On R/V Atlantis
Mentors
Ajit Subramaniam is a biological oceanographer who uses remote sensing, bio-optics, Geographical Information Systems, to better understand how the marine ecosystem works and can be managed. Specifically, he works on understanding the diversity and productivity of phytoplankton: why does a particular phytoplankton species bloom where it does, the factors that lead to its demise, the consequences of such blooms, and how these might change in the future as a consequence of anthropogenic activity and climate change. He has worked with remote sensing data for more than 20 years and has developed algorithms for detection of cyanobacterial blooms. Subramaniam has taught at the Austral Summer Institute, Universidad de Concepción in 2004, 07, and 10 and was awarded a Fulbright Specialist Award in 2010 for this. He was awarded a Mercator Fellowship by the University of Rostock and the Baltic Sea Research Institute, Germany in 2017. He has extensive sea-going experience and been chief scientist on major oceanographic cruises.
Hello! I’m Dr. Sheldon Turner. As the chairperson of the science department and a professor of geology and environmental science at Triton College, a community college just outside Chicago, I’m so excited for this opportunity to mentor college students on this STEMSEAS expedition. My academic background is in geoscience education research, specializing in decision-making and visualizations related to water resources. I’m used to taking students to rivers or helping them think about groundwater, and love applying these skills to ocean science. With my science department, I have the honor of running a dedicated science laboratory for community college students to participate in authentic research experiences and build a sense of belonging in STEM fields. I’m excited to take the experiences and data collected on this STEMSEAS expedition back to campus to inspire future student research projects!
Dr. Tess Weathers is an Assistant Professor in Environmental Resources Engineering at Cal Poly Humboldt, and an Engineering Instructor at Chabot College in Hayward, CA. Her research interests reside at the intersection of water, biology, and chemistry; in particular she is interested in the effects of restoration practices and the impacts of contaminants on subsurface microbial communities, 3-D modeling of thermal and hydrologic flows in the marine subsurface, and water supply and quality improvements. She is passionate about providing tools and opportunities for success for systemically underrepresented students in STEM while simultaneously encouraging and promoting environmental literacy and climate action. When she is not in the classroom, Tess enjoys snowboarding, surfing, hiking, and watching the San Francisco Giants with her dog Buster.
Abrian Curington is a Visual Storyteller and Cartographer. She graduated from Western Washington University, with a Bachelor of Arts, concentrating in Fine Arts, and minoring in Japanese, Classical Studies and Art History. She has also completed a graduate certificate in GIS Cartography from the University of Maidson—Wisconsin.
On land, she creates maps, comics and illustrations, featuring worlds both real and imagined. At sea, she has served as a Science Communicator aboard the E/V Nautilus, and an Artist-at-Sea aboard the R/V Falkor. She is interested in what curiosities come from the intersection of multiple disciplines and ideas.
Students
Bishesh Shah is an incoming sophomore at Cornell University, studying Environmental Engineering, set to graduate in May 2028. Bishesh does research for the Koehler Instrument Company under Dr. Raj Shah, with a focus on renewable energy in the maritime and manufacturing industries and is working on his third research paper. He aspires to pursue a career in the energy and sustainability industries. Outside of school, he loves to run, spend time in nature, travel, and watch horror movies.
Jessica Aquino is a rising senior at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa currently studying to obtain her B.S. degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Management. As an undergraduate Jessica focused a lot of her time on hands-on research work and community initiatives. From projects such as fish larvae identification to evaluating and presenting data about changes in zooplankton characteristics and oceanographic conditions; she always found herself wanting to do research work that included place-based learning. Growing up on Oʻahu has shaped her to be the person she is today and instilled values of perseverance. As an avid volunteer in her community for various Mālama ‘Āina events she found herself wanting to do more for the community. Jessica aspires to work in research and policy to improve community resilience in Hawaiʻi and reduce the negative impacts caused by socioeconomic disparities and environmental impacts of an ever changing world.
