The overarching goal of the SURF program is to recruit and retain diverse and
talented students into our field. Ocean
sciences, earth science, atmospheric science.
We have a particular emphasis on
increasing diversity in our field and by
that we mean underrepresented minorities. And also students who haven't had
opportunities to try research before.
I'm studying chemical ecology.
Specifically between Salinispora tropica,
which is a marine actinomycete
discovered by Dr. Paul Jensen.
Our goal is to isolate these actinomycetes
and grow them with other bacteria on the
same agar plate
to discover new, natural,
products, or chemicals that could
potentially be used as antibiotics
anti-cancer drugs or some form of
medicinal therapy in the future.
I've been studying the ancient paleomagnetic
intensity of Cambodia during the ages of
1000 to 1500 CE.
Research experience is
totally different from what I've been
doing at home I came here and knew
completely nothing about paleomagnetism
so it's totally new.
Here at Scripps, I am
in the lab of Dr. Brian Palenik
And my project consists of characterizing the biome of the hot springs in Black Canyon
South Nevada.
I've been studying microbiology.
I've been working in the Bowman lab and I am
working on a project, where we are trying
to determine whether the presence of sea
grass affects the abundance of bacteria
in San Diego Bay.
As a first-generation college student, it's interesting being
able to speak to my family about what
research is because to them research is
completely unfamiliar they don't they
don't know what research is they had no
idea that this world of science existed.
Not only am I able to come down here in
San Diego which is an amazing experience
but I also got to work with new people
it gave me experience in the lab but
also how to create a poster and how to
apply to grad school and how to apply to
different grants and fellowships for
grad school and before this I had
completely no idea how to do any of
that was really helpful.
I'm so grateful that this money comes from the National
Science Foundation for this because
they're students like myself who have
not had any experience in research who
now get to have this experience and not
only just in our home institution but in
a different University with experts in
the field and beautiful labs where you
learn so much in the span of 10 weeks.
After being in the SURF program, I feel
very accomplished because this was
actually originally my own idea and I
got to see it flourish and this is
something that I can actually now take
back to my home country in the Virgin
Islands and do there as well.
My advice to people that are thinking about
applying so the SURF program would be
definitely apply, show you're passionate,
and your interest for that specific
research topic.
It has been a fantastic
experience for me
