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THE ISLAND TIDES

Newsletter of the SEAS Islands Alliance 
May 2022

Alliance Happenings: Bridge to PhD Program 


We are happy to congratulate and introduce the eleven incoming 2022 Bridge to PhD program cohort! Among this year’s cohort are students representing three distinct island communities including undergraduate students from the University of Guam and the University of Puerto Rico, as well as Masters Students from the University of the Virgin Islands. Penn State Faculty and Graduate Students are thrilled to work with such a diverse, ambitious and motivated group of marine and environmental sciences. Please see below for more information about this year's Bridge to PhD Cohort!

University of Guam Students: 
  • Anela Duenas is a third year Integrative Biology major interested in marine biology and will work with Dr. Di Gioia. 
  • Gabriella Prelosky is a fourth year Biology major interested in ecology and sharks and will join Dr. Boyle’s lab. 
  • Merry Jubilaine Remetira is a second year Civil Engineering major interested in hydrological and environmental engineering and will work with Dr. Byron. 
  • Louise Pascua is a third year Biology major with a chemistry minor, interested in genetics and will work with Dr. Rasgon. 
  • Anna Maeca Aguirre is a third year Biology major who is interested in plant science and will spend the summer working with Dr. Crandall.
Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico Students: 
  • Angeli Torres is a Biology major interested in marine biology and will spend the summer working in Dr. Iglesias-Prieto’s lab. 
  • Ninoshka Betancourt is interested in marine mammals and will work with Dr. Warner. 
University of the Virgin Island Students: 
  • Amanda Badai is interested in coral disease and will work with Dr. Medina.
  • Laura Palomino is interested in mangrove restoration and citizen science and will work with Dr. Henderson. 
  • Lila Uzzell is interested in natural resource management and conservation and will spend the summer in Dr. Ma’s lab.
  • Zachary Gregory is interested in mesophotic coral distribution and will work in Dr. Huber’s lab.
From top left: Anela Duenas, Gabriella Prelosky, Merry Jubilaine Remetira, Louise Pascua, Anna Maeca Aguirre, Angeli Torres, Ninoshka Betancourt, Amanda Badai, Laura Palomino, Lila Uzzell, Zachary Gregory.
SEAS Spotlight: Jahnyah Brooks
The USVI Hub is proud to announce their new Workforce Fellow, Jahnyah Brooks. Jahnyah, native to St. Croix, VI, is the new Wildlife Biologist for the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Division of Fish & Wildlife (DPNR-DFW) St. Croix, through the SEAS Islands Alliance Workforce Fellowship. Jahnyah received his Bachelors in biology from the University of the Virgin Islands, also receiving the honors of Cum Laude! His involvement with SEAS began during his time as an undergraduate intern with DPNR-DFW, through the Emerging Caribbean Scientists (ECS) program. The skills and knowledge Jahnyah has gained throughout his internship and his years of service with the U.S. Army, have allowed Jahnyah the chance to transform into the passionate Wildlife Biologist he is today. Through his work with DPNR-DFW, Jahnyah will be aiding in the efforts to connect with the conservation and management of wildlife resources of St. Croix, and foster community engagement and insight through outreach activities and events.
Alumni Spotlight: Anela Duenas
The Guam Hub is proud to spotlight our Undergraduate (UG) Fellow, Anela Duenas. Anela completed her year-long fellowship as a SEAS UG Fellow in 2021 conducting research on the photophysiological response of coral to thermal stress at the UOG Marine Laboratory. During her time as UG Fellow, Anela worked with one of our EPSCoR faculty researchers and his team of graduate students. Their work culminated in her acceptance to present at two national conferences, SACNAS and CERF. Additionally, Anela has been awarded the Barry Goldwater Scholarship which aims to foster and encourage students to pursue research careers in the fields of the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics and the “More Like Jimmy" scholarship for students in marine and environmental sciences. She is amongst five undergraduate students from the Guam hub, who will gain valuable research experience this summer through the Bridge to PhD Program! While she engages in research, she remains thoughtful and supportive of others. She is the first to guide and cheer on her cohort of grant recipients especially during seminars and while preparing for events or conferences. Anela is a strong and valuable mentor for her peers; her sense of giving and support elevates the learning and work experience of others around her. Anela aspires to conduct research on coral reef ecosystems in the Mariana Islands, teach at the collegiate level, and assist in starting up a marine laboratory in her island home of Saipan. 

Making Waves

USVI Hub Bridge Program alumna Allison Holevoet, has been very busy! She was recently accepted to the American Geophysical Union’s Voices for Science cohort as part of the Communications/Media Track for the 2022-2023 year. She will attend a training at the beginning of April, participate in monthly science-communication opportunities with AGU staff, conduct outreach here, and attend the AGU fall meeting. Allison also received the Lana Vento Charitable Trust award of $700, which will support her thesis research. 

Congratulations to Workforce Fellow Zola Roper! Funding for the DPNR Marine Debris Coordinator position was approved, meaning that Zola’s position will become a full-time permanent position in the territory.

ECS Program alumnus Nicholas Durgadeen has accepted the position as a Coral Restoration Specialist in Marilyn Brandt’s laboratory. 

Patricia Vidal was accepted at Gibraltar University for graduate school. 

Wilnelia M. Barea Carrion was accepted into an REU program: Manifestations of Climate Change in Extreme Events, 6 June to 27 July.

EcoExploratorio successfully conducted 3 virtual sessions with 40-50 middle and high school aged students, with participation from PR Hub PIs. Curriculum was jointly developed by EcoExploratorio and our Workforce Fellows and focused on the ecology of bioluminescent bays. 

The Guam Hub’s Workforce Fellow, Rita Kristine Bernardo (pictured below) will be attending Harvard Graduate School of Design in the Fall to pursue a Master’s in Urban Planning. She was awarded the Harvard Presidential Scholarship, a merit scholarship in recognition of students with the highest potential. One day, Rita would like to establish a global consultancy firm that helps islands to integrate sustainable urban solutions that are locally informed and culturally driven.

 Rita Kristine Bernardo, NSF INCLUDES SEAS Islands Alliance Workforce Fellow in her capacity as Guam Green Growth (G3) Coordinator facilitates the Mo’na Manhoben Youth Summit in Guam in April 2022. The Mo’na Manhoben Youth Summit invited Guam’s youth to learn more about the G3 initiative, discuss issues important to them, brainstorm solutions, and create a Youth Action Plan to bring to life the future they wish to see for themselves.
The SEAS Islands Alliance is an NSF INCLUDES Alliance funded by the National Science Foundation Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (NSF INCLUDES). 

Visit our website at seasislandsalliance.org for more information. Please reply to this email if you have any questions, if you are interested in getting more involved with the SEAS Islands Alliance, have information you'd like to share in an upcoming newsletter, or If you would like to be removed from the email list.






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