2024 NESSI Interns

Growing up in the sunny town of Manatí, Puerto Rico, the tropical weather didn't really captivate me. In fact, I used to be pretty scared of thunderstorms. However, science has been a part of me for as long as I can remember and what I like to call my "first love". In 2017, having experienced Hurricane María left a mark on me that I believe I'll never be able to ignore. Not only did I become deeply interested in tropical meteorology, but I watched how María left a profound impact on my island, which led me to decide to become a meteorologist. I began this journey at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez as an undergraduate in Theoretical Physics with a curricular sequence in Meteorology and Atmospheric Science. A crucial part of my education has also been my local AMS Student Chapter. For the past three years, I've been able to learn a lot from my peers and various professionals while also participating in outreach and educational events for our communities. It has been an incredibly safe space where we strive to inspire the next generations of Puerto Rican meteorologists. 

This summer, I'm working in the Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorology Laboratory. Alongside my mentors James Done, Andrea Schumacher, and Alexandra Ramos Valle, we're developing an interdisciplinary project involving climate change, hurricane dynamics, and risk communication. We're modeling Hurricane Ida, which made landfall in southeastern Louisiana in 2021, and the hurricane’s potential impact with and without climate change's presence. We're going to be observing how these changes would affect social vulnerability and how many underrepresented communities would be affected. It is truly a dream project and involves topics I am passionate about, as risk communication is an area I've been wanting to learn more about. I aim to gain knowledge on hurricane's effects in society and what can be done to communicate forecasts effectively, especially in vulnerable communities. 

Currently, I aspire to pursue a Master's degree in either Tropical Meteorology or Risk Communication. After culminating my higher education, I would love to work as an operational meteorologist at Puerto Rico's Weather Forecasting Office (WFO) or at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami. NESSI has been helping me decide what area of meteorology I want to dive into thanks to our mentors and the program's coordinators who are always willing to help with advice or resources for the interns' interests in the Earth Sciences. I am determined to be a trustworthy, kind, and hard-working scientist who contributes to expanding science and meteorology education across Puerto Rico, understanding the weather, and climate's impact in society to be able to save lives during future extreme weather events.

Like NSF NCAR itself, I am a Colorado native! I was born profoundly deaf to hearing parents in Denver, and have spent most of my life in Adams and Broomfield Counties, where I was mainstreamed in one of the largest Deaf and Hard of Hearing programs within the state. I have bilateral cochlear implants - I received one when I was 2, and I asked for the other halfway through high school. I have always loved the weather, but two events stick out in my mind as solidifying my interest - the emotionally overwhelming landfall of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005, and the Boulder-Longmont floods in 2013. A Weather Channel marathon following the 2005 hurricane season helped calm my nerves and spark my interest in the weather. Nonetheless, the Boulder-Longmont floods reminded me that it could happen here as well, as my father - the leader of FEMA's Urban Search and Rescue Colorado Task Force 1 - had to go to work and pull people out of the waters in Boulder County for 10 days. 

After finishing my public schooling, I started attending the University of Colorado in Boulder to get an undergraduate degree in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. I'm working in the Research Applications Laboratory (RAL) with Alex Rugg Stebbins and Rachel McCrary on how drought (and excessive moisture!) might impact the Western US under different climate change scenarios over the next 50 and even 100 years, with a focus toward aridification in the Southwest and extreme rainfall events leading to disastrous flooding like the 2013 Boulder-Longmont floods that set me on this path so long ago. 

Nothing is set in stone yet, but I hope to attend graduate school and then join the field of meteorology, simultaneously tackling the most pressing problems of our time, and forging a path forward for other Deaf scientists.

I grew up in Mansfield, Texas, a rapidly growing suburb of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. More importantly though, my familial roots are in Southern Mississippi in a small town that is only an hour away from the area of Louisiana known as Cancer Alley. Every time I travel to see my family, I pass the same landmarks of power plants, factories, refineries, and a paper plant. It is because of this background that I developed a passion for air quality and environmental justice. Although I have faced challenges, my undergraduate experience has been nothing short of cultivating. Throughout it, I have had the opportunity to conduct research with Dr. Amy Yeboah-Quarkume. Under her guidance, I have researched the effects of poor air quality and regulations on minority communities. In addition to this research, I also had the privilege of being a teaching fellow with the National Education Equity Lab. With the lab, I taught students in Title 1 High School’s Environmental Science and Justice at the college-level. Although I was teaching them, watching the students become passionate about the world around them gave me motivation and a reminder why I chose this path. Lastly, I want to highlight one of the most impactful experiences I have had while in undergrad. This past semester I was invited by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University, Dr. Rubin Patterson, to take a course on energy diversification in South Africa and travel to the country. On this trip, I had the chance to meet with members of the U.S. Embassy, the Development Bank of South Africa, and the vice chancellor of the University of Johannesburg. This opportunity opened my eyes on what life after undergrad can be and what opportunities I have available to me. 

