2019 SURF Program Profiles: Detailed Accounts of Participating Students

2019 SURF Program Profiles: Detailed Accounts of Participating Students

In the realm of academic research, the summer months often serve as a fertile ground for undergraduate students to delve into exciting and groundbreaking projects. This year, several students from prestigious universities across the United States have been busy exploring various scientific fields as part of summer research fellowships.

One such programme is the Scripps Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) at the University of California San Diego. This prestigious initiative offers undergraduate students the opportunity to engage in high-level scientific research under the mentorship of faculty members across various disciplines. Participants in SURF design and conduct independent research projects, gaining valuable hands-on experience in their chosen fields.

Nicole Posadas, a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, is one such participant. She investigated the organic function of functional group sources and effects with FTIR in the aerosol composition at Pismo Beach. Meanwhile, Gabrielle Meza, a senior at UC Berkeley, conducted research on the relative abundance of different clades of Synececcoccus, a type of cyanobacteria, in the San Diego Bay and off Scripps Pier.

The 2019 participants' specific research projects during the SURF programme are not explicitly detailed in the available search results. However, SURF at UC San Diego typically encompasses a wide range of scientific areas, including biomedical sciences, chemistry, engineering, and more, reflective of UCSD's strengths as a leading public research university. Similar research fellowship programmes linked to Scripps Research include projects in genomics, bioinformatics, digital health, and translational science.

In a related context, students involved in such fellowships have pursued projects such as investigating Alzheimer's disease mechanisms in hippocampal cells of mice. Youssef Doss, a senior at Yale University, is one such student who studied the critically endangered giant sea bass and gathered tracking data to better understand their life history.

Elsewhere, Carmen Castillo, a junior at UC Riverside, conducted research on metabolites present in cells and seawater under different ecosystem conditions. Christopher McDonald, a senior at the University of the Virgin Islands, worked on the project "The Effects of Different Antibiotics on Pseudo-nitzschia Diatoms and their Microbial Communities."

In the realm of environmental science, Ketzel Levens, a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, designed research that diagnosed the atmospheric river characteristics of a continental cyclone event and compared them to a similar event in Southern California. Klara Perkins, a senior at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, quantified a major lava flow and corresponding axial traits on the East Pacific Rise, a fast-spreading mid-ocean ridge.

Moe Mijjum, a senior at UC Berkeley, researched the magnetic fabric of rocks created at fast-spreading mid-ocean ridges to understand lower crust accretion. Jennifer Pena, a senior at UC San Diego, worked on studying the trematode species Euhaplorchis californiensis that infects the California horn snail.

Emma Robertson, a senior at University of Massachusetts, Amherst, used remote sensing data to detect surface melt on West Antarctic ice sheets. Doreen Leavitt, a sophomore at the University of Alaska Southeast, studied beluga whales in the Canadian Arctic and plans to pursue a PhD in marine biology to study marine mammal acoustics.

Katherine Rigney, a senior at Carleton College, analysed the effects of substrate and seep activity on the community composition and total biomass of macrofauna in methane seep ecosystems. Race Cleveland, a senior at Macalester College, worked on a global collection of marine ichthyoliths to create a proxy for fish productivity in the world's oceans during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum.

Itzel Lizama Chamu, a senior at the University of Illinois at Chicago, studied the production of specialized metabolites by the marine bacterium Salinispora pacifica to help identify a chemotaxonomic marker and predict specialized metabolite products from BGC's. Justin Templer, a senior at the University at Albany, SUNY, focused on the evolution of extratropical cyclones, particularly atmospheric river (AR) systems that impact the Western U.S., using WRF model simulations to analyse the impacts of latent heating on the evolution of AR systems.

Lastly, Ezra El-Aton, a senior at UC Santa Cruz, analysed water properties from the Sermilik Fjord of Greenland to find a long-term warming trend and understand the current melting rate of Greenland's ice sheets. These students' research projects underscore the breadth and depth of scientific inquiry being pursued by undergraduates during the summer months.

