Isabella Valdes is a 2025 summer intern in the CIMAS/MDC Internship Program. A former Honors College student at Miami Dade College, she pursued a biology pathway with a focus on marine science. As part of her internship, Isabella is contributing to research on coral spawning and assisting with coral monitoring efforts in the Port of Miami, supporting initiatives to assess the health and resilience of local reef ecosystems. She is gaining hands-on experience in field data collection, coral monitoring protocols, ecological research methods, and collaborative work with other interns. Isabella is working under the mentorship of Dr. Ashley Rossin at the NOAA AOML Coral Program. Deeply passionate about marine conservation, she hopes to continue advancing her knowledge and experience in marine biology and research.
