Summer Research Experience

Lena Hicks

Biogeochemistry of restored wetlands

I’m a third year Environmental Science B.S. major with a concentration in geography and special interest in climate systems and carbon cycling. This summer I have had the wonderful opportunity to work in the King lab under Dr. Jennifer King, who specializes in biogeochemistry, with my amazing mentor being Jesse Landesman. Much of the research in the lab works on soil science, investigating carbon and other life cycles, with there also being a restoration emphasis. I specifically worked with Jesse and our team on the North Campus Open Space (NCOS), a wetland that was restored, to complete a five year update on the impacts of the restoration, where we monitored sediment accumulation, carbon storage, etc. in conjunction with the data collected at the time of the restoration. Half my time was spent in the field, working with soil (and getting it all over me), collecting data, etc. while the other half was spent in the lab processing and analyzing samples and data.

There are so many possible routes the future could take me, but I see myself in a lifelong career of research and scientific discovery. I’m interested in direct climate change solutions and mitigation methods, so I see myself continuing to work on restoration projects and in chemical analysis labs, specifically oriented at carbon systems, which is why it has been so great to begin my work in the King lab. I am also indigenous to California and want to create more connections between my own and other tribes indigenous methods in caring for the environment and the scientific community, to continue supporting our indigenous ways and proving them behind science. I also see myself going into the larger world of academia, beyond my undergraduate degree, and into fields that work with governmental institutions that can allow me to bring a voice on behalf of my tribe to share our stewardship and help encourage it at a much larger scale.

Irina Roybal

Effects of non-native palms on remote island ecosystems

I am a third-year Environmental Studies major with a minor in Anthropology. This summer, I am working with graduate student Michael Burnett in the LEAF Lab here on campus. His research aims to understand the effect that nonnative coconut palms have on the ecosystems of remote islands in the Pacific. From remote sensing to tree monitoring, there are several methods involved in answering this question. 

Thus far, I’ve soldered sap flow probes, dabbled in R and QGIS, and taken stomatal counts of Pisonia tree leaf samples from the atoll of Palmyra. This summer, I have also assisted in other LEAF Lab projects, such as doing pre-dawn sampling in Sequoia National Park and Sedgwick Reserve, pressure bombing said samples, and climbing trees (for scientific purposes of course). 

My next steps are to continue exploring the big wide world of Environmental Studies and find my place in the field. This experience has been incredibly formative and I have nothing but positive things to say about the lab and my internship. I’m excited to see where I find myself next!

Kat Brydson

Climate change effects on marine invertebrates

I am a third year Environmental Studies major with minors in American Indigenous Studies and Black Studies. This summer I had the privilege of gaining experience through working with the Hofmann Lab. The main focus of Dr. Hofmann and the graduate students who work in the lab is investigating the role of climate change on marine invertebrates and greater marine ecosystem services like fisheries. 

The Hofmann lab members are super collaborative both within the lab and with other projects happening outside so I got to assist on a wide array of projects within the lab from oyster abundance surveys, sea urchin husbandry, underwater tool constructing, kelp collection, to urchin feeding and collecting for graduate student Leeza Marie-Rodriguez’s In-n-out project looking at the effect of temperature gradients in and out of the kelp forest on purple urchins.

I feel like I could go in many directions in the future (which is scary but also exciting!). I hope to learn more about science communication and possibly get involved in aquaculture and fisheries research that potentially looks at the sociological impacts of climate change on coastal communities who depend on these services. 

Hayden Vega

Effects of preservation on algae specimens

I’m a third year environmental studies and marine ecology undergrad at UCSB. This summer, I’m working on a couple of algae projects in the Ocean Recoveries Lab with my amazing mentor, An Bui. My main project measures the effects of preservation on algae specimens to help us paint a better picture of how our kelp forests looked and functioned in the past. I also help out around the lab on An’s project which takes a look at the current function of understory macroalgae in kelp forests! I’m really cutting my teeth in the lab this summer, and I’ve been doing everything from measuring and rehydrating delicate algae to lysing and extracting chlorophyll from algae cells. But, when I’m not in the lab I’m either getting seasick on a boat collecting specimens or working on a small “algae meets art” exhibit for the Coal Oil Point Nature Center where I hope to share the diverse and beautiful underwater “stories” of the algae that make up our kelp forests.

Julie Iverson

Monitoring native oyster populations

I’m a third-year Environmental Studies major with an outside concentration in urban planning and civil engineering! This summer I’ve had the privilege of working in the Hofmann lab, which investigates the physiological implications of climate change on marine invertebrates. I’ve had the opportunity to work on several projects ongoing in the lab which look into the impacts of marine heat waves on sea urchins. 

My main project for the summer was a part of the Native Olympia Oyster Collaborative (NOOC) which is currently collecting data on the only native oyster to the west coast of North America, the Olympia. This huge collaborative goes from British Columbia, Canada all the way down to Baja California, Mexico, and I was in charge of surveying the Carpinteria Salt Marshes, where the native oyster was practically thought to be extinct. To our surprise we found a solid population! So, after conducting some transects, I am now analyzing the data and thinking about the implications of this newly found population on fishery markets as well as the potential for restoration.

