Danielle is a marine biologist whose degree was obtained from the University of Oregon. She shows great interest in marine mammals and plastic pollution studies.
What is your favorite travel memory?
My favorite travel memory was when I interned for Oceans Research in September 2016. It was my first time traveling alone and needless to say I was very nervous.
Upon arrival, things did not feel too different. The staff was very welcoming and I felt very comfortable.
My first shift was out at sea to conduct research on white shark population metrics. The moment I saw my first great white shark was the moment I realized I was no longer sitting in a university classroom studying for organic chemistry. It was the moment that changed the way I looked at science. I had not yet done any field research and getting this experience provided me with the motivation to pursue my scientific degree.
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
Since being at Oceans Research, I have developed skills that I couldn't have gotten anywhere else.
Oceans Research provides trust and responsibilities to its project runners. This has enabled me to push myself in fields of leadership and problem-solving.
While all Oceans Research staff is there to help, the company has challenged me in creative thinking and self-motivation.
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
A favorite story I've heard is from a returning Field Specialist of a time where she took the lead on tracking a superpod of dolphins at the end of one of her shifts. It was the last scan before packing up to go home and it had started to pour down rain when one of the interns spotted a pod of over 300 dolphins. Despite the rain, she successfully tracked the dolphins for an additional half-hour with the support of her team.
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
The company offers the chance to become PADI scuba certified. While I am already a certified PADI divemaster, I believe that, if I had done my certification while being an intern, it would have drastically changed my experience.
Having the ability to study marine ecosystems is incredible on its own, but being able to then literally submerse yourself in the ecosystems you are studying just completely adds to the experience and really drives your passion.
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
Oceans Research is very unique in the sense of its extreme diversity. The staff all have different backgrounds and different passions. It makes such an incredible learning opportunity as interns don't just gain knowledge of one topic, rather they learn about things from plastic pollution to estuary plants.
Not only is the staff diverse, but the interns come from all of the worlds and each one has something new to offer. While Oceans Research has Ph.D. and graduate student-run projects, the interns can be entry-level and learn so much from each other and from the staff. In the same sense, the company offers the opportunity for interns to develop their own projects.
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
I believe in the marine science field, the biggest factor is changing perspectives through intern engagement. Many of our interns are just getting started in their marine careers and the marine field is not an easy one. Providing interns with basic skills in numerous different scientific aspects is a very large factor in our success.
