For many scientists, writing up their studies is one of the most daunting parts. However, scientific writing is one of the most important parts of research, because it is how you can share your work and results with others. Without being able to read studies that others have written, it would be very hard to make progress in the scientific world. We are typically people who tend to thrive with structure and rules, and when it comes to writing, there is a lot of freedom. Howev

Scientific data collection and analysis play a vital role in research because they are the basis of the information that is used to inform others. The accuracy of research findings relies heavily on effective laboratory practices during the early phases. I will discuss elements of successful data collection and analysis that I have learned through my research experiences, focusing on three main areas: avoiding contamination, staying organized, and remaining unbiased. Avoiding

Research cruises are a cornerstone of marine science, offering invaluable opportunities to collect data and conduct experiments in the field. This short guide provides an overview of the planning process, ensuring that both new and interested researchers are prepared for success. Over the past few years of my undergraduate degree, I have been involved in planning and participating in several research cruises. These include long-line fishing and collecting sediment cores for D

In September 2024, I successfully conducted another sediment trap collection and redeployment on board the RV Pelican from LUMCON. This research cruise was part of my responsibilities as a contractor at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), where I am a member of the "Corals and Paleoclimate" team at the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center. A sediment trap is a cone-shaped device designed to collect falling material, or sediment, when placed in water. Positioned in

My Research Journey As a student in the sciences, it is important to communicate my research to present my findings and network with other scientists . In December 2023, I had the opportunity to present my sediment flux research at the Scientist-at-Sea (SAS) symposium held at Tampa Bay Watch. This was the culmination of the year-long Scientis t-at-Sea course through Eckerd College, where students were able to plan and attend a research cruise on the Florida Institute of Ocea

In late November of 2023 I had the amazing opportunity to attend a research cruise on the R/V Pelican operated by the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON ) to collect and redeploy a sediment trap in the northern Gulf of Mexico . This sediment trap sits about halfway down the water column and collects sediment samples in cups that rotate every 7 to 14 days. It plays a crucial role in various long-term time-series studies conducted by scientists at the U.S. Geologi