What brought a UW Marine Biology student to California in 2023? Marine mammal research! Ashley Rendon, in her junior year at UW and an Air Force reservist, spent just under a month with NOAA’s Marine Mammal Laboratory on San Miguel Island, the westernmost island of the California Channel Islands.
Finding out about the internship through an email sent by UW Marine Biology adviser Joe Kobayashi, Ashley applied to be a part of the research experience which focuses on population abundance, vital rate estimates, and foraging ecology of California sea lions and northern fur seals. 

Have you ever seen a lava whirl? Experience the VISIONS 2023 Expedition through the eyes of Jolee Thirtyacre who spent time on Leg 4 of the seagoing discovery voyage.
Ever seen a lava whirl? We saw this geological feature 1500m down at the Axial Caldera when on the VISIONS 2023 Expedition, as we watched on a screen in the control van of the ROV Jason. 

Each year, UW students get to join a seagoing and discovery expedition aboard the R/V Thomas G. Thompson which utilizing deep diving robots to explore some of the most extreme environment on Earth. Marine Biology student, Aakriti, tells us about her experience on the VISIONS 2023 Expedition.

Hey guys!! Here are some of the top 10 experiences and pictures that truly capture the VISIONS experience. 

What’s a day in the life of an assistant biologist with NOAA Fisheries like? Find out in our latest Instagram takeover with UW Marine Biology student, Sofia.
Hi! My name is Sofia Tee, and I’m a sophomore in the Marine Biology program at UW! This summer, I was a volunteer biologist for NOAA’s 2023 West Coast Groundfish Bottom Trawl Survey, and I’m taking over the marbio instagram to share my experience! 

Joining us from her summer internship at SR3, a marine life rehab, Priya Nair shared with us her work with seal pups, kelp forests and more!
My experience as a marine biology student interested in marine life rehabilitation and animal care field has been full of learning. Through volunteering and an internship, I am able to learn so much about this field and have grown to love it more. 

We were joined by Nicole Reynolds for an Instagram takeover where she shared her research experience in Homer, Alaska focused on invasive species monitoring, plus her previous internship opportunities.
I loved sharing my experiences and tips for the takeover! I was able to share some experiences about my NOAA Ernest F. Hollings internship which has been an incredible experience so far. 

Bright skies and calm winds: this was the setting for an August fieldtrip that we joined with the Ocean Research Academy College (ORCA) program from Everett Community College.
Setting off on their research boat, Phocoena (the Latin name for harbor porpoise), we embarked with seven high school students and three faculty for a morning filled with aquatic research and marine animal spotting. 

In the third episode of the “Where Are They Now?” series, we speak to Jacob Kirschner (BS 2020) who is an Environmental Management Specialist at the Port of Everett.
The series showcases UW’s Marine Biology graduates in their early careers.

Interested in being featured and sharing your story? Please contact Niamh Owen-McLaughlin. 

Second year Marine Biology major, Fiona Sheard, joined us for an Instagram takeover about her internship at Rutgers University over the summer. Find out about oyster farms, the Cape Shore Laboratory and more!
I enjoyed sharing my personal thoughts on my internship, my major, and real world applications of Marine Biology! Spending the summer at home in New Jersey, I wanted to have some relevant work experience, and got a fantastic opportunity with Rutgers University. 

We hear a lot about the UW Marine Biology field station located at Friday Harbor Labs (FHL). FHL provides an immersive field opportunity for our students and others interested in marine science, and is located right on our doorstep in the Salish Sea. Maddie Brooks, recent Marine Biology graduate, took over our Instagram for a day to share her FHL experiences including orca research and fish necropsy.