byron

BYRON


 Byron has been in New Zealand conducting scientific research since June. He applied for and received a grant from UNH’s International Research Opportunities Program (IROP) to study the effects of UV radiation on sea urchin embryos. Byron will return to UNH in January to complete his bachelor's degree and to contemplate his future plans. Options at this point include pursuing a postgraduate degree in the U.S. or abroad; participate in a research project in the Antarctic; or sail as an Assistant Scientist for the Sea Education Association's SEA Semester.

READ ALL OF  BYRON'S STORY
 or click below for individual sections


GOING TO SEA

BACK TO HOME PAGE
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES IN COLLEGE

The summer after my freshman year of college, I spent getting all these dive certificates and training for the Oceanographic diving program. I wanted to dive out in the middle of the ocean. I wanted to experience what very few people get the opportunity to do. I made the decision to take two weeks off from school (the next fall semester) to go on this research cruise. I got permission from all my professors to do this. It was just another challenge for me.

My professor at Isle of Shoals in the summertime throughout high school does research at UNH. I was really inspired by him, his attitude, and his stories on how he ended up in science. I have stopped by his office to see him every semester to ask for work and update him on what I was doing. Finally he said alright!  He put me in touch with a colleague in New Zealand. They both were studying UV radiation which interested me. So I wrote this 20 page scientific research proposal in the midst of taking 19 credits and being a TA (Teaching Assistant). Here it is: intensity! But I learned to deal with intensity out at sea. The board unanimously approved to accept my proposal and gave me the most amount of money they could award me. Now I am going to New Zealand this summer to conduct the scientific research I proposed!

 I get very stir crazy if I am in one place for longer than 6 months. I love traveling, I love discovering new things, and I love being immersed in my own project. To put the icing on the cake, I learned how to take everything I am interested in and figure out how to make it work and have someone else pay for it!