Mentors
Lisa White is Director of Education and Outreach at the University of California Museum of Paleontology. Past positions held include San Francisco State University Professor of Geology, Chair of Geosciences, and Associate Dean of the College of Science and Engineering. Lisa has extensive experience with science enrichment programs for urban youth and she is active in efforts to increase diversity in the geosciences through field learning expeditions on land and at sea. A micropaleontologist by training specializing in fossil marine diatoms, she is a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences and the Geological Society of America. As the education director at the UC Museum of Paleontology, Lisa develops and disseminates learning materials including virtual field experiences designed to explore the fossil record, global climate change, and the nature and process of science
Noah DesRosiers is a “ResTech” at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, California, averaging 140 days at sea a year. He first worked with the STEMSEAS program as a technician on a transit on R/V Sally Ride from Newport to San Diego in September 2024. When he is not supporting research on ships at sea, he enjoys backpacking and scuba diving with his family.
Hailing from coastal California, Briana Prado has always been fascinated by the intersection of land and sea. This inspired her studies in Chemistry and Earth science at UCSC and later in Geochemistry at CU Boulder. In December 2024 she completed a 10 week internship with the RV/ Kilo Moana as a UNOLS MATE Intern with the Hawaiian Ocean Time series (HOT) at the University of Hawai’i at Mãnoa. During her internship she worked closely with the underway CTD and CTD Rosette. She also gained some familiarity with different kinds of optical instrumentation while sailing from Hawaii to Tahiti and back. She is excited to share what’s she’s learned as a MATE intern and served as a resource for the STEMSEAS program.
Students
Hi! My name is Siena Marois! I’m a first-year EECE student at the University of California–Davis and an assistant robotics coach at my former high school, St. Francis Catholic High School. For four years, I competed in the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) Competition, which inspired my passion for ocean conservation and marine engineering. Now, I mentor students on my former team in submersible robotics and share my love for the ocean and its inhabitants. I’ve also begun developing my own ocean technology company, starting with a project to aid in whale entanglement response! I’m so excited to participate in STEMSEAS and bring the experience into my professional life and to share it with the St. Francis submersible robotics team!
Novallyn Bremberg is a Marine Science major in their Junior year at California State University, Monterey Bay. She’s an ROV engineer, shark tag designer and builder, shark scar researcher, and a Resident Advisor in the Otters in Science Theme Community. From her background in robotics to resourcefulness in the lab, she’s excited to see what skills she will use and gain while on the expedition. She’s been on teams where she’s built great white shark tags and ROVs, including one which is now on exhibition in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center in Santa Cruz. She is currently pursuing a solo project of miniaturizing leopard shark tags. Novallyn hopes to be an ocean instrumentation engineer in the future and is excited to expand her horizons on the first Marine Tech Expedition.
Hello, my name is Shane White. I am nineteen and currently a freshman in college. I attend Cape Fear Community college, and I am working towards a Degree in Marine Technology. At Cape Fear Community College I am a SGA member of the marine technology club. I moved too Leland from Huntersville North Carolina during middle school and got my High School diploma from North Brunswick High School. I’m passionate about fishing, camping, and pretty much anything outdoors where I can get my hands a little dirty. I enjoy fishing from Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier at Wrightsville Beach and the Point at Oak Island. My favorite fish are probably a flounder and a blue fish. If I am not fishing or working I’m spending time with my loved ones, either that being movie nights, board games, frisbee golfing, enjoying local entertainment, and traveling. I worked towards my boating license last semester, and am now pursuing my captains license. In my spare time I am repairing and cleaning a boat to be water ready. While I do love my boat, I kayak from time to time, primarily in Asheville or The Inter Costal Waterway. I will always be someone who loves being out on the water, surrounded by sea life and a salty breeze.
Hello, my name is Kate Olvera. I graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and a minor in GIS. I am from Texas and I’m currently working on monitoring bodies of water by collecting and analyzing water samples. My dream job is to become a marine technician and be involved in all sorts of scientific projects. This is why I’m super excited to participate in this STEMSEAS Marine technician program as I hope this experience will give me the confidence to pursue this career. My hobbies include reading books, spending outdoors time with my dog, and growing and collecting house plants.
