Meet our May 2019 STEMSEAS participants!
Instructors
Dr. Cynthia A. Hall is an Environmental Geochemist and Associate Professor of Geosciences in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences at West Chester University. She obtained a BS in Chemistry from Howard University in Washington, DC. Following the completion of her degree, she headed to the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA and enrolled in a Ph.D. program in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. Her dissertation research was focused on marine nitrogen cycling, which allowed her to participate in several expeditions at sea to collect sediment samples from the sea floor. Dr. Hall defended her dissertation in 2008 and landed a faculty position at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. After relocating to Philadelphia, PA, she began to study the chemistry of the soil in the city and became aware of the lead contamination that plagues the city. She has devoted the last 11 years to testing soil throughout Philadelphia and developing plans of action to decrease risk and exposure to local residents. Dr. Cynthia Hall now resides in her hometown of Lawnside, N.J. with her husband and three children, where they run a small, homestead farm.
Benjamin Keisling is a PhD Student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Benjamin’s research focuses on understanding how ice sheets and glaciers responded to climate change in the geologic past in order to better constrain ice-sheet model predictions of future sea-level rise. Benjamin has participated in two major scientific expeditions, the first to Northeast Greenland to recover a deep ice core with the EGRIP project and the second to the Ross Sea, West Antarctica, aboard the JOIDES Resolution.
With a background in Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Anne-Lise Ducluzeau started field investigation when she joined the University of Alaska for her post-doc, four years ago. Alaska’s seas, streams, soils and organisms represent now her sampling playground. For the past two years, she has been implementing methods for metagenomic and whole genome DNA sequencing with Oxford Nanopore Technology. Picking an interest in Conservation and environmental DNA, she is currently applying her skills to bring DNA sequencing into the field and more generally, in remote locations. In the frame of her projects, Anne-Lise expended her photographic outreach activity (www.anneliseducluzeau.com) with DNA sequencing workshops that aim to introduce the portable DNA sequencing technology of Oxford Nanopore to Alaskan rural communities as a user-friendly tool that could help solve concerns raised by Climate Change in the Arctic.
Noah Khalsa: Since a young age I have had a fascination with and love for the ocean. Growing up I watched Jacques Cousteau documentaries and fished for countless hours with my father, which no doubt instilled this passion in me. I am currently attending the University of Alaska Fairbanks, earning a B.S. in Fisheries and minoring in Marine Science. While at UAF I have had the privilege to work on several undergraduate research projects ranging from environmental DNA mapping of Chinook salmon overwintering habitat to investigating the effects of ocean acidification on calcifying organisms. I hope to continue my education with a masters degree in marine ecology and pursue a career researching how the physiology, behavior, and distribution of marine organisms will change under future oceanic conditions. Outside of school I enjoy reading, hiking, fishing, hunting, snowboarding, and traveling. I had the privilege of being a student aboard the October 2018 R/V Sikuliaq STEMSEAS cruise, and am now returning as a TA with Anne-Lise Ducluzeau.
Students
Hi, my name is Anjali Khisty and I’m currently a student at Lone Star College in Spring Texas. I enjoy painting and doing crafts in my free time, as well as learning more about Earth and its processes. I’ve always found our planet, solar system, and universe quite fascinating since I was a child, and now that I’m older I’m able to do the things I’ve been dreaming about for all this time. I hope to learn new things on this transit, and share that experience with fellow students and instructors.
Hi! My name is Alexis. I am a 3rd year student in the Peach State Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (PSLSAMP) with Savannah State University. I will receive my BS in Biological Sciences in May 2020. I’m extremely grateful to be able to participate in STEMSEAS! The main points for me are to work on important projects, gain experience, and gaining new perspectives from the PhD students and scientists. I’m eager to learn and can’t wait to set sail!
Hi! My name is Alyssa Snyder. I am a second year Environmental Geoscience major with a concentration in Environmental Science. I am also working toward a minor in Geographic Information Technology at Slippery Rock University. When not studying or working you can find me on my bike, kayak, or relaxing by a nearby stream or lake immersed in a book. I have always had a love for the environment and a strong passion for the ocean. When I was in middle school my science teacher saw my curiosity and lead me to an opportunity that has guided me to where I am today. Through those experiences I got a look into the world of research, and I fell in love. I hope to be an oceanographer in the future and contribute to the exploration of our oceans. I am excited to learn how research is conducted on a ship, interact with professors and other students to create connections as well as a better understanding of the field.
My name is Jessica Allen, I’m 21 years old, and I go to Lonestar Community College in Houston, Texas. Currently, I am in school for a double major in Atmospheric Sciences and Oceanography. Looking forward to transferring to Texas A&M in spring 2020. I love everything about the unknown, and what we can find from it. The ocean and space really spark my interest. I have been playing cello for 12 years. My hobbies pertain to playing my instruments, researching the earths atmosphere and interstellar, and going fishing.
