Florida Sea Grant (FSG) is proud to announce the selection of eleven students funded as part of the 2026 Undergraduate Internship cohort. Students are mentored by FSG affiliate faculty and Extension agents around the states. This year they will participate in research and Extension driven projects focused within all four of FSG focus areas: Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, Healthy Coastal Ecosystems, Resilience Coastal Economies, and Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development. Join us in congratulating this year’s newest cohort.
Jallena Alilart
2026 FSG Undergraduate Extension Intern
University of Florida, 2027 – Animal Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Victor Blanco, FSG UF/IFAS Extension – Taylor County
Project: Taylor County Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Program
Jallena Alilart is an undergraduate at the University of Florida majoring in Animal Sciences. Born and raised in Miami, Jellena’s interests have always aligned with coastal communities and the welfare of aquatic animals.
For her internship, Jallena will work alongside FSG UF/IFAS faculty mentor Victor Blanco in addressing key marine resource challenges in Taylor County through applied field research and development of educational and outreach material. She will contribute to the collection and analysis of bay scallop harvest data for population assessments and sustainable harvest practices, while also monitoring artificial reef conditions and fish communities to evaluate reef performance. These efforts contribute to long-term datasets used by UF/IFAS Extension and FWC to guide fisheries management and habitat restoration.
Jallena looks forward to supporting community outreach focused on coastal resilience and sustainable fisheries, and learning more about local coastal environments. She believes opportunities to perform Extension provide vital experience in her career goals within environmental conservation and veterinary medicine, focusing on aquatic creatures.
Elise Feitsma
2026 FSG Undergraduate Research Intern
University of Florida, 2028 – Marine Sciences & Business Administration
Faculty Mentor: Don Behringer, UF/IFAS Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences
Project: Sponge Community Restoration and Enhancement
Elise Feitsma is an undergraduate at the University of Florida, double majoring in Marine Sciences and Business Administration. She grew up in Orlando, FL spending time in the ocean fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving, which inspired her passion for marine science from a young age.
During Elise’s internship, she will be mentored by Dr. Donald Behringer with their work focused on sponge restoration in the Hernando Beach area. The project focuses on determining the optimal diversity and spatial distribution of sponge outplants to maximize survival, growth, recruitment, and ecological benefits of sponges. She will also test the effects of coastal influence on sponge restoration/enhancement success.
Elise is excited about the internship opportunity which will provide her with the basis for effectively communicating proper conservation tactics to the general public. She hopes to combine her education and research experience in a career path focused on conservation, sustainability, and protecting coastal ecosystems in hopes of one day running her own conservation center.
Olivia Hargreaves
2026 FSG Undergraduate Research Intern
University of Florida, 2028 – Environmental Science
Faculty Mentor: Carrie Adams, UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences
Project: From Seed to Shoreline: Training Undergraduate Interns in Seed-Based Production of Spartina alterniflora for Coastal Restoration and Living Shorelines
Olivia Hargreaves, an undergraduate majoring in Environmental Science at the University of Florida, will be mentored by Dr. Carrie Adams. Olivia is a first generation college student pursuing work in environmental studies because of her passions for understanding and protecting the natural world.
This summer, Olivia’s work will focus on recent discoveries regarding smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) ecology and application to restoration plantings. The goals are to extend science-backed protocols for seed-acquisition, propagation, and planting these native salt marsh plants for living shoreline restoration. The outcome of this work will provide access to appropriately-sourced Spartina plant material generated by involved stakeholders and establish Florida’s first program that standardizes protocols for propagation and planting for restoration.
Olivia’s goal is for this internship to provide first hand experience in environmental fieldwork, especially with a project that poses significant implications for coastal restoration across the state. Olivia hopes to work for a government organization such as NOAA, FWC, or EPA in the future.
Sofia Hart
2026 FSG Undergraduate Research Intern
University of South Florida, 2028 – Marine Biology
Faculty Mentor: Joshua Patterson, UF/IFAS Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences
Project: Restoration Aquaculture in Coral Reefs and Sponges
Sofia Hart studies Marine Biology as an undergraduate at the University of South Florida. Her interests are in wildlife conservation, specifically within marine ecosystems and is driven by restoring ecosystems for the animals that live in them.
During Sofia’s internship, she will be working with faculty mentor Dr. Joshua Patterson based at the Florida Aquarium’s Coral Conservation and Research Center in Apollo Beach, FL. The collaborative project will focus on restoration aquaculture of nearshore hardbottom sponges and critical animals for coral reef recovery such as long spined sea urchin (Diadema antillarum). The Patterson lab is among a network of partners throughout the Caribbean working to enhance populations of this urchin, a historically important reef grazer, specifically through intensive aquaculture and stocking.