Moving forward, I hope to connect my knowledge on oceanography and fisheries to creating more sustainable and marine-friendly urban systems!

Jenna Huynh

Ocean-biodegradable plastics

I am currently pursuing a Earth Science B.S. with an emphasis in climate and the environment. Since January 2023, I've had the privilege of interning with NOAA Channel Islands and Nereid Biomaterials, where my focus has been on in-situ degradation rates of ocean-biodegradable plastics and better understanding the scope of marine plastic pollution in sanctuaries. 

I am currently leading a research project to quantify microplastic concentrations in three coastal marine predators: bay rays, leopard sharks, and pacific angel sharks. I also work towards understanding the state of plastic debris and microplastics in the West Coast National Marine Sanctuaries and develop potential monitoring plans for ocean plastics. As a Nereid Biomaterials intern, we are working to test in-situ degradation rates of marine biodegradable plastic under various conditions. 

Interning with CINMS and Nereid Biomaterials has been an amazing experience, and I am excited to continue my internship. In the future, I aspire to explore innovative ways to enhance our natural ecosystems. Here's to a brighter, greener future!

Sophia Delap

Nature-based solution to sea level rise

I’m a third-year Environmental Studies undergrad aiming to study urban, regional, and environmental planning. As I navigate my interests in landscape architecture, restoration, and green building, I’ve chosen to work with California Sea Grant to promote sand dune restoration as a nature-based solution to sea level rise, coastal erosion, and flooding. 

My summer research involves surveying over 10 sites along the southern coast of California such as the beaches of Malibu, Santa Monica, and Ventura. At each site, we collect data involving wrack cover from the backdune to the swash zone, native and non-native vegetation cover, terrestrial debris, and elevation data along each transect. With this, we’re aiming to form connections between vegetation and dune growth over time, discover patterns in dune responses to storm events, and inform coastal management about the effectiveness of this restoration strategy. 

Our hope is that the eventual outcome of this project will inform policymakers about the pressing effects of climate change on coastal communities, and how sand dunes are a cost-effective ecosystem service that replenishes lost habitat, promotes biodiversity, and serves as a natural seawall. 

From this experience, I hope to be well-acquainted with coastal plants and their unique capabilities, with the hopes that I can later apply these skills to further restoration projects!

Angela Larson

Ocean alkalinity enhancement

I am a third year Earth Science student in the Climate and Environment emphasis. This summer, I am working in the Iglesias-Rodriguez lab with my mentor, James Gately. Their lab studies anthropogenic changes within marine ecosystems with a specific focus on phytoplankton and biogeochemical cycles. Working with James has been a great experience. With his research primarily focused on ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE), I have been given the opportunity to learn biogenic silica analysis procedures, population monitoring, and general microbiology techniques including subculturing and microscopy. I have also assisted on the local Plumes and Blooms cruises to collect seawater samples for carbonate chemistry analysis. Currently, I am running an experiment on the leaching of silicic acid from borosilicate bottles at high pHs as supplemental data for previous OAE mesocosm experiments.

In my future, I see myself continuing with biogeochemistry! I quickly found a passion for this area of science that combines my love of mineralogy and ecology in a way that lets me study the natural cycling of our planet. With previous experience in plant restoration, I could see myself studying plants (terrestrial or marine) in a similar context as well. As an Earth Science student, my courses focus less on ecology so these summer experiences are so essential for me to dive deeper into the subject to learn all that I can!

Rosie Manner

Non-invasive survey methods for mammals

I am a third year Zoology major here at UCSB. For my second summer with the amazing FUERTE program, I have an 8 week internship in the Young Lab that is centered around noninvasive survey methods for mammals along the Gaviota Coast. The research I have been primarily involved in is investigating the marine influence on the diets of large terrestrial mammals at the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve in California, aiming to understand their potential role as ecological connectors between the coastal and terrestrial environments. This study includes a comprehensive analysis of marine-trophic interactions by surveying scat samples collected from the six target species– coyotes (Canis latrans), bobcats (Lynx rufus), mountain lions (Puma concolor), American black bears (Ursus americanus), wild pigs (Sus scrofa), and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). Additionally, I have begun an independent study within this project to design and test different hair snare designs, with the goal of evaluating the effectiveness and capabilities of these hair snares for noninvasively capturing hair samples from the same previously mentioned target species. Hair snares are noninvasive sampling devices that collect hair samples from interacting animals, typically involving a brush or tape-adhesive to snag hair. I researched and constructed three distinct hair snare designs, and a 4-week deployment and collection plan was implemented to evaluate their performance. Further isotope analysis of these hair samples will provide valuable insights into the feeding habits and trophic ecology of these mammal species. Through integrating scat collection and hair snares, I have been able to take a noninvasive approach to studying the diet distribution of our six target species. 

I am passionate about studying animals, particularly their behavioral and physical adaptations, and would love to continue working in the field in my future career. Next steps for me include gaining more field work experience, and learning about new ways to get involved in mammalian research efforts!