My Ph.D. research investigates the sources, transformation and composition of surfactants in the sea surface microlayer (SML) and their impacts on air-sea relevant properties. Surface-active substances, or surfactants, are organic compounds that preferentially accumulate in the SML, the top layer of the ocean. In this layer, surfactants reduce surface tension, suppress small-scale turbulence and ultimately reduce the exchange of gases and materials across the air-sea interface. They are also preferentially emitted into the atmosphere, where they influence cloud formation, atmospheric composition and the Earth’s radiative budget.

So far, my research has:

• developed a novel and cost-effective technique for sampling the SML on research cruises
• adapted an advanced analytical approach that couples liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry to improve the extraction and characterization of surfactants in the SML
• identified potential microbial sources and organic proxies for surfactants that can be used in the parameterization of various climate models.

Sharing my research with more people means a lot to me because it allows me to share my findings and raise awareness among a wider audience of how organic matter transformations in our environment influence carbon sequestration and climate change. It also gives me an opportunity to improve my scientific communication skills as I learn to develop ways of presenting my work that can be understood and appreciated by diverse audiences. I also received valuable feedback from people with diverse perspectives, which greatly helps me broaden the impact of my work.

My research, conducted under the guidance of my advisor, Professor Holly Michael, explores how saltmarshes may help protect coastal groundwater resources from saltwater intrusion. Saltwater intrusion occurs when seawater moves into underground freshwater aquifers, potentially reducing the availability and quality of freshwater in coastal communities. Our findings suggest that intact saltmarshes are commonly associated with an offshore freshwater-saltwater interface, providing an important and often overlooked form of protection for inland freshwater resources. However, human activities and changes to the marsh landscape can affect this protective function. For example, groundwater pumping and ditching may draw saltwater farther inland. Tidal channels that cut through marshes can also create larger underground mixing zones between fresh and salty water, potentially making coastal aquifers more vulnerable to saltwater intrusion. Our research highlights that saltmarshes are valuable not only as wildlife habitats and buffers against coastal flooding, but also for the role they may play in protecting freshwater resources beneath and inland of the marshes.

I was very grateful to present my work at the symposium. Because it took place in May, it gave me a timely opportunity to reflect on and summarize what I had accomplished throughout the semester. Preparing the presentation also helped me organize my ideas and develop a clearer understanding of my own research. Moreover, conducting research is important, but I believe it is equally important to learn how to communicate our findings to others. Whether I am speaking with experts in my field or people from different academic and professional backgrounds, I can learn a great deal from their questions, reactions, feedback and perspectives. I have always believed that strong research benefits from crossing disciplinary, methodological and community boundaries. The symposium provided exactly that kind of opportunity by allowing me to share my work with a broader audience and learn from people with many different perspectives.

My research examines how mesoscale ocean eddies — large rotating features in the upper ocean — affect deep currents over the East Pacific Rise, a major underwater mountain range. Using a high-resolution ocean model, I study how eddies interact with seafloor topography and influence bottom-intensified currents thousands of meters below the surface. These bottom currents play an important role in transporting heat, nutrients and other ocean properties, as well as redistributing energy in the deep ocean. My results show that passing eddies can strengthen and sometimes temporarily reverse these currents, revealing an important connection between surface ocean variability and deep ocean circulation.

Presenting at the symposium was a valuable opportunity to share my work with people from different academic backgrounds. It challenged me to explain a technical topic clearly and helped me better understand which aspects of my research were most interesting to a broader audience. The questions and feedback I received also helped me identify areas where my analysis and presentation could be improved. Receiving an award was very encouraging and strengthened my confidence in both my research and my ability to communicate its significance.

My research focuses on where oarfish — the world’s longest fish and the source of many sea serpent legends — are found around the world. There are two different species of oarfish that are very similar and should live in the same sorts of places, but past research says they’re found at two completely different latitudes! This struck me as bizarre, so when I had the chance to look into occurrence data for a class project, I did a deep dive on oarfish and found that one of the species actually isn’t found where we thought it was. This finding encouraged me to pursue an independent study last semester and carry on my research. Right now, I’m trying to determine whether currents, water temperature, prey availability or something else entirely are responsible for oarfish distributions.

Presenting at the symposium was such a great experience. I really enjoyed seeing everyone else’s research and learning more about what’s being studied in Lewes. I actually wound up working in the labs here as a result! I spoke with professors about new directions for my research and received a lot of feedback on how to improve my presentation. I also refined my pitch in front of peers and networked with other students, which was helpful in preparing for my first academic conference this summer! 

My research uses satellite remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and artificial intelligence to better understand the relationship among agriculture, climate change and Nigeria’s environment. Nigeria is Africa’s largest agricultural producer and the world’s leading producer of cassava, yet detailed information about where major crops such as cassava are grown has been limited because most farms are small, scattered and difficult to map using satellite imagery. I am developing a workflow that combines satellite imagery with field survey data to produce high-resolution maps of staple crops such as cassava and maize. These maps will provide valuable information that would help improve agricultural statistics, monitor crop production, support food security and help the government make more informed agricultural decisions. I also study how agriculture responds to climate change and how these changes affect the environment. Specifically, I investigate which staple crops are most resilient to changing climate conditions and whether the expansion of these climate-resilient crops contributes to deforestation. My goal is to generate scientific evidence that supports sustainable agricultural development while balancing the need for increased food production, climate resilience and environmental conservation.

Presenting at the symposium was a great experience for me. It gave me the opportunity to share my research with faculty, graduate and undergraduate students and others in the college who are interested in environmental research. I really enjoyed talking with people about my work and hearing their questions and perspectives. Seeing the interest people had in my research was very encouraging, and it was rewarding to have the opportunity to showcase the work I have been doing. The feedback and conversations also gave me new ways to think about my research. Overall, the symposium reminded me how valuable it is to share my work, learn from others and connect with people who are interested in similar environmental challenges.

My research focuses on understanding and reducing flooding in coastal cities. Many older cities rely on drainage systems that must handle both heavy rainfall and rising coastal water levels. When intense rain occurs during high tide, water may not drain efficiently, causing streets and neighborhoods to flood more quickly. Through computer modeling, I study how rainfall, tides, underground drainage pipes, pumps and green infrastructure work together during storms. The goal is to identify practical ways to improve drainage systems and reduce flood risks. These solutions may include better control of coastal outlets, additional water-storage capacity and nature-based solutions such as rain gardens. Ultimately, my research aims to help communities prepare for more frequent flooding as storms intensify and sea levels continue to rise.

Presenting at the symposium gave my research a life beyond computer models, figures and data. It was exciting to see people become curious about flooding risks that may affect the streets, homes and communities around them. Their questions and perspectives reminded me that research becomes most valuable when it can be understood, discussed and used by others. The experience also helped me grow as a researcher and communicator. Explaining complex ideas to a broad audience challenged me to tell a clearer and more meaningful story about my work. It strengthened my confidence, sharpened my academic communication skills and encouraged me to continue pursuing a career in which research can connect science with real community needs.