Sofia’s internship will be her first experience within a research lab and she looks forward to learning about and utilizing new methods and creating controlled experiences with those techniques. She plans for this opportunity to contribute to her continued education in the field of conservation and hopes any new discoveries will allow her to be part of something important in the field of marine sciences.
Ari Jacobson
2026 UF/IFAS FSG Extension Intern
University of Florida, 2026 – Natural Resource Conservation
Major: Natural Resource Conservation
Faculty Mentor: Anna Braswell, UF/IFAS Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences
Project: Florida Friendly Visitor Program
Ari Jacobson graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s in Natural Resource Conservation in May 2026. She grew up on the coast in Pompano Beach, FL which has contributed to her strong interest in coastal ecology, fishkeeping, and ichthyology.
As part of the UF/IFAS Extension Internship program, Florida Sea Grant is supporting her work with Dr. Anna Braswell on an initiative called Florida Friendly Visitor. This program works to promote sustainable tourism across the state by producing educational marine science content and displaying short and actionable videos in hotel lobbies encouraging tourists to adapt in sustainable vacationing practices. This internship exposes Ari to Florida Sea Grant Extension agents to expand the reach and partnership of this program including identifying new hotel and tourism partners, developing new material based on partner needs, and evaluating the success of the program.
Ari selected this project due to her drive to protect natural resources, especially Florida’s fragile fisheries and aquatic ecosystems. Looking forward, she plans to continue work in the field of natural resource conservation as a biologist or technician while also exploring graduate opportunities to further her education.
Preston Jarvis
2026 Undergraduate Research Intern
University of Florida, 2027 – Economics & Piano
Faculty Mentor: Andrew Ropicki, UF/IFAS Food & Resource Economics
Project: Examining the Potential Impacts of Ecosystem Service Payments in Florida Shellfish and Seaweed Aquaculture
Preston Jarvis is pursuing a combined Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Economics at the University of Florida, and is double major in Piano Performance. His interest in the thought process behind economics drove his interest in learning more about the applied economic research process through an environmental lens.
During his internship, Preston will work with Dr. Andrew Ropicki on research that will estimate the size and value of ecosystem services provided by shellfish and seaweed aquaculture farmers. They will examine mechanisms to monetize these systems, and estimate potential impacts on grower profitability and statewide industry growth. Throughout the internship, Preston will also work with this team to develop Extension programming to share results with Florida’s aquaculture industry and state and local government officials and agencies. By reframing shellfish and seaweed farms as dual producers of seafood and water-quality and climate services, the research will strengthen the economic case for sector expansion and support diversification of Florida’s coastal economy.
Preston is looking forward to learning useful and applicable findings through environmental/ecological analysis that will not only provide conceptual guidance but also directly help people. He hopes this internship will provide the tools to find ways to turn abstract concepts into real data with real impacts as he pursues a career in applied economics.
Adriana Miller
2026 FSG Undergraduate Research Intern
University of Florida, 2027 – International Food & Resource Economics
Faculty Mentor: Andrew Ropicki, UF/IFAS Food & Resource Economics
Project: Valuing Catch Shares: Improving Understanding of the Value of Individual Fishing Quota in the Gulf of America Red Snapper and Grouper-Tilefish Programs
Adriana Miller is an undergraduate at the University of Florida studying International Food and Resource Economics with a minor in Data Analytics for Applied Economics and Agribusiness. Growing up in New Smyrna Beach, FL, Adriana blends her lifelong passion for marine environments with a background in applied economics and data analytics to transform massive global concepts into tangible realities.
Together with faculty mentor Dr. Andrew Ropicki, Adriana’s internship will focus on individual fishing quota (IFQ) programs and applying financial valuation techniques to Gulf of America IFQ markets to measure quota returns and evaluate IFQ value relative to other investments. Adriana will also develop Extension programming that helps commercial fishermen understand what they are purchasing when they buy a quote and what factors should influence their valuation decisions.
Adriana is most interested in this internship because Florida sits at a critical intersection of economic livelihood and environmental stewardship. She hopes to champion clarity by breaking down complex research into transparent results in order to protect both our natural resources and the communities that rely on them.
Abigail Moore
2026 FSG Undergraduate Research Intern
University of Florida, 2027 – Natural Resource Conservation
Faculty Mentor: Laura Reynolds, UF/IFAS Soil, Water, & Ecosystem Sciences
Project: Springs Coast Ecosystem Condition and Biodiversity Monitoring Network
Abigail Moore is a fourth-year undergraduate at the University of Florida majoring in Natural Resource Conservation with a minor in Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences. A Florida native, Abigail has grown up learning and appreciating the local flora and fauna that eventually led to the pursuit of a degree and career in natural resource sciences.
Abigail’s internship project, under the supervision of Dr. Laura Reynolds, studies water quality and seagrass monitoring in the Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve (NCAP). The project involves working alongside FSG and Nature Coast Biological Station faculty, postdocs, and students in collaborative lab and field efforts and will augment a current monitoring program to include more parameters of seagrass continuation as well as other habitats closely connected with seagrass.
