First Drops, Fresh Starts: Kicking Off the 2025 IMET Summer Internship Program
The rain couldn’t dampen the energy at IMET as a new class of summer interns stepped into their first week. The interns arrived early and eager to begin a summer of immersive research, growth, and exploration.
Dr. Russell Hill's Summer Intern Introduction
Introductions:
The new summer interns were welcomed with a great presentation by IMET Director, Dr. Russell Hill. Dr. Eric Schott followed after the introduction and set the tone for the program with a heartfelt introduction that reminded the interns of the critical role they play in shaping the future of marine and environmental science.
The message was clear: the world needs their ideas, their questions, and their courage to seek solutions. After breakfast and introductions, the interns jumped into onboarding: sorting out paperwork, reviewing program expectations, and receiving their security and digital badges. They also took professional headshots to mark the beginning of their scientific journey.
From there, they toured the building, met their mentors, and stepped into the labs where their summer research will take shape.
2025 Summer Interns
A Legacy of Mentorship
The IMET Undergraduate Summer Internship Program has a legacy of equipping undergraduates with a focus on students from underrepresented or underserved backgrounds. For over 20 years we have provided undergraduates with the tools, mentorship, and research experience needed to thrive in science. Interns are matched with a Principal Investigator (PI) to work on a dedicated project in one of IMET’s three key focus areas:
- Sustainable Seafood Production
- Environment, Animal, and Human Health
- Energy, Water, and the Environment
Throughout the summer, interns will go beyond benchwork. Weekly seminars, field experiences, and creative science communication workshops round out their training—helping them grow not only as researchers but as well-rounded science professionals.
Waterfront Partnership Eco Tour
The summer interns wrapped up their first week with an immersive Eco Tour led by the Waterfront Partnership, offering a new lens through which to view Baltimore’s harbor, one that connected science, sustainability, and community. As they walked along the waterfront, they saw real-world examples of environmental challenges and innovative solutions, reinforcing the importance of the work they’re beginning at IMET.
Here are our 2025 interns!
Name: Jerin Tasnim
School: SUNY Stony Brook University
School Year: Graduated May 2025
Major: Marine Vertebrate Biology with a Journalism minor
From: New York, NY
Mentor: Danielle Staggers
Current Career Goal: No matter what I do I am always in pursuit to be a catalyst for conservation of wildlife and wild places by driving meaningful, lasting change for a healthier planet and future generations.
Name: Ka'Turra Copeland
School: Tuskegee University
School Year: Rising Junior
Major: Animal science (wildlife track)
From: Tallahassee, Florida
Mentor: Dr. Ting Yeh
Current Career Goal: Gaining my DVM and a Phd in Veterinary Pathology
Name: Mikaela Gonzalez
School: Swarthmore College
School Year: Rising Senior, Class of 2026
Major: Environmental Studies
From: El Paso, Texas
Mentor: Ally Kido
Current Career Goal: Ecologist and Marine Conservationist
Name: Beth Casagrande
School: Towson University
School Year: Rising Senior for Bachelor's / First year Master's
Major: Environmental Science with a minor in Environmental Sustainability
From: Baltimore, MD
Mentor: Dr. Eric Schott
Current Career Goal: Chesapeake Bay and wetland conservation
Name: Joseph Lenzo
School: University of Delaware
School Year: Senior
Major: Environmental Science
From: Hightstown, NJ
Mentor: Vijay Hemmadi
Current Career Goal: Make a genuine difference in the environment, particularly in marine and estuary systems, through field work and research.
Name: Shudan Jew
School: Loyola University Maryland
School Year: Rising Junior/ 2027
Major: BioHealth, Concentration in Biotech & Biopharma
From: Bel Air, Maryland
Mentor: Dr. Tsetso Bachvaroff
Current Career Goal: Patent Lawyer
Name: Desmond Seybold
School: UMBC
School Year: Sophomore
Major: Biochemistry
From: Ellicott City, Maryland
Mentor: Dr. Ting Yeh
Current Career Goal: To earn a PhD in genetics.
Name: Jayson Louisdor
School: Stony Brook University
School Year: Rising Senior
Major: Marine Sciences with a minor in Ecosystems & Human Impact
From: Staten Island, NY
Mentor: Dr.Russell Hill
Current Career Goal: I want pursue a MD/Ph.D in Microbiology and build a career around biomedical research. I'm really passionate in lab-based research and studying microbes in context of disease prevention! I hope to work in a lab and contribute to research that can save lives.
School: Stony Brook University
School Year: Rising Senior
Major: Marine Sciences with a minor in Ecosystems & Human Impact
From: Staten Island, NY
Mentor: Dr.Russell Hill
Current Career Goal: I want pursue a MD/Ph.D in Microbiology and build a career around biomedical research. I'm really passionate in lab-based research and studying microbes in context of disease prevention! I hope to work in a lab and contribute to research that can save lives.
Name: Alleyah Britton
School: University of Maryland Eastern Shore
School Year: Junior
Major: Environmental Science with a concentration in Marine Science
From: Laurel, Maryland
Mentor: Dr. Yi-Ying Li
Current Career Goal: My academic interests include marine ecotoxicology, molecular ecology, environmental management, and policy. I aspire to pursue a Ph.D. in Environmental Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.
School: University of Maryland Eastern Shore
School Year: Junior
Major: Environmental Science with a concentration in Marine Science
From: Laurel, Maryland
Mentor: Dr. Yi-Ying Li
Current Career Goal: My academic interests include marine ecotoxicology, molecular ecology, environmental management, and policy. I aspire to pursue a Ph.D. in Environmental Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.
Name: Shamar Dennis
School: Morgan State University.
School Year: Rising Senior
Major: Biology with a minor in Chemistry
From: New Jersey
Mentor: Dr. Djik Maouyo
Current Career Goal: I plan on pursuing a career in the environmental health field
Week 2: Science Speaks! Finding Poetry in Research
Though Week 2 was shortened in observance of the Juneteenth holiday, IMET’s summer interns made the most of each moment. This week, the interns had plenty of time to settle into their labs.
Monday through Wednesday and again on Friday morning, interns worked alongside their mentors, building momentum in their research projects. They began applying foundational lab skills, asking deeper questions, and becoming more familiar with the tools and techniques unique to their research areas.
2025 summer interns presenting their poems
The highlight of the week came Friday afternoon during the Poetry in Science Workshop led by Dr. Kate Gillespie. Far from a typical seminar, this session invited interns to stretch beyond the technical and into the emotional.
Designed to help scientists connect with public audiences, the workshop guided students through a process of distilling dense scientific abstracts into poetic language that resonates across disciplines and backgrounds.
Interns began by identifying words that expressed feeling and curiosity. the interns we also tasked to remove jargon that often makes science inaccessible. What remained were phrases that revealed the beauty, tension, and wonder within their work. Complex research transformed into lyrical expression, reminding everyone that science is not just about data, but about storytelling, connection, and shared meaning.
Here is what Beth had to say about the workshop:
The poetry workshop was so much fun! It was a great way to let out our creative side which we don't always get to do in the science field. It helped me look at my project from a new perspective, through an artistic lens.
Beth Casagrande
2025 IMET Summer Intern
As the interns look ahead to Week 3, they carry not just growing lab skills, but also the language to communicate the why behind their work and how to connect creatively.