Intern stories
Nicole D'Arienzo, Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Research Reserve
What projects did you take part in the internship?
As a NSF REU intern, I researched the associations of mangroves and oysters in the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Research Reserve (GTMNERR) located in Northeast Florida. I did this by analyzing the sediment dynamics and the percent live cover of oysters under mangroves and outside the canopies, within the reefs. My internship also consisted in monitoring oyster populations and vegetation within GTMNERR. Lastly, I helped obtain water samples for water quality analysis throughout the estuary.
How did you get the internship:
Multiple professors and my advisor recommended exploring summer REU programs. My goal is to obtain a PhD in Marine Ecology after GVSU. I am interested in Floridian coastal ecosystems, so I specifically searched for REU programs within Florida. I submitted my application in the 2025 Winter semester. The process consisted of submitting two letters of recommendation, writing a personal statement, and my CV.
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