This summer I am working in the Atmospheric Chemistry Observation and Modeling Lab (ACOM) under the mentorship of Alessandro Franchin. Together, we are comparing different ozone instruments and analyzing data with the NASA ASIA-AQ campaign. The main goal of this project is to determine what particles and chemicals can be found in the atmosphere with the instruments used in our study. We are analyzing the measurements taken in places with high ozone levels such as Seoul, Korea and Tokyo, Japan. 

Overall, my current career aspirations are to work in some capacity within Environmental Policy. I want to be a part of the change that ensures that everyone in the next generation, regardless of demographics, has the opportunity to experience a clean and healthy Earth. In the next 5 years, I see myself coming towards the end of my academic journey with a masters or J.D. 10 years from now, I hope to have an established career in what I'm passionate about, changing the lives of people through environmental policy and research. My experiences at NSF NCAR will prepare me by giving me the tools I need to effectively communicate my research. Moreover, through the wonderful mentorship I have received, I have been able to expand my knowledge and problem-solving abilities. NSF NCAR EdEC has also opened my eyes to another avenue for my life: education. I have always had an interest in educating the next generation, however prior to coming to NSF NCAR, I did not know of a way I could integrate that within a research setting.

Hello all! My name is Ryan Harrington. I was born and raised here in Colorado, growing up just down the road in Longmont. While growing up, I always had an interest in anything science and found it hard to concentrate on any subject that wasn't science. I am a firm believer that one of my core memories - coming to the Mesa Lab for a field trip - was pivotal in creating that interest and bringing me to where I am now. Not only was I enthralled by the weather exhibits, but I got to see a childlike side of my father I had never seen. He was a chaperone on the field trip and was excited to return to a place he had worked a few years before I was born. MANY years later, I found myself having that same fascination for science, particularly meteorology and climate change science, and in a somewhat full-circle moment, I am back at the Mesa Lab gaining research experience! Well, it's actually more of a very disorganized circle with loops and sharp turns. After graduating high school, I attempted a year of college but found I simply was not ready to continue my education. My path quickly changed directions when I joined the United States Marine Corps as an Infantry Marine. After 4 years and 2 deployments to Iraq, I separated from active duty and sought to begin my studies once again. As we all know, life rarely goes as planned. I separated just after the fall semester had started and needed a job before the next semester started. I began working contract security (one location was at UCAR/NCAR for a few weeks) and advanced quickly within the company. As a result, I decided to forego my studies to seek a career in security. Not feeling fulfilled by that job, I jumped careers twice while still feeling like I was not where I was supposed to be. Those loops, and an opportunity to become a pilot, would bring me to where I am now. I began attending Metropolitan State University of Denver to earn a degree in Aviation and Aerospace as a Professional Pilot. Through that coursework, I had to take a meteorology course and simply fell in love with the subject. I would eventually make meteorology my focus with the goal of continuing my education in Grad School. 

This summer, I am working at the Mesa Lab with my mentor, Rich Neale, within the Climate and Global Dynamics (CGD) section. My project this summer is to investigate the different modes of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the effects/responses of integrated water vapor and precipitation in the North Pacific. Not all ENSO events are the same in spatial or temporal extent, nor does each type or event have the same initialization mechanisms. We seek to better understand this ENSO diversity and the associated teleconnections. 

My career aspirations are to continue my studies in Atmospheric Science as I pursue an M.S. and a PhD. It is my hope to be able to continue conducting research and contributing meaningful science to the community while improving our understanding of the Earth-System Science and Climate Change. I would like to see myself working for an institution such as NSF NCAR or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), or as a professor at a research university. Mentoring is also a top goal for me as well. I enjoy seeing others succeed and striving to be their best. The growth that is possible in the early career stage is astonishing and I hope to be able to help with the growth for countless individuals in the near and distant future. 

My time here at NSF NCAR as an intern has been an invaluable contribution to my personal and professional development through my interactions with others and improved research skills. Plus, everyone here is simply amazing! The openness and willingness of everyone at NSF NCAR to help and watch early-career scientists succeed speaks volumes to the individuals and organization as a whole. That open and willing nature doesn't just stop with those in your area of research. Everything is collaborative and interdisciplinary, which leads everyone you interact with to lend some sort of hand, provide encouraging words, or a safe space to discuss what is on your mind. Having experienced this, I plan on doing the same for everyone I interact with in the future. I have also solidified my resolve to continue with my education and research interests. Knowing what I have to look forward to when I step into the community post-education will allow me to continually push myself and others to reach for their goals and gain a sense of belonging.

