EPP/MSI students present research at ASLO Ocean Sciences Meeting

Last month, three EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholars presented research conducted during their summer internship with NOAA at the ASLO Ocean Sciences Meeting. The ASLO Ocean Sciences Meeting was held at the Ernest M. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, from February 21-26th, 2016. The annual meeting is co-sponsored by the American Geophysical Union, the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO), and The Oceanographic Society, and attracts thousands of marine scientists and students from around the world.

EPP/MSI USP Class of 2015 Scholar Kenya Bynes explains stock assessments to Dr. Spinrad, the NOAA Chief Scientist.
EPP/MSI USP Class of 2015 Scholar Kenya Bynes explains stock assessments to Dr. Spinrad, the NOAA Chief Scientist. (NOAA)

Mikayla Jones (Marine Biology Major; University of Hawaii at Hilo) presented a poster on research conducted on shell color polymorphism in the marine gastropod, Mitrella fusiformis, while Jim Freed (Marine Biology Major; University of California; Santa Cruz) presented a poster on the deep-sea coral image catalog he developed during his internship for the Northeast Pacific. Kenya Bynes (Marine Environmental Science Major; Hampton University) also presented a poster on fisheries stock assessment, research also conducted during her summer internship at NOAA.

In addition to the EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholars, 11 undergraduate and graduate students from the NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center (LMRCSC) presented at the conference; including students from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore; Hampton University; Delaware State University; and, Oregon State University. The ASLO Ocean Sciences Meeting afforded students the opportunity to expand their knowledge, network and share research findings with leaders in the field of marine science.

EPP/MSI USP Class of 2015 Scholar Jim Freed presenting his poster about the deep-sea coral image catalog he developed for the Northeast Pacific.
EPP/MSI USP Class of 2015 Scholar Jim Freed presenting his poster about the deep-sea coral image catalog he developed for the Northeast Pacific. (Todd Christenson)
EPP/MSI USP Class of 2015 Scholar Mikayla Jones presenting her poster on shell color polymorphism of a marine gastropod.
EPP/MSI USP Class of 2015 Scholar Mikayla Jones presenting her poster on shell color polymorphism of a marine gastropod. (Todd Christenson)

EPP/MSI Undergrad Scholar Presentations at ASLO:

Mikayla Jones

Shell color polymorphism in the marine gastropod Mitrella fusiformis

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 4:00- 6:00 PM

Poster ME24C-0725 Ernest N. Morial Convention Center- Poster Hall

Mikayla, an EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholar from the Class of 2015, is studying Marine Biology at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. During her 2016 summer internship, Mikayla will conduct a laboratory assessment of cetacean thyroid hormones in blubber tissue with respect to demographic. She will be based at the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center under the mentorship of Nicholas Kellar.

Jim Freed

Deep-Sea Coral Image Catalog: Northeast Pacific

Monday, February 22, 2016 4:00- 6:00 PM

Poster ED14B-1645 Ernest N. Morial Convention Center- Poster Hall

Jim, an EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholar from the Class of 2015, is a Marine Biology major at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Jim’s 2016 summer internship with NOAA will be focused on the life history and ecosystem interactions of the ribbonfish, Trachipterus altivelis, in the California Current. He will be based at the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center under the mentorship of John Field.