My name is Carlito Wideman, from McCormick, South Carolina. I am from a small town called McCormick. I enjoy football, basketball, and gaming. I am a freshman at the University of South Carolina, majoring in Marine Science. I have a deep passion for the ocean and the life it contains. I hope to use this experience from STEMSEAS and the Sikuliaq to forge a career in the marine field
Hi, My name is Paige McKay and I am currently a Junior at the University of Washington in Seattle. I am an Oceanography major focusing on marine technology. In the future I hope to become a marine technician, helping scientists collect data aboard research vessels. I currently work at the University of Washington’s Argo Float Lab to help calibrate and test autonomous profiling sensors. This work helped me become interested in how oceanographic data is collected. I grew up around Puget Sound and have always had an interest and love for the ocean. In my spare time, I enjoy exploring Seattle, visiting coffee shops, reading books, and getting out into nature. I cannot wait to embark on my first expedition with STEMSEAS.
Hello! My name is Lisa Picariello and I am currently studying Marine Technology at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, NC. I am a non-traditional student with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology that I received at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte. When I am not continuing my education, I am spending time with my wife at the beach, exploring museums or walking in a park, I am at home with our mini zoo (3 bearded dragons, 2 cats and a fish). I chose a marine technology pathway because it can open many gateways such as continuing my education once more at a university or joining the workforce in various scientific fields. My hope is to explore a career in the marine science technician field in fisheries whether it is with a private company or the state/federal government.
Rohan Vaswani is a third year undergraduate at the University of California – Irvine majoring in Earth system science with a specialization in oceanography and minoring in literary journalism. He has interned with the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration in Silver Spring MD where he analyzed ROV footage and bioacoustic data for his research project. At his home institution, Rohan is an undergraduate researcher for the Ocean and Climate Dynamics Group within the Department of Earth System Science where he is working on an independent project modeling the drift of lagrangian particles in oceanic instabilities along density interfaces. He has diverse interests in ocean exploration, physical oceanography, science communication, marine technology, and marine operations. For fun, Rohan loves to take photos and get outdoors through hiking, cycling, backpacking, and kayaking! The STEMSEAS R/V Sikuliaq Marine Tech expedition will be Rohan’s first time aboard a polar class research vessel and he is looking forward to learning more about marine technology and technician careers!
Tahlia Muro
Hello, My name is Tahlia Muro. Originally from Athens, Alabama, I am a third-year student at Western Washington University, my major is a Bachelor of Science in Geology. I am also pursuing a minor in materials science; however, I am studying the ethics of engineering and how to innovate more sustainably. I love to explore the intersections of science and engineering, to help better understand and integrate advancing technology with our natural world. At Western, I started a surf club where we bridge the accessibility gap for those who are facing barriers to explore PNW beaches, educate about surf culture, and create a community for students of diverse backgrounds. Previously a data science pre-major I’m psyched about studying connections and getting numbers together to see a bigger picture. I am also a part of the Formula 1 racing team where I learned to wield, I am putting all these skills to use within my independent engineering project that is community-focused and made using recycled PETs and rPETS from beach plastic that are then recycled and reusable plastic is turned into 3D printing filament for components of my project and entirety of the prototype itself. I’m honored to be a part of this opportunity, to make connections, and broaden my expanse through STEMSEAS.
Josue Yepez Salcido
Hi, my name is Josue Yepez and I am currently a 2nd year attending CSU Chico. I am majoring in mechanical and mechatronics engineering and minoring in computer engineering, and advance manufacturing with applied robotics. I was born and raised in Ceres, CA, a small town pertaining to Stanislaus County. I enjoy spending my free time outside playing volleyball, pickleball, soccer, tennis, and badminton. I am really excited as I work towards reaching my academic goals due to the fact that I’ve always wanted to with automated systems and robotic features that can approve everyday tasks.
Jackson Tunheim
