Our 2024 cohort of interns came from a variety of different backgrounds, places, and majors! View the 2024 MACO Summer Interns below.
Elitca Ganeva
Climate Change from Forests to Sea
Mentor organization: Cascade Head Biosphere Collaborative
Hello, my name is Elitca, or Eli for short, and I’m currently in my second year studying Biology with the Marine Biology option and Oceanography. About five years ago, my family and I moved to Oregon from our home country of Bulgaria and since then I have been having a great time getting to know more about the new culture and people here and at OSU! This summer I will be working as an intern for the Climate Change from Forests to Sea at Cascade Head to help investigate any recent environmental changes caused by climate change and compare them to the other locations on the coast. I’m really excited to spend time with the research team and learn more about the wild and complex environment of our coast and have the opportunity to bring greater public awareness about current conservation work so we may continue to protect it in the future.
My all-time favorite cartoon series is Gravity Falls, as I’ve always been obsessed with cracking codes and ciphers, and appreciating the weird and mysterious in everything. When I feel overwhelmed with life, my favorite ‘escape place’ is to snuggle with a good movie or a book in bed for a few hours, and my favorite comfort food would be a bowl of ice cream or a hot tea.
Angelina Lindsey
Coastal Bird Stewardship and Outreach
Mentor organization: Siuslaw National Forest
Hi! My name is Angelina Lindsey, but I prefer to go by Angel. I’m a Marine Studies Major minoring in Indigenous Studies with a focus on conservation. This summer I will be an intern for the Coastal Bird Stewardship and Outreach internship, working to raise awareness on the importance of seabird and shorebird conservation through interpretive messages. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to connect with so many people, and I’m hoping to learn various ways in which I can develop impactful messages that can reach people from all sorts of backgrounds so that I may someday apply this to my fisheries conservation work that I hope to do.
Now for some fun facts about me. If I had to choose a single favorite cartoon character, it would probably be Eda Clawthorne from The Owl House. When I have the time, I love to escape to the coast and sit on the sand, relishing the sound of the waves and the smell of the ocean. My favorite comfort food is potatoes. They’re versatile, cheap, and perfect for a quick meal.
Brendan Feely
Marine Reserve Interpretation and Science Communication
Mentor organization: Port Orford Field Station
Hi everyone, my name is Brendan. I'm a junior here at OSU studying fisheries wildlife and conservation science and minoring in marine conservation and management. When I’m not diving in the ocean or going on an outdoor adventure you’ll find me on the soccer pitch or watching a soccer game. If you still can not find me then I’m three books into a fantasy series and randomly quoting Lord of the Rings.
This summer I will be down in Port Orford working with the Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve team working on Interpretation and Science Communication. While there I am most looking forward to getting in the water and doing Snorkel surveys as well as interacting with the local community. I hope to learn more about how to best communicate with local collaborators and stakeholders and apply this knowledge so that we can continue to collaborate and work together to achieve our goals.
My favorite cartoon character would either be Captain Rex or Scooby Doo. My Favorite escape place would be underwater whether that's SCUBA diving or snorkeling. My favorite comfort food would be my parents Chicken Marsala.
Kari Hoy
Regional Economic Development in a Global Market
Mentor organization: Port of Newport
My name is Kari, I am originally from Evergreen, Colorado, and I am a junior studying Political Science with minors in Spanish and Environmental Law & Policy. In my free time, I enjoy reading, listening to podcasts, and spending time outside. After college, I hope to work in the sustainable economic development sector to empower women abroad. My internship is focused on Regional Economic Development in a Global Market. I will be looking at the connections between the Port of Newport and various local, national, and international markets through trade.
I am looking forward to learning new, practical skills related to economics and market analysis, as well as making connections with other interns! I hope to learn more about the connections between local and national or global markets, as well as the role that sustainable economic development plays in these markets.
My favorite cartoon character is Shaggy from Scooby Doo. My favorite escape place is a park near my house because there is a nice open space for playing games or reading in the grass, and it is very quiet and peaceful. My favorite comfort food is mac and cheese!
Norah Bean
Content Development Intern
Mentor organization: Oregon Coast Aquarium
Hello! My name is Norah Bean and I am studying environmental science with a focus in environmental economics and policy, as well as applied journalism. This summer I will be working at the Oregon Coast Aquarium as their Content Development Intern. I will be researching and creating content for the Aquarium's gallery remodel. I am so excited to grow my writing skills and build new connections. I look forward to helping educate and spread admiration for the Oregon Coast and its marine life. My favorite cartoon is Adventure Time, and my favorite comfort food is any kind of pasta. My favorite "escape place" is Otter Rock and I can't wait to spend time there while I am at the coast this summer.
Ziah Barron
Environmental Interpretation
Mentor organization: Yakona Nature Preserve and Learning Center
Hello! I am a first-year student with at OSU, but I am junior standing - thanks to some credits I earned while in high school. I grew up pretty local in Albany Oregon, where I developed a passion for the Oregon coast from my family regularly visiting it. My internship will be with Yakona Nature Preserve & Learning Center in Newport. Yakona is a living laboratory, and I will be working on environmental interpretation, which includes: assisting in public education, content development and research, and creating and evaluating some educational materials. I am excited for the experience that this internship will give me, and I am looking forward to using the things I gain from it to help me make decisions about and develop my educational and professional career. My favorite comic book character would probably have to be Spiderman; my favorite “escape place” would tend to be my room; and my favorite comfort food would have to be either strawberries or Spaghettios.
