Muddy Shoes and Microbes
An SRJC-BML Internship Story
Hello, my name is Vanessa Cordova, and this summer, I had the chance to intern at the UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab through a partnership with Santa Rosa Junior College. I am a first-generation student transferring to UC Berkeley in the fall to study Integrative Biology with an emphasis in Human Biology. I came into this internship not really knowing what to expect. I wasn't sure how it would go or what I'd take away from it. I've always known I loved science, but the least I can say is that I loved being a part of a research lab team. It gave me a clear view of the work I want to pursue in the future.
My mentor, Nicky Yoong, was working on a couple of different projects, all centered around understanding how tiny invertebrate grazers, isopods specifically, can affect the microbiome of eelgrass, a really important plant in coastal ecosystems. I got to be part of two main experiments. The first one was a method test to see if we could sterilize eelgrass shoots without damaging the plants. We used iodine to reduce their microbiomes, and it was actually kind of exciting to see that this didn't seem to cause any immediate damage. It felt like a small but important step in understanding how eelgrass interacts with microbes.
The second experiment was a lot more complex, which means it required more setup. It was interesting seeing the mitty-gritty side of science, especially the trial and error that goes into setting things up. We were testing how fast the microbiomes of eelgrass from different sites might start to "blend" when you introduce grazers like isopods. That meant a lot of hands-on work, drilling tanks, setting up experimental plots, adding light fixtures, and heading out into the field early in the morning to collect plants and isopods. It was a lot of long days, muddy shoes, and leaky waders, but honestly, I really enjoyed it. It was my first time doing this type of fieldwork, and leaving my house at 4 am to get to Bodega Marine Lab by 5 am was a lot, but it was also a very unique and new experience where I really enjoyed my time.
One day, we went out to the field to collect isopods, hoping to get around 120, but we were only able to collect about half of that amount. It just goes to show how we can't force nature to give us exactly what we want, and sometimes we fall short of our goals, but that's part of the process, and I loved being a part of it.
What really stood out to me throughout this internship was how much I love the combination of fieldwork and lab work. Some days were long, and setting up experiments could be tedious, but there were so many unique tasks to tackle, there truly was never a dull moment. This internship was the perfect reminder of why I love science, and why I want to keep learning. A huge thank you to my mentor, Nicky, and everyone else who helped guide me throughout this internship. I'm so grateful for all the insightful knowledge you shared, and I'll carry everything I've learned with me moving forward.
About the Program:
The SRJC-BML Internship Program provides summer research opportunities for Santa Rosa Junior College students at the Bodega Marine Laboratory.