Mentors
Hello! I’m Dr. Sheldon Turner. As a professor of geology and environmental science at Triton College, a community college just outside Chicago, I’m so excited for this opportunity to once again mentor students on a STEMSEAS expedition. In Illinois, I’m usually bringing students to our rivers, lakes, and groundwater resources; but I love getting to apply these skills to ocean science when at sea. I have the honor of running a dedicated science laboratory for community college students to participate in authentic research experiences, and I bring that aspiration with me on these expeditions. My favorite part of mentoring STEMSEAS students is helping them hypothesize, design, complete, and disseminate research projects in under a week (all while rocking with the waves)! I feel like I can help them learn more in a single expedition than I can usually teach in an entire semester. Seeing students go from being hesitant or unsure about their science identity, to knowing that they truly belong in STEM by the end of the expedition is the most rewarding things for me as an educator and professional.
Becky MacKay (she/her) is an assistant professor of biology at Fort Valley State University. She is an ecologist interested in how parasite-mediated behavioral changes impact aquatic communities. She has worked in both marine and freshwater ecosystems but definitely prefers to be in the middle of the ocean over almost anywhere. She has a BS in zoology, an MS in marine science, and a PhD in biological sciences. While Becky does enjoy research, teaching is really where her passion lies, so getting to combine both research and teaching onboard a vessel is literally a dream job for her. Becky is also very proudly a mother of a 1.5 year old daughter, Noel, and will happily talk to you about her at any time, even if you don’t ask.
Jeanette deCuba is a PhD candidate at Binghamton University in Binghamton, NY. She grew up in Central Florida and has always had a fascination with the natural world and marine life. This interest was underscored throughout her upbringing as she spent many summers and holidays on the island of Aruba, where much of her family descends from. Before moving to upstate New York, Jeanette obtained a M.S. in Geoscience at Florida International University where she studied deep-sea benthic foraminiferal community changes as it relates to the B.P. Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Currently, she continues to work with foraminifera as well as geochemical proxies to help decipher environmental conditions and ocean dynamics across super interglacials of the Late Pleistocene. When she isn’t looking under a microscope, Jeanette enjoys reading fiction, hiking, (trying to) snowboard(ing), playing soccer, and spending time with her dachshund.
Students
Hello! My name is Claire McOmie. I am studying Environmental Science with minors in Science Communication and Landscape Architecture at the University of Oregon. I fell in love with marine science while working as a Scuba Divemaster and catamaran Skipper at a marine science and sailing summer camp in the British Virgin Islands. I want to work towards adapting the way humans live to create a more sustainable planet, which ties together my passions in environmental education, landscape architecture, and marine conservation. I’m particularly interested in near-coastal and deep-sea life, and my favorite organisms are nudibranchs and mangroves! I am eager for the chance to immerse myself in life and science on a research vessel to gain inspiration and experience for my future career. When I’m not scuba diving, I love spending time outdoors, reading, and drawing.
Kate Hemmer is a third-year undergraduate at Concordia College majoring in physics, with minors in math and music. She has participated in geophysics research with the aim of better understanding magnetic properties of iron oxides, and aeronautics research related to unmanned aerial systems. Her future interests lie in applying her knowledge in magnetism and experiences with aerial and coding systems to exploration of space or the deep ocean. At Concordia, Kate participates as a member in music ensembles, dance club, engineering innovation challenges, and serves as the secretary of the Sigma Zeta Gamma Gamma chapter. She enjoys spending free time playing piano, reading, crocheting and swimming. Besides the opportunity to learn more about marine-related research work, Kate is looking forward to exploring how science communication can place learning at the forefront for individuals and communities by promoting critical thought and curiosity in all aspects of life, not just science. As a member of Science Academy, she is part of outreach dedicated to making science accessible in the Fargo-Moorhead community and hopes to bring what she learns from STEMSeas into future academic and community work.