Hi everyone! My name is Kaylee Ly, and I’m from San Jose, California. I’m currently studying biology at Mission College, and I plan to transfer to San Jose State University or UC Santa Cruz. My passion is learning about all the diverse organisms, particularly marine ones! It’s so fascinating to see how they interact with each other and the environment. I am extremely excited to be a part of this expedition- I can’t imagine anything better than learning about science hands-on, while being surrounded by likeminded people and mentors! While I am still navigating my possible career choices, I believe that participating in STEMSEAS will open many pathways for me and help me narrow down my choices. I will forever be grateful for this amazing opportunity!
Hi, I’m Sarina Gautier, a film major and artist from San Diego, a city deeply shaped by its coastal roots and vibrant culture. I am very passionate about various art forms and finding beauty in everyday moments whether it’s through meeting new people or discovering new things. For me, creating is the best way to connect, both with others and myself. It is one of the best ways to show the world the beauty within it. My dream is to combine art with oceanography, to share the wonders of the ocean and highlight the importance of marine life and ocean conservation. I am so excited to be a part of the STEMSEAS team, and I can’t wait to learn more about marine biology.
Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Jen Valenzuela is a post-bac who has taken a non-linear path into marine science. After graduating from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Science in Advertising, she received an Associate of Science in Biology from Mission College. She then attended West Valley College, where she completed certificate programs in Geospatial Technology and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Technology. Jen is excited to join STEMSEAS! She is eager to expand her skillset, knowledge, and network, as she strives to become a well-rounded marine field tech. She is also keen on the scicomm elements of the STEMSEAS program, as she enjoys opportunities that marry her visual communication background and marine science passion.
Victoria Vilton is an undergraduate at Yale University, originally from New York City. She is pursuing a degree in Earth and Planetary Sciences and Environmental Engineering. Her academic and research interests lie at the intersection of geoscience and environmental justice, particularly in developing technologies and strategies to directly address the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities. Currently, she is involved in research that uses seismological analysis to investigate the crustal structure of Haiti.
My name is Mark Dragovich but everyone calls me Drago which I prefer (pronouns are He/Him). I am a Marine Technology student at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, Michigan, and Navy veteran and I have 20 years’ experience in the film industry. My wife and I have 2 dogs, Larry and Ralphi, and we are very busy lately with our business -Drago Research and Exploration. Our current project is a documentary on the Great Lakes Sturgeon and searching for sturgeon habitat, using sidescan sonar, ROV and multi-beam technology. We will also be developing STEAM-focused learning modules based on the Great Lakes. I am excited to be at sea again and to be immersed in this experience so I can take all I learn back with me and apply it to our own projects.
Hiya ! My name is Fae Lorenzo, and I’m approaching my final semester at Florida Tech, where I’ll be graduating with a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Science and a minor in Biology. The ocean both terrifies and fascinates me, and I’m hoping this voyage gives me a real sense of what daily life is like on a research vessel. I’ve been involved in IMTA research at Florida Tech’s Aqualab since 2021 and have had the pleasure of participating in bonnethead tagging trips in Sarasota Bay. While I value my past research experiences, one of my ambitions is to spend weeks at a time working at sea, collecting data through hands-on field research, and deepening my understanding of the ocean through direct experience. Some things just can’t be learned in a lab setting. Apart from academics, I spend a lot of my time playing D&D, competing in esports, and studying languages. I’m currently teaching myself Japanese, Ancient Egyptian, and Italian.
Hi! My name is Grace Bowman, and I recently graduated from Baldwin Wallace located in Berea, Ohio with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering a well as a B.S. in physics, while also minoring in mathematics. I am originally from a small town in Maryland. While completing my degrees I was on the softball team at BW and coached my final year, so I am familiar with working in a team. My next step will be attending the University of Oklahoma Online to get a Master of Science in Engineering Leadership and Management. I originally got into marine energy by competing in the marine energy collegiate competition with my senior capstone class. I hope that STEMSEAS will give me the experience to work with a diverse group of people and allow me to learn as much as I can. Since I’ve grown up on the water I’ve always been interested in waves and wave power as well as the beauty of the ocean. I am very excited to see what STEMSEAS will teach me!
