First Steps in the Field

I came into the Bodega Marine Laboratory summer program completing as a third year from Santa Rosa Junior College. I had applied the previous two years for this internship with no success, until this year. I had already chosen to pursue a major in marine science since I started here at the junior college because I had always been interested in nature, plants and animals were things I observed whenever I was outside as a kid. Being within driving distance of the sea and other locations for swimming, I ended up fascinated by the diversity in water habitats. When I first heard about this internship I knew I had to try and couldn’t let it pass me by. I was finally accepted on my third application.

While I have had an interest in marine science and knew that I would focus on biology. I had not really narrowed what I wanted to solely focus on. Just about every aspect looks very interesting. I had taken Biology and Chemistry classes before so my lab skills were better honed when I helped with the experiments of Brown Lab members like pipetting and sterilizing equipment. I was able to help with collecting sea grass at different collection sites and learn to do other lab procedures like plant processing and taking rhizospheres. The work may sound like tedious work, but it is still a part of a larger experiment and I was glad to be of help.

Overall, I was glad I was accepted this summer. I got to meet interesting people in my assigned lab and help with their experiments in any way I could. I know that there are other parts of marine science and other types of research and experiments being done in other parts of the Bodega Lab, but for now I’m glad I have already taken my first steps into the field.

About the Program: 

The SRJC-BML Internship Program provides summer research opportunities for Santa Rosa Junior College students at the Bodega Marine Laboratory.

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