![Magdalena Lara](https://scripps.ucsd.edu/sites/scripps.ucsd.edu/files/basic-page/field-collections/field-body-images-and-text/2017/magdalena-lara.png)
Maggie Lara | California State University, Dominguez Hills
Los Angeles native and first-generation college student Maggie Lara researched chemical ecology under the mentorship of Scripps Professor Paul Jensen at the Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine. She looked at the relationship between the marine actinomycete Salinispora tropica and other environmental marine bacteria collected from the seafloor off Mexico. The bacterium Salinispora tropica, discovered in 1991 by Scripps scientists Jensen and William Fenical, shows promise for producing compounds that could treat diseases such as cancer.
“The goal of the research is basically to discover new natural products or chemicals that could potentially be used as antibiotics, anti-cancer drugs, or some form of medicinal therapy,” said Lara, who is excited to bring her newly-acquired lab skills back to her home university, where she studies molecular biology and biochemistry.
Lara enjoyed having one-on-one experience working with Jensen, a master in the field of biomedicine, and she appreciated the mentorship provided by Teranes and the graduate students, who taught her about academic research expectations and how to apply for programs and fellowships.
“I’m a first-generation college student, and I’m the daughter of immigrant parents, so the whole idea of research never occurred to me until I started applying to these programs,” she said. “Being able to do science for the rest of my life is a dream, so this has been a very cool opportunity.“
![Justin Higa](https://scripps.ucsd.edu/sites/scripps.ucsd.edu/files/basic-page/field-collections/field-body-images-and-text/2017/justin-higa.png)
Justin Higa | University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Honolulu native Justin Higa studied the ancient paleomagnetic intensity of Cambodia during the ages of 1000-1500 CE in the lab of Lisa Tauxe, a distinguished professor of geophysics at Scripps.
“I came here and knew completely nothing about paleomagnetism, so it’s totally new,” said Higa, who majors in geology and geophysics. “It really solidified the fact that maybe I do want to go to grad school, or continue doing research.”
Higa said it’s important to study paleomagnetism in Cambodia because this research will make global models of ancient magnetic fields more accurate. Previous studies have only focused on Europe and the Middle East.
In addition to gaining lab experience and creating his first scientific poster, Higa picked up another new skill this summer: surfing. “Even though I’m from Hawaii, I had never surfed before, so this was super cool and I’m definitely going to go home and practice!”
![Tia Rabsatt](https://scripps.ucsd.edu/sites/scripps.ucsd.edu/files/basic-page/field-collections/field-body-images-and-text/2017/tia-rabsatt.png)
Tia Rabsatt | University of the Virgin Islands
Marine biology student and Virgin Islands native Tia Rabsatt studied microbiology in the lab of Scripps Assistant Professor Jeff Bowman during the summer program. She worked on a project to determine whether the presence of seagrass affects the abundance of bacteria in the San Diego Bay.
“We’re trying to see if seagrass has the ability to filter pathogenic bacteria that could spread disease,” said Rabsatt. She performed DNA extractions and polymerase chain reaction (PCR, which amplifies the DNA) on seawater samples she collected from the bay. These samples were later sent to a lab for sequencing, so Rabsatt and other researchers can determine the genres and types of bacteria found within the collection sites.
“After being in the SURF program I feel really accomplished because this was actually originally my own idea and I got to see it flourish,” said Rabsatt, reflecting on her thesis project. “This is something that I can actually now take back to my home country in the Virgin Islands and do there as well.”
![Ivan Moreno](https://scripps.ucsd.edu/sites/scripps.ucsd.edu/files/basic-page/field-collections/field-body-images-and-text/2017/ivan-moreno.png)
Ivan Moreno | California State University, Dominguez Hills
First-generation college student Ivan Moreno spent his summer studying thermophiles, microbes that can survive in very hot temperatures. Under the mentorship of Scripps Professor Brian Palenik, Moreno characterized the microbial community found in the hot springs of Black Canyon in South Nevada.
“By studying thermophiles and by studying any extremophiles, we get to test the limits of where microbes can live, how they survive, and how they thrive,” said Moreno, a biology major with a concentration in cellular and molecular biology.
Moreno said he’s found the SURF program to be “essential” as he applies to graduate programs and considers a future in science research.
“As a first-generation college student, it’s interesting being able to speak to my family about what research is, because to them research is completely unfamiliar,” said Moreno. “They had no idea that this world of science existed.”
Learn more about the SURF program at: https://scripps.ucsd.edu/undergrad/surf.
– Brittany Hook
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