Hello everyone! My name is Madison Braswell, and I am an Earth and Environmental Science undergraduate at Montclair State University in New Jersey. Being on the east coast my entire life has instilled a deep fascination with oceanographic and geologic sciences within me. Although I’m close to the beach and my birthday is in the summer, my extreme interests lie in polar research. My ultimate dream in my professional career is to do a large research expedition in Antarctica. As for my background, I have conducted microbiological analysis of lakes in Greenland during the summer of 2024, and have done separate studies of sediment samples in two labs at my homeschool from IODP Expedition’s 395 and 400. There are no words to explain my excitement as one of the students to travel on a STEMSEAS expedition. Working on IODP samples made nautical research overwhelmingly intriguing, and having some hands-on maritime experience is an opportunity I couldn’t be more grateful for. I can’t wait to begin and learn all I can from the like-minded peers and experienced individuals I have the privilege of working with.
Hi there! I’m Haley Peczon, a recent Robotics Engineering graduate from UC Santa
Cruz, and my journey into ocean science began in the Philippines, where I earned my
open water scuba certification in the same waters that connect me to my heritage.
Seeing these beautiful coral reefs tangled in plastic lit a fire in me that eventually led to
Project Poppy, my senior capstone project, where my passionate team and I worked
closely with experts in the field, aiming to build something meaningful for the health of
our oceans. I’m super excited to join STEMSEAS and learn from researchers in the
field, explore how robotics can serve ocean conservation, and discover where I might fit
into the future of this work. I’m incredibly grateful, beyond stoked, and so ready to see
what adventure this STEMSEAS voyage has in store!
Hi Everyone! My name is Legend Rotsart. I recently graduated from Grossmont Community College in El Cajon, CA, with an Associate’s degree for transfer in Computer Science and an Associate’s in University Studies (Mathematics, Natural Science, and Computer Science). I am transferring to UC Santa Cruz this fall to continue studying Computer Science. Being from San Diego, I have always loved the ocean and everything in it. While in Community College, I took as many marine biology and oceanography classes as possible. In 2024, I was accepted into the Mate Floats workshop at the University of Washington, and I took a day trip on the R/V Rachel Carson to collect and test sediment samples in Puget Sound. It was such a cool experience, and I wanted to have more experiences like it, which led me to this expedition! Outside of my academics, I was on the Water Polo and Swim teams at Grossmont College. I love to listen to music, watch movies, and play video games! After college, I want to find ways to combine my love for computer science and my love for the ocean in one career!
Rip Pacier is a second year student at Fullerton Community College. He has an overwhelming passion for botany and environmental conservation. His best friend in the world is Mötley the golden retriever . The hardest part of this whole trip will be leaving her for so long. Even though he has worked as an audio engineer for five years, Rip would love to experience the world of field research and learn how to contribute to learning more about the earth and her oceans.
Hi! My name is Trinity Barrueta, and I’m a first-gen graduate of Triton College. I’m currently transferring to Elmhurst University, where I’ll be majoring in Bioinformatics—a perfect intersection of my biggest passion of science and my fascination with marine biology. I have always loved the ocean and have been curious about sea life since I can remember. This makes me so excited for this opportunity with STEMSEAS and I can’t wait to experience what life is like aboard a research vessel. I’ve always loved learning, and I’m eager to deepen my understanding through hands-on fieldwork at sea. Outside of academics, I enjoy playing volleyball, gaming (especially Valorant & Minecraft), listening to music, and making my friends laugh. This opportunity with STEMSEAS is something new to me that I am so thankful for and cannot wait to experience!
Kyle Coan was born and raised in New Jersey where he worked as an Emergency Medical Technician but relocated to the West Coast in 2022 to pursue a career in technology. He is a rising senior at Whatcom Community College, studying Computer Information Science, set to graduate in Spring of 2026. Having already graduated with an English Major and Minor in Professional & Public Writing, he has been pursuing his lifelong passion for technology, focusing on cloud security and management. He aspires to work as a security analyst in the healthcare industry after pursuing an additional degree in Cybersecurity. Outside of school he enjoys facetiming his niece and nephew and performing live music in virtual reality venues.
