UROP Leader Information Submission: Submission #33

Please answer the question you selected above in the area provided. UROP has provided me with amazing opportunities to engage in research at FSU. I joined UROP during my freshman year and participated in research involving cyanobacterial mat coverage in coral reef ecosystems. During my time on this project, I earned my SCUBA certification so I would be able to take the AAUS Scientific Diving class. By taking this class and earning my Scientific Diving certification, I would be able to participate in underwater research. During my sophomore year, I took the class and was offered a position as a researcher for the summer of 2021. I went to Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands to assist with a graduate student's work on parrotfish. During my time there, I was allowed to begin my own research project on butterflyfish grazing. Once we returned, I started a DIS and worked on my own research. Through the graduate student I worked with, I learned about the Darling Marine Center in Walpole, Maine. I spent the summer of 2022 there assisting one of the research assistants with SCUBA-related activities, such as cleaning biofouling off of water quality buoys.