Hi! My name is Matthew Michaels, I am a second-year student at Triton College in River Grove Illinois, and will be transferring to the University of Illinois Chicago this fall. I am a biology major aiming to build a career in the field of wildlife conservation, working with both plants and animals to protect our most endangered ecosystems. I am a graduate of Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s King Conservation Science Scholar’s program, which is dedicated to equipping high school-aged youth with contemporary, conservation-minded leadership skills through personalized growth and development opportunities. One of these opportunities I had the pleasure of attending was spending a week working with the staff of White Oak Conservation while living on campus in Yulee Florida. I love spending as much time as I can outside, whether its biking, hiking, fishing, or any other outdoor activity you can think of. I am very honored to be a part of this once in a life-time trip, and can’t wait to set sail!
Hello! My name is Trinity Robin. I am an English major at Triton College. Participating in this expedition with STEMSEAS means a lot to me, particularly since I am passionate about combining the arts and science together as one. With the mind of a researcher and the heart of a poet, I often find myself drawn to both worlds wondering how one can express or tell the story of the other. This involves what I have dubbed as the 4 Cs – community, connection, creativity, and curiosity. Perfect for a research vessel traversing the ocean! Some fun facts about me: my dream is to travel while exploring ruins and other mythological or folklore sites, I am really REALLY interested in mounted archery (both watching and actually doing it), and I have participated in 8 different kinds of summer camps. Feel free to ask which one is my favorite! This will be my first time aboard a ship such as the R/V Atlantis, but I am greatly looking forward to this experience of meeting new people, gaining knowledge and learning in the moment, as well as conducting research at sea.
Hello, my name is Sofia Garza! I am a junior at Trinity University majoring in Geoscience. In 2024 I had an internship with the Keck Geology Program in Belize studying coral reefs. This experience sparked my passion in oceanography, and science communication. I currently work with my school newspaper to learn about effective narrative writing, and deepen my love for writing stories about the Earth. Outside of academics you can find me playing an instrument, reading a book, or going on walks around town. I am excited to gain exposure to the various different fields that lie within oceanography, and all that this experience has to offer 🙂
Hi! My name is Trinity Fushille, and I’m an undergraduate geophysics student at the University of Texas at El Paso, with a primary interest in seismology. My research experience includes working with Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) to study seismic signals, as well as applying machine learning methods to distinguish between anthropogenic and natural earthquakes. I’m originally from El Paso, Texas, and enjoy spending time outdoors, exploring new places, and meeting new people. I also work as a science communicator, creating educational geology-related videos that make Earth science more accessible to broader audiences. In the future, I hope to pursue a career in academia, combining research, teaching, and outreach.
Khayaal Desai-Hunt is a third year at Scripps Institute of Oceanography pursuing a BS in Marine Biology. They were born in Minnesota where they first discovered a love of water from the state’s 10,000 lakes. They are currently a member of the Deheyn lab, conducting research on the degradation of microplastics under UV in freshwater and marine conditions. Their research interests include ecotoxicology, environmental pollutants and human health, and using statistical methods to model complex datasets. Outside of class and lab they are involved in efforts to combat food insecurity in the local area and spend their free time reading, playing board games, and going outside. They are thrilled to be able to participate in STEMSEAS!
Hello, my name is Brenna April, and I am currently a senior at the University of Texas at El Paso, majoring in Geological Sciences. Growing up, I spent a lot of time outdoors, exploring national and state parks, which sparked my interest in the natural processes that shape the land. I enjoy various artistic media and spend my limited free time sketching and painting. In 2024, I participated in the 3rd JR Academy, which opened my eyes to the field of marine geology. Following my experience sailing on the JOIDES Resolution, I became intrigued by marine science, making STEMSEAS a perfect opportunity for me to delve deeper into this area. Currently, at my university, I am conducting research on analyzing hydrogen isotopes in volcanic glass to reconstruct past elevations.