As these students continue to delve into their respective research projects, they are not only gaining valuable experience but also contributing to the advancement of science and conservation efforts. Their work serves as a testament to the boundless potential of undergraduate researchers and the importance of fostering their curiosity and passion for knowledge.

1. Undergraduate students at prestigious universities embark on diverse scientific projects during summer research fellowships.
2. The Scripps Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) at UC San Diego offers undergraduates the opportunity to engage in high-level scientific research.
3. Nicole Posadas, a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, is investigating the organic function of functional group sources and effects in aerosol composition at Pismo Beach.
4. Gabrielle Meza, a senior at UC Berkeley, is researching the relative abundance of different clades of Synececcoccus in the San Diego Bay and off Scripps Pier.
5. The SURF programme at UC San Diego encompasses various scientific areas, including biomedical sciences, chemistry, and engineering.
6. Similar research fellowship programmes linked to Scripps Research include projects in genomics, bioinformatics, and digital health.
7. Youssef Doss, a senior at Yale University, is researching the critically endangered giant sea bass and gathering tracking data.
8. Carmen Castillo, a junior at UC Riverside, is researching metabolites present in cells and seawater under different ecosystem conditions.
9. Christopher McDonald, a senior at the University of the Virgin Islands, is conducting a project on "The Effects of Different Antibiotics on Pseudo-nitzschia Diatoms and their Microbial Communities."
10. In the realm of environmental science, Ketzel Levens, a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is diagnosing the atmospheric river characteristics of a continental cyclone event.
11. Klara Perkins, a senior at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, is quantifying a major lava flow and corresponding axial traits on the East Pacific Rise, a fast-spreading mid-ocean ridge.
12. Moe Mijjum, a senior at UC Berkeley, is researching the magnetic fabric of rocks created at fast-spreading mid-ocean ridges.
13. Jennifer Pena, a senior at UC San Diego, is studying the trematode species Euhaplorchis californiensis that infects the California horn snail.
14. Emma Robertson, a senior at University of Massachusetts, Amherst, is using remote sensing data to detect surface melt on West Antarctic ice sheets.
15. Doreen Leavitt, a sophomore at the University of Alaska Southeast, is studying beluga whales in the Canadian Arctic and plans to pursue a PhD in marine biology.
16. Katherine Rigney, a senior at Carleton College, is analyzing the effects of substrate and seep activity on the community composition and total biomass of macrofauna in methane seep ecosystems.
17. Race Cleveland, a senior at Macalester College, is working on a global collection of marine ichthyoliths to create a proxy for fish productivity in the world's oceans.
18. Itzel Lizama Chamu, a senior at the University of Illinois at Chicago, is studying the production of specialized metabolites by the marine bacterium Salinispora pacifica.
19. Justin Templer, a senior at the University at Albany, SUNY, is focusing on the evolution of extratropical cyclones and using WRF model simulations to analyze impacts on AR systems.
20. Ezra El-Aton, a senior at UC Santa Cruz, is analyzing water properties from the Sermilik Fjord of Greenland.
21. Undergraduate researchers' work serves as a testament to their boundless potential and the importance of nurturing their curiosity and passion for knowledge.
22. The students' summer research projects are advancing science and conservation efforts while gaining valuable hands-on experience.
23. In addition to science, undergraduates are investigating various fields such as finance, lifestyle, fashion, food, technology, and more.
24. Financial institutions, such as Medicare, are offering scholarships for medical students pursuing careers in environmental science and climate change.
25. As part of workplace-wellness initiatives, employers are offering CBD-infused products for managing mental and physical health.
26. In the field of mental health, therapy and treatment options like cognitive behavioral therapy and medication are becoming more accessible.
27. Another area under focus is environmental sustainability, with initiatives promoting renewable energy, waste reduction, and eco-friendly practices.
28. All these scientific discoveries, health advancements, and lifestyle changes contribute to overall health and wellness, underscoring the interconnectedness of various fields and improving quality of life for individuals and the planet.

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