I grew up in Las Cruces, New Mexico, a small town a few miles from the border. I began my undergraduate studies in English, and added a Geography degree when I started learning more deeply about the Rio Grande and its culture and ecological value. This drew me towards the social science study of ecosystem services and hydrological systems. I am now a fourth year PhD candidate at UC Davis, where I study ecosystem services; currently, that work focuses on wetland restoration and the related market-based policy mechanisms in place to facilitate it. I am currently using statistical and econometric modeling to examine the differential effect of "restored" versus "natural" wetlands for flood mitigation to downstream communities. 

I am working in the Research Application Laboratory (RAL) with NSF NCAR researcher Kevin Sampson. My work will expand on my dissertation research, incorporating physical and hydrological parameters of wetlands (distance from communities, elevation, flood stage, upstream vs. downstream) into my existing econometric models in order to better represent flood dynamics. I am using the National Water Model Retrospective to examine streamflow and precipitation across the continental US. My main goal is to learn to work with this hydrologic model output and use it in my future work. 

Currently, I aspire to either be a professor at a university in California and continue to do cool interdisciplinary research, or work somewhere like NSF NCAR that allows for continued intellectual curiosity and forward motion.

I was born in Ciudad de Mexico, a complex and vibrant city that significantly shaped my multicultural identity and deep appreciation for diverse ecosystems and cultures. For my undergraduate studies, I pursued Sustainability, immersing myself in the intricacies of ecological systems and sustainable practices. My passion for environmental stewardship led me to further my education with a Master’s degree in Geography, focusing on agricultural systems and their adaptation to climate change. Throughout my graduate studies, I have been actively involved in research projects that assess the resilience of agroecosystems against climatic stresses, under the guidance of mentors like Dr. Amy Quandt. My academic journey has been a blend of rigorous scientific research and community engagement, aiming to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and practical, sustainable applications. 

This summer, I am working in the Climate & Global Dynamics (CGD) laboratory. My research focuses on the integration of agroforestry practices as a climate change adaptation strategy. Under the mentorship of Dr. Isla Simpson and Dr. Adrianna Foster, the project aims to employ advanced biophysical models (FATES) and remote sensing data (GEDI, ECOSTRESS) to evaluate the effectiveness of agroforestry in mitigating temperature extremes and enhancing soil moisture retention. The main goals include understanding the specific climate benefits of agroforestry and disseminating these findings to support agricultural communities. 

My career aspirations are centered on becoming a leader in environmental policy and management, specifically focusing on climate adaptation strategies for agricultural sectors globally. In the next 5 to 10 years, I aim to influence policy decisions by providing empirical research that supports sustainable agricultural practices. Over the next 20 years, I envision myself leading initiatives that foster international cooperation on climate resilience, particularly in historically excluded communities. The experiences at NSF NCAR, particularly working with cutting-edge climate models and engaging with top-tier scientists, will equip me with the necessary skills to analyze complex environmental data and contribute to science-based policy making, ultimately supporting my long-term objectives.

I grew up in Eldorado Springs, Colorado. I moved to Arizona for college, and I'm currently pursuing a Physics degree at the University of Arizona in Tucson. This year, I will be entering my junior year of my undergraduate studies. I am also a studio art minor. 

This summer, I have been working within the High Altitude Observatory (HAO) with my mentor Scott Sewell. We have been using a Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope paired with a camera and H-alpha filter to take images of the sun. I will focus on the application of the absolute point of focus technique in processing the images and increasing their quality. The end goal of the project, likely for after I have left, is to be able to have a satellite which can take these same photos. 

My biggest career aspiration is to be able to simultaneously enjoy my work and also benefit others with the work I do. Working here at NSF NCAR has helped me understand my passions in science and my role in the workplace. I have had the opportunity to be part of the workforce before graduating college, and that has given me a more comprehensive understanding of the purpose behind my studies.

I grew up in Humacao, Puerto Rico, a place where I was fortunate to be surrounded by the island's beautiful nature. The lush landscapes and coastal beauty of my hometown fostered a deep appreciation for the environment. This, combined with my dedicated love for the sciences, inspired me to pursue a degree in Environmental Science and Physics. Currently, I am studying at Colorado College, where I have been able to enjoy the mountainous regions of the Rockies. 

This summer, I am working in NSF NCAR's Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorology (MMM) Laboratory, as an intern of the NESSI program. My summer research project consists of studying tropical cyclones and their responses to climate change. More specifically, I will be focusing on the rapid intensification of hurricanes, investigating what atmospheric conditions may instigate rapid intensification, and study how rapidly intensified hurricanes differ in terms of flood risk from hurricanes that don't. To accomplish these goals, I will be working under scientists James Done, Alexandra Ramos, and Andrea Schumacher to both research current and past hurricane events, but also simulating similar storms in the future climate. 

I have always wanted to be a scientific researcher, but as time has gone by, and my interests have narrowed, I find myself most interested in atmospheric science. The field is one I could see myself dedicating 5 or even 10 years studying/researching. In the long run, I would love to dedicate my interests toward exoplanetary science, perhaps even mixing the two fields and studying different planetary atmospheres.