News & Recipients

Three USF Students Selected as Hollings Scholars to Perform Research with NOAA

Three University of South Florida (USF) sophomores have been selected as 2024 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ernest F. Hollings Scholars. Anna Soltys, Bradley Boyadjiev, and Coen McGarrah will all participate in a research internship with NOAA in summer 2025.

A scholarship program for sophomore students, Hollings provides not only a summer research experience, but also mentorship, conference funding, and professional development opportunities. Past USF Hollings Scholars have interned at NOAA offices across the country, including the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve, James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory, and the National Center for Environmental Information. The newest 2024 Hollings Scholars will select their internship sites during the coming academic year after participating in a NOAA orientation in May.

Hollings Scholars are selected for academic excellence, leadership, and commitment to oceanic and atmospheric science. Their goals must align with NOAA’s mission to “understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts; share that knowledge and information with others; and conserve and manage our coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.”

Anna is a marine biology major intending to pursue research surrounding coastal restoration, specifically with shark species. She served as a Chesapeake Bay Foundation student leader during high school, writing environmental policy proposals to Congress and educating local youth. At USF, she participated in the SEA-PHAGES research course, studying novel bacteriophages with Dr. Richard Pollenz. She also worked with Honors College faculty member Tina Piracci’s oyster restoration project by helping with designs for 3D-printed oyster habitation blocks.

Bradley is an environmental science and policy major serving as a climate and weather instrumentation specialist with the Lake Cane Restoration Society, responsible for water and weather sensor maintenance. His professional interests include researching better forecasting technology and the effectiveness of various mitigation strategies, maintaining remote sensing devices, and contributing to impact-based decision support services so that emergency planners can get the information they need.

Coen studies marine biology and creative writing with plans to do research while focusing their career on environmental outreach through education. Like Anna, Coen also participated in the SEA-PHAGES course but has a broader research interest in crustaceans and marine-focused education programs. Their Honors thesis will center around aquarium touch pools as a public outreach tool. Coen also works at the Glazer Children’s Museum and is a leader in multiple student organizations across campus.

“It is always exciting to find out the Hollings Scholarship results, but it was especially fun to receive the news during USF’s annual Climate Teach-In week,” said Lauren Roberts, assistant director of the Office of National Scholars. “These students will participate in research that directly impacts our environment and response to climate change. They also do an excellent job representing USF while working with NOAA, a partnership well established on our St. Petersburg campus.”

USF’s 2023 Hollings Scholar, Audrey Brandt, a student from the St. Petersburg campus, will begin their NOAA research internship this summer at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in California where they will coordinate the “Get in Your Sanctuary” event. They will also record and educate visitors in wildlife disturbances as part of the Team OCEAN citizen science program.