The Next Generation of Scientists Begin Work at BIOS
The 2019 BIOS Bermuda Program interns. First row (from left): Tiffany Bean, Kathleen Maguire, Thomas Peckett, Alexandra Quinn-Sirera, Jacari Renfroe. Second row (from left): Marcus Rewan, Brianna Simmons, Zoe Skinner, Megan Zimmerer, Treiana Zuill.
Each year a handful of Bermudian students are selected to participate in the BIOS Bermuda Program. This program, which began in 1976, offers students aged 18 and older the opportunity to broaden their knowledge of marine and atmospheric sciences by working on a specific project of interest alongside BIOS scientists in both field and laboratory settings.
Participants receive paid fellowships, which include a stipend plus an allowance for laboratory expenses, work full-time for four or eight weeks during the summer, and present their research in a traditional academic seminar at the end of their internship. For many Bermuda Program interns, these experiences serve as a foundation for university studies and future internships, both at BIOS and at other organizations in Bermuda and abroad.
For 2019, BIOS has selected a total of ten students as Bermuda Program interns. Additionally, two of these students have been named as Bermuda Program Gray Interns based on their academic merit, leadership potential, and ability to serve as ambassadors for BIOS education programs throughout Bermuda’s communities.
We at BIOS would like to introduce the 2019 Bermuda Program interns:
Tiffany Bean
30, recent graduate from Trent University (Peterborough, Ontario, Canada)
First year Bermuda Program Intern
Mentor: Tarik Smith (Koom Consulting)
“I know this experience will enable me to gain additional skills and knowledge that will become valuable assets in striving towards my current career goals.”
Kathleen Maguire
18, recent graduate from Germantown Friends School (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
First year Bermuda Program Intern
Mentor: Yvonne Sawall (BIOS)
“I applied to the Bermuda Program because I knew there was no other institution that could give me a more well-rounded, hands-on experience, than BIOS. This internship will give me the opportunity to work alongside scientists who are known worldwide in their respective fields.”
Thomas Peckett
16, rising year 12 student at Oundle School (England)
First year Bermuda Program Intern
Mentor: Yvonne Sawall (BIOS)
“I hope the Bermuda Program will further my experience in the practical elements of science and provide me with insight into what working at an ocean science research facility like BIOS entails so that I can determine whether I want to pursue a career in marine biology.”
Alexandra Quinn-Sirera
16, rising IB2 student at Bermuda High School
First year Bermuda Program Intern
Mentor: Tim Noyes (BIOS)
“The ocean is my passion and I hope to pursue a career in marine biology so the Bermuda Program is the perfect opportunity to learn more about the field.”
Jacari Renfroe
16, rising S4 student at The Berkeley Institute (Bermuda) and Bermuda College
Fourth year Bermuda Program Intern and 2019 Bermuda Program Gray Intern
Mentor: Matt Enright (BIOS)
“Over the last three years my focus has been developing tools for scientific research. What keeps me coming back to the Bermuda Program is the variety of equipment and people that I get to work with, which has enhanced my skill set and prepared me for a future career in a related field.”
Marcus Rewan
17, recent graduate of Cedarbridge Academy
First year Bermuda Program Intern
Mentor: Rachel Parsons (BIOS)
“Participating in the Bermuda Program will give me a chance to improve my lab skills and see how scientists operate on a daily basis, which will help me decide if I want to pursue a career in marine science.”
Brianna Simmons
17, recent graduate of The Berkeley Institute
First year Bermuda Program Intern
Mentor: Samantha de Putron (BIOS)
“I believe this experience will broaden my horizons and expand my thinking about what I’ve learned previously in school. I am hoping to learn how to collect and azalyze samples over periods of time and properly construct data sets based on those samples.”
Zoe Skinner
17, recent graduate of Saltus Grammar School
First year Bermuda Program Intern
Mentor: Rachel Parsons (BIOS)
“I wanted to apply to the Bermuda Program as I have grown up on the ocean and wanted the opportunity to learn more about what happens in it.”
Megan Zimmerer
19, rising third (final) year undergraduate at the University of Manchester (England)
Second year Bermuda Program Intern
Mentor: Tim Noyes (BIOS)
“Last year, thanks to the program, I was able to learn coding—a tool that I’ve found to be invaluable in my studies at university. This year I hope to gain more lab experience and further expand on my coding knowledge and field sampling.”
Treiana Zuill
17, second year student at Bermuda College
First year Bermuda Program Intern and 2019 Bermuda Program Gray Intern
Mentor: Robbie Smith (Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo)
“I applied to the Bermuda Program because I saw it as a perfect opportunity to not only broaden my knowledge about Bermuda’s marine environments but to also further solidify my passion for this field of study. I hope to use this experience to drive my future academic and career endeavors.”