My name is Kailah Jenkins and I am a Geology major, pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree at CSU Sacramento. I developed a fascination for ocean worlds and the technology that makes navigating and exploring these mysterious places possible. As a new transfer, I’m currently completing my general requirements in preparation for Mineralogy in the Fall. I am also establishing and supporting community which I believe is key to service towards others and self-mastery. I am a CSU-LSAMP scholar as well as the founder and president of Women in STEM club at CSU Sacramento. I also enjoy dancing and chado tea service extracurricularly. I am currently exploring the vast disciplines within geology and considering pursuing PhD after graduation. By being active on campus with extracurriculars and commitment to academic excellence, I make strides towards the realization of my ambitions.
Hi my name is Karine Holmes, I am a currently working on my B.S. in Geology with a minor in Data Science at Iowa State University! I am currently participating in paleoclimatology research using Colombian stalactites to better understand regional climate anomalies. I want to continue researching climate change to get a better understanding of its future impacts. I love the outdoors, and in my free time I enjoy hiking, rock climbing, and sketching!
Hi All! My name is Kelly Brown and I am a student at Eastern Michigan University majoring in HydroGeology. I am also in Navy ROTC at The University of Michigan so when I graduate next spring I will commission as an officer in the U.S. Navy. In the future, I hope to do research for the Navy in their meteorology and oceanography command. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, running, hammocking, and being on the water. I am a travel junkie, nature enthusiast, and EDM lover! I am stoked for this new adventure to Alaska and the opportunity to meet new people! Bring on the research and waves:)
My name is Hayley Lekanof, I am an undergraduate at UAF studying Biological science and am a part time researcher. In my first year of college I took a human anatomy class that inspired me to study science, which ultimately led me into the world of research through the BLaST program. I have had an exciting journey the last year learning about the world of research and the many opportunities that come from it. In the future, I see myself either headed to medical school or shifting into environmental health. I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to go on this STEMSEAS research cruise.
Michael Martins is a Brazilian-American undergraduate at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. A mathematics major, Martins has delighted in using his talent to “moonlight” in UAF’s “amazing” scientific research. “If there’s a program that you want to pursue at the university, you can get into it even if it’s not in your discipline,” he said.
Martins taught himself to play the piano, aided research, and led a volunteer spring break crew to the U.S. Virgin Islands to repair hurricane damage. This cornucopia of artistic and analytical experience also has provoked some philosophy: “Creativity and intelligence, it’s all the same,” he said.
Hello! My name is Alyson Bovee, and I am currently a sophomore at El Camino College in Los Angeles, California. I am majoring in biology with a possible minor in chemistry. My post-grad plans are to attend medical school with hopes to specialize in neonatal medicine. I have spent the last few summers working with marine conservation and research, most notably with the GEM Microbiology Course on Catalina Island. There, we studied where marine microbes populate most readily by DNA sequencing various water samples from different parts of the island. I am so excited for STEMSEAS to introduce me to new scientific perspectives from people around the country.
Hi, my name is Yasmin Sharbaf and I am a Neuroscience major and Studio Art minor at Wellesley College in MA. Outside of class, I am engaged in scientific research investigating the neural mechanism of language and memory in songbirds.
My versatile personality and the interdisciplinarity of neuroscience have always led me to be interested in other fields and how new ideas can be integrated together. I am looking forward to learning more about marine life and meeting people from different academic disciplines and exchange knowledge and ideas with them. Recently, I started learning how to sail and so I am excited to be soon sailing with STEMSEAS.
Hi my name is Bella Raponi, and I’m so excited to be apart of STEMSEAS! I’m going into my sophomore year at Northeastern University and I currently plan on majoring in environmental engineering. In my free time I enjoy hiking, running, traveling, and surrounding myself with music.
Morgan Blake is a student at Eastern Gateway Community College currently studying Criminal Justice. She has also studied film and photography. Her goal is to find a career that allows her to combine her love of film with her love of science. She has a passion for the environment, especially oceans. In her free time she loves to do CrossFit, bake cookies, and edit pictures. She is excited for this opportunity to learn more about science!
Greetings! My name is Gwendolyn and I am beyond thrilled to be joining STEMSEAS on the San Diego to Seward transit. I was born and raised in Alaska and recently graduated from University of Alaska Fairbanks with a degree in Natural Resource Management and a minor in Biological Sciences. I plan on pursuing a Masters degree in Arctic Studies at UAF starting fall 2020. In my free time, I enjoy backcountry skiing, whitewater rafting, hiking with my dogs, reading, and gardening. I’m hoping for smooth seas and lots of new knowledge on this upcoming voyage!