Abigail is most looking forward to learning the various applications of the skills and concepts she’s learned in the classroom. While her upbringing afforded her opportunities within a variety of natural environments from a young age, this internship will provide new exposure to aquatic ecosystems and acoustic monitoring.
Melia Ogle
2026 UF/IFAS FSG Extension Intern
University of Florida, 2026 – Environmental Science
Faculty Mentor: Dana Stephens, FSG UF/IFAS Extension – Okaloosa County
Project: Gulf Fish Identification Workshop Program
Melia Ogle is a UF/IFAS Extension intern supported by Florida Sea Grant. She is a recent graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s in Environmental Science. Melia grew up in Florida’s panhandle, spending much of her youth exploring Florida’s coasts which inspired her to seek a career path in environmental sciences.
Melia’s work, under the mentorship of Dr. Dana Stephens, focuses on developing and performing outreach within the Okaloosa County community. The workshop, intended for families, children, recreational anglers, and community members interested in fish identification, will provide participants with the opportunity to learn about fish anatomy and the environmental stressors that can affect them. This workshop ultimately seeks to inform how environmental changes like warming water or red tide can affect fish species and ripple through the local Gulf ecosystem.
Melia looks forward to this internship as an opportunity to learn more about Extension and have a chance to make an impact within her community. She is particularly excited to help out with the 4-H camps and create marine based activities for kids while also gaining experience in water quality sampling and exposure to lab work. This internship provides the experience essential to her career goals in conservation or environmental consulting.
Jude Soriano
2026 FSG Undergraduate Research Intern
University of Florida, 2027 – Biosystems Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Matt DiMaggio, UF/IFAS Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences
Project: Investigating the Effects of Chronic High Nitrate on Fish Health in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems
Jude Soriano is a rising senior at the University of Florida studying Biosystems Engineering. From the Tampa, FL area, Jude’s growing curiosity in nature, wildlife, and marine ecosystems spurred his academic interest in the application of engineering principles to living systems and the environment. Having become recently interested in fishkeeping, Jude is eager to delve deeper into fish health and how he can contribute to enhancing it.
Working alongside Dr. Matthew DiMaggio, Jude will be tackling an internship in the field of aquaculture. The project investigates the physiological impacts of chronic nitrate exposure on marine hogfish broodstock and explores engineering-based solutions to mitigate these effects. While working at UF/IFAS’s Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory in Ruskin, FL, Jude will gain hands-on experience designing, building, and testing systems that use sulfur to remove nitrate and improve water quality and system sustainability.
Jude is excited to apply his engineering skills towards projects within Dr. DiMaggio’s lab, especially optimizing the various systems that support the fish farms and greenhouses. This internship provides experience within aquaculture systems where Jude hopes to make a career in optimizing hatcheries and designing natural infrastructure like artificial reefs in the future.
Allie Wilson
2026 FSG Undergraduate Extension Intern
University of Florida, 2028 – Marine Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Victor Blanco, FSG UF/IFAS Extension – Taylor County
Internship Project: Taylor County Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Program
Allie Wilson is a third-year University of Florida undergraduate student majoring in Marine Sciences. Allie grew up in Miami, spending her weekends in high school as a youth sailing instructor on Biscayne Bay. Her curiosity in the field stems from her love of the ocean, having grown up around coastal ecosystems that first sparked her interest in the natural world.
She will be working with Victor Blanco and be responsible for completing scallop fishery and reef monitoring datasets, educational and outreach materials, and social media and communications outputs that will apply marine science knowledge to real-world challenges. These activities will produce deliverables that support resource management in Florida especially for community members and stakeholders such as recreational scallopers, charter captains, marina operators, local governments, and tourism partners.
Looking ahead, Allie hopes to combine her scientific background with her growing expertise in research and media to pursue a master’s degree and career within the sphere of environmental science and strategic communications. She hopes this internship will provide experience developing community events and educational programming for local coastal communities.
Florida Sea Grant is thrilled to welcome this exceptional and multidisciplinary group of interns to our team as they launch their projects for 2026. We look forward to the fresh insights they will bring to Florida’s marine and coastal challenges. Their passion and fresh perspectives are central to FSG’s mission of fostering future scientific leaders.
About Florida Sea Grant
Hosted at the University of Florida (UF), the Florida Sea Grant College Program supports research, education and Extension to enhance coastal resources and economic opportunities through a partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the State University System of Florida, and UF/IFAS Extension in counties statewide. flseagrant.org | @FloridaSeaGrant
Florida Sea Grant Student Opportunities
If you’re an undergraduate or graduate student interested in working with Florida Sea Grant, check out our FSG Student Opportunities site, social media pages, or reach out to our FSG Student Programs Coordinator ([email protected])