Miranda Fowles
Scientific Technology Development and Testing
Mentor organization: Sea-Bird Scientific
My name is Miranda Fowles, and I am a third-year student majoring Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences with a Spanish minor. In my free time I love camping, swimming in the ocean and hanging out with my friends! I also play lacrosse on the OSU women's club lacrosse team! My internship with MSI/MACO is the Cutting-edge Environmental Monitoring: Scientific Technology Development and Testing with Sea-bird Scientific. Over the summer, I will be focusing on a Climate Monitoring Station regarding testing and data analysis of the station. I am looking forward to working with oceanographic instruments and help with sensing of ocean acidification and hypoxia in Yaquina Bay. I am excited to learn more about the Climate Monitoring Station and how it can be used for ocean conservation. I hope to apply the knowledge I gain from this experience towards future research!
My favorite cartoon character is Jerry from Tom and Jerry. My favorite "escape place" is when I am camping at Mt. Rainier. I love being surrounded by nature and sleeping outside! My favorite comfort food is a big burrito!
Erin Shogren
History Informing Future Development
Mentor organization: Port of Newport
My name is Erin Shogren, I am a second-year student at Oregon State University studying Archaeology with minors in oceanography and music. I'm from Portland, Oregon, and love spending time outdoors sailing, scuba diving, hiking, and climbing! I also love spending time with my friends making music and am currently a member of the OSU Marching Band and Wind Ensemble. This summer, I will be working with the Port of Newport to research the evolution of waterfront properties and industries in the area and documenting how the local economy and job market in Yaquina Bay have evolved. This research will provide important historical context for the Port of Newport and other developmental agencies to better inform future development in the area. I am most looking forward to researching the history of the area. I've spent a lot of time in Newport growing up visiting the aquarium and exploring the area, and I'm excited to learn more about the history of Yaquina Bay! I plan to go into marine archaeology and maritime cultural resource management, so this internship is the perfect opportunity for me to get hands-on experience performing historical research in an area I'm interested in.
One of my family's cats when I was growing up was named Hobbs which is one reason why my favorite comic book characters are definitely Calvin and Hobbs. My favorite "escape place" is the beach, which is one reason why I'm so excited to spend this summer working in Newport! Lastly, my favorite comfort food is yellow curry with tofu.
Paige Foust
Nighttime Behavior of Gray Whales: Thermal Imaging Study
Roundhouse Foundation Marine Studies Program
My name is Paige Foust, I am a Senior pursuing a degree in Marine Biology with a certificate in Geographic Information Science (GIS). I transferred to Oregon State University in Spring of 2022, from a small town in Montana. I enjoy being outside, exploring what is around me, reading, and being around my family. I am looking forward to this internship and the opportunities it provides. Having a space to collaborate with experts in this field can help me grow and understand certain skill sets that I can utilize in my career. What I hope to learn from this internship is to get more hands-on experience in engineering practices, data analysis, and project development. I am also excited to learn about the different processes of learning about real work problems and developing ideas to help address environmental challenges. Ever since moving to Corvallis, my favorite escape place would be any beach I can find. I have grown up in landlocked states my whole life, so I am beyond grateful to be so close to the ocean. I love to be able to catch sunsets, relax, and experience the adventures along the coast. My favorite OSU experience so far would be the number of resources I have been provided since moving here. I have been extremely fortunate to gain experience in intertidal research and fieldwork, this internship, and research experience in ecology with my professor. OSU has an amazing community and opportunities for its students, and I am very thankful to have transferred to this school. My favorite comfort food would have to be tater tot casserole.
Sophia Stavrianeas
Development of a Low Cost Ocean Profiler
Roundhouse Foundation Marine Studies Program
My name is Sophia Stavrianeas - I am a Mechanical Engineering student in my third year at Oregon State. My focus is in Manufacturing Engineering and Product Design, and I am looking forward to gaining hands-on experience in the iLab that I can apply to my future career. Born and raised in Salem, OR, I am a fan of cozy coffee shops, chocolate cake, and lazy Sundays. I hope that, through this internship, I will gain valuable experience that can help me in my future career. My primary interest is to explore ways in which research can be conducted through sustainable and accessible pathways. This includes societal engagement in projects, the development of affordable research that others may be able to reproduce, and engagement with members of underserved groups. My favorite “escape place” is downtown Newport. Growing up, my grandparents had a beach house in the area, so I have many memories of enjoying the bay and spending time along the boardwalk. Spending a weekend at the beach was always a peaceful way to escape, listen to the sea lions yelling, and soak in Newport’s charm. One of my favorite experiences at OSU so far has been meeting two of my closest friends. They are funny, kind, and honest. I am grateful every day to have had their friendship during my time at OSU. My favorite comfort food is a good burger, hands down. Bonus points if it’s served with avocado on top and some salty fries on the side.
Abby McCombs
Bench-top Ocean Acidification Sensor Development
Roundhouse Foundation Marine Studies Program
My name is Abby McCombs and I am currently a junior in mechanical and manufacturing engineering at Oregon State University. Next year I will be Co-Leader of OSU’s Marine Energy Collegiate Competition team and the Marine Renewable Energy club’s Treasure. I am super passionate about the future of wave energy! My favorite cartoon character is Snoopy, I grew up on the Peanuts and he reminds me a lot of the beagle I had as a kid. My favorite “escape place” is any forest service road with a great view and my dog! I love looking for new places this way as you never know what you will find. My favorite comfort food is a bagel for Kinetic Bagels in Corvallis.