Newsroom
Recipients of UM Rosenstiel School’s 2012-2013 Alumni Awards Announced
July 16, 2012
David Die
MIAMI — July 16, 2012 — The University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science today announced the recipients of the 2012–2013 Alumni Awards. The grantees were selected by a team of three alumni and a student representative, which disbursed more than $11,000 in funds.
“We received 30 applications from every division of the Rosenstiel School – from marine biology to meteorology,” said Laura Bracken Chaibongsai, Alumni & Outreach Manager for the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science. “The projects were all very deserving. We selected ones that demonstrated the greatest potential for a broad impact, both on the student’s academic career and on the scientific community.”
Christine Beggs
Beggs graduated with Honors from Goucher College in 2010 with a
BS in Biology. Presently, she is pursuing a Master’s in
Marine Conservation, and will use the Award to fund her
internship at the Isabela Oceanographic Institute in the
Galapagos. She will utilize her marine conservation media
site, ProjectBlueHope.com to
launch innovative online crowdfunding campaigns for local
environmental projects.
Katinka Bellomo
Bellomo graduated from Universita’ di Torino (Italy) with a BS
and MS in Physics. She is currently working with Dr. Amy
Clement to investigate the role of cloud radiative forcing on
climate variability and change. The Alumni Award will support a
two-month internship at the prestigious Max-Planck Institute in
Germany, where she will use their IPCC coupled ocean-atmosphere
model to run decadal prediction experiments.
Dominique Lazarre
Lazarre graduated from Eckerd College with a BS in Marine
Science (Biology) and Environmental Studies. Her doctoral
research is focused on understanding the dynamics that have
allowed invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish to spread throughout the
Western Atlantic and Caribbean, as well as their impacts on
local fish communities. She plans to use the funds
provided by the Alumni Award to discern how lionfish are
impacting the spiny lobster trap fishery in the Florida Keys.
Patrick Rynne
Rynne has a BS from Brown University in Material Engineering,
and a Masters degree in Ocean Engineering from Florida Atlantic
University. His current research is focused on
understanding the hydrodynamic processes of tidal inlet and
estuarine systems. Patrick spearheads Waterlust, a student run project
aimed at inspiring marine scientists to express their research
through online media. He is using this award to establish an
on-campus center for students and faculty to create their own
Waterlust films.
Xaymara Serano
Serrano has a BS in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico
and a MS in Marine Biology & Fisheries from University of
Miami RSMAS. She is completing a PhD using the
latest genetic tools to understand the extent to which reefs
are effectively connected to one another, especially in the
face of climate change. Xaymara will use the Alumni
Award funds to characterize two algal symbionts using
quantitative PCR assays.
The goal of UM Rosenstiel School alumni is to build a strong network among graduates; enhancing their careers and opportunities, advancing their interests, and harnessing their skills and resources for the benefit of the academic community. To learn more about the Alumni Award and its recipients, or to make a donation to the Rosenstiel School, please visit: http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/outreach/alumni/awards/
About the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School
The University of Miami’s mission is to educate and
nurture students, to create knowledge, and to provide service
to our community and beyond. Committed to excellence and proud
of the diversity of our University family, we strive to develop
future leaders of our nation and the world. Founded in the
1940’s, the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric
Science has grown into one of the world’s premier marine
and atmospheric research institutions. Offering dynamic
interdisciplinary academics, the Rosenstiel School is dedicated
to helping communities to better understand the planet,
participating in the establishment of environmental policies,
and aiding in the improvement of society and quality of life.
For more information, please visit www.rsmas.miami.edu.
