Congratulations to the 2024 EPP/MSI Graduate Fellowship Program recipients (2024)

The EPP/MSI Graduate Fellowship Program is a one-year research and professional development experience at a NOAA facility. Applicants must be current full time students attending one of NOAA’s EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers and pursuing graduate degrees in disciplines aligned with the NOAA mission.

Keneshia and Nigel will each conduct their research at a NOAA facility under the guidance of a NOAA mentor and their graduate advisors. Through this fellowship experience, they will become familiar with NOAA’s mission of science, service, and stewardship and build their professional networks at NOAA.

"I am delighted to welcome Keneshia and Nigel! They bring so much great expertise. We look forward to seeing their valuable contributions to NOAA’s research and professional community," said Louisa Koch, Director of Education.

Keneshia Hibbert is an atmospheric and ocean sciences Ph.D. student at the City University of New York and a NOAA Center for Earth System Science and Remote Sensing Technology II fellow. Keneshia will conduct her fellowship research in NOAA NESDIS STAR under the mentorship of Thomas Smith, Ph.D., and her academic advisor, Jorge González-Cruz, Ph.D.

What do you expect to accomplish during your tenure as an EPP/MSI graduate fellow?

My goal is to expand and build on my research experience and skills, and to build my understanding of how my research aligns not only to the NOAA mission, but also to my personal professional goals. I expect publication and presentation opportunities, personal growth, and insight on development of policy and operational decision-making within NOAA. I look forward to mentorship from experienced NOAA scientists and subject matter experts who can offer guidance, professional development, and insights into career pathways within NOAA.

Can you briefly describe your fellowship research and how it aligns with NOAA’s mission?

My fellowship research will examine sea surface temperature warming trends and extremes, and their implications, in the Wider Caribbean Region. It will focus on the association between rising sea surface temperatures and marine heatwaves in the North Atlantic and Wider Caribbean. My findings have implications for coral reef restoration, marine ecosystem health, and vulnerable species populations. The project is associated with the NOAA Caribbean Climate Adaptation Network initiative, a NOAA Climate Adaptation Partnerships program to bridge the gap between scientific research, results, and stakeholder use within local communities.

This work aligns with NOAA’s mission to understand and predict environmental changes while conserving and managing our coastal and marine resources to support the nation’s economic, social, and environmental needs.

Nigel Lascelles is a coastal and marine system sciences Ph.D. student at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi and a NOAA Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems II fellow. Nigel will conduct his fellowship research at the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Service Hollings Marine Laboratory under the mentorship of Marie DeLorenzo, Emily Pisarski, and Ed Wirth, and his academic advisors, Hussain Abdulla and Paul Montagna.

What do you expect to accomplish during your tenure as an EPP/MSI graduate fellow?

I anticipate significant growth as a scientist by conducting cutting-edge research alongside NOAA experts. My goal is to refine my analytical chemistry skills while deepening my understanding of ecotoxicology, ensuring that my work contributes to research to help advance NOAA’s mission of protecting coastal ecosystems. I want this experience to provide a pathway to a career in the future with NOAA, where I can continue making meaningful contributions to environmental science and conservation through the lens of environmental chemistry.

Can you briefly describe your fellowship research and how it aligns with NOAA’s mission?

During my fellowship, my research will focus on the leachate from tire wear particles and its potential impact on aquatic species as a source of organic contaminants. This work continues to build on my dissertation research, which previously found that tire wear particle leachate contains a complex mixture of contaminants. It will help close research gaps regarding how these complex contaminant mixtures affect marine ecosystems. Specifically, I will research tire wear particle leachate’s direct toxicity to amphipods, a marine invertebrate, and their potential for bioaccumulation of organic contaminants.

This research aligns with NOAA’s mission to protect coastal ecosystems and supports efforts to mitigate pollution.