whom I have grown close with over the summer.