Inspired by the Deep Blue

Bermudian student Jihad Muhammad is certainly no stranger to ASU BIOS. In the fall of 2021, he joined our community as one of three students who participated in the Ocean Academy Saturday Intern Program. Jihad, pursuing his associate’s degree in marine biology at Bermuda College and is due to graduate in 2024, first learned about the program from his teacher, Amy Harvey. The Saturday Intern Program provided a unique opportunity for students from Bermuda College to receive paid internships while actively contributing to ongoing research projects at ASU BIOS. Following his initial experience, Jihad returned twice to ASU BIOS as a Bermuda Program intern during the summer. During this time, he collaborated closely with Amy Mass, a physiologist and biological oceanographer, and ASU BIOS research technician Hannah Gossner.

Throughout his journey at ASU BIOS, Jihad has delved into numerous projects, notably exploring the intricate effects of ocean acidification on the shells of pteropods, a group of swimming marine snails. He has also been actively processing samples and analyzing data for the ongoing pteropod project. In March, Amy Mass hosted Jihad as a research team member on a cruise aboard the BIOS-operated research vessel Atlantic Explorer, generously funded by the Castergen grant.

Jihad returned to ASU BIOS for the summer of 2023, serving as a research intern in the Zooplankton Lab, once again working closely with Maas and Hannah Gossner. Currents had the opportunity to speak with Jihad to gain further insight into his experiences at ASU BIOS.

Currents: How did you become interested in science?

Jihad: I have been interested in marine science for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I used to watch a lot of documentaries about the ocean, so after a while, I began to wonder how the scientists in the documentaries were able to discover and explain different phenomena in the ocean as well as provide solutions to them. This inspired me to pursue marine science as a career and pursue an internship at BIOS.

Currents: How long have you been an Intern at BIOS? Can you share a little bit about what research projects you worked on? 

Jihad: I have been an intern at BIOS for over two years. At that time, I worked in the Zooplankton lab under Amy Maas. The first project I worked on was analyzing Pteropod shells from different parts of the ocean to determine the level of ocean acidification in those areas since the Pteropod shell structures are extremely sensitive to changes in ocean pH. 

Currents: What made you decide to apply for an internship at BIOS?

Jihad: I first learned about a potential internship at BIOS from my environmental science teacher at Bermuda College, Amy Harvey, after she informed me of the opportunity. When I heard of what BIOS could offer, I was excited to be part of this community, so I applied immediately.

Currents: How important is it to have a mentor in an internship compared to a teacher/instructor in the classroom?

Jihad: I believe that having a mentor gives me more control in my internship since a student has less control in a classroom that requires them to conform to the teacher's needs. In my internship, I am allowed to question my mentor’s methods and work to figure out a way of doing things that works best for me and the overall demands of the internship. Also, I can seek assistance from my mentor whenever I need to rather than having to book time with them as I have with my college instructor.

Currents: What can you tell us about your program at Bermuda College? Do you feel that your internships at BIOS helped prepare you for school?

Jihad: I am currently enrolled in the Marine Science program. Next year, I will graduate with an associate's degree in marine science. I can say for sure that being an intern at the BIOS has had a significantly positive impact on my skills as a marine scientist. Having the skills that I have operating in a professional, scientific environment will give me an advantage as I continue to further my academic career in the marine science field in the future.

Currents: What does your position at BIOS entail?

Jihad: I am currently an intern at BIOS in the zooplankton lab, working under Hannah Gossner.

Currents: What are the most challenging and rewarding aspects of your work?

Jihad: The most challenging part has been understanding and remembering how to operate different lab equipment. This summer, I am learning how to operate a ZooScanner. When I first started using it I had a hard time remembering how to set it up correctly and what software to use alongside it. However, I can say that I now have a better understanding of how to operate it now that I have been using it more in my internship.

Currents: Do you have any advice for young people interested in pursuing a career in the sciences?

Jihad: The first step would be to research what specific scientific field you would like to work in. Then, I would look for and apply to colleges and institutions that can best help you achieve a position in your desired scientific field while gaining as much experience as possible along the way.

Currents: What collaborative projects or group activities have you participated in during your networking experiences? How did these collaborations contribute to your learning and personal growth?

Jihad: So far, the group activity that I was able to take part in this summer was a workshop on report writing hosted by Rachel Parsons. I found it very helpful as I am currently in the process of writing my report.