Students and faculty members aboard ORCA's research vessel the Phocoena.

OCEAN RESEARCH COLLEGE ACADEMY

During my last two years of high school (2013-2015) I attended a private program for high school students to earn college credits. The Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA) was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2004. At ORCA I participated in monthly State of Possession Sound cruises (SOPS cruises) to collect data that provided insight on the health of the local ecosystem. These data that were collected throughout the past decade are now being used by the Washington State Ferry system. They are using these data as a reference for the baseline health of the local ecosystem in Mukilteo as a new ferry terminal is being constructed (1, 2, 3). 

During SOPS cruises, we collected samples of water to analyze nutrient contents, dissolved oxygen levels, turbidity, temperature, pH, and salinity via YSI instruments and Niskin bottles. Marine mammals and species of birds were recorded, and sediment samples and plankton were collected as well. Students at ORCA continue to collect these data on a bi-monthly basis.

CHEMISTRY

My previous experience as an intern at the Everett Environmental Laboratory expanded my learning and skills in many ways. During my internship I gained experience operating an Agilent ICP-MS in order to analyze water, biological tissue, soil, and other various samples. This experience sparked my interest in chemistry. I am now majoring in Chemistry with a an emphasis in Biochemistry at Pacific Lutheran University. I am also majoring in Physics and minoring in Mathematics at PLU. 

​I have continued marine research at PLU with Dr. Sheri Tonn. We are analyzing the lasting effects of the ASARCO Smelter that was located in Commencement Bay (Tacoma, WA). The smelter was in operation from 1890-1985. I am analyzing the legacy effects of the plant by looking at heavy metal concentrations in mussels. The primary metals of interest are arsenic, cadmium, lead, and zinc. 

Sonogoshira Coupling product: 1-(hex-1-ynyl)-4-nitrobenzene from 1-iodo-4-nitrobenzene and 1-hexyne.

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