My name is Aurielle Jones, and I am from Alexandria, Virginia. Growing up, I always had an interest in Ocean and Marine life.  My love between Ocean and Marine life has made me want to gain knowledge in both fields, and I would like to specialize in both fields.

I am a junior attending Saint Augustine’s College (SAC), in Raleigh, North Carolina, where I am majoring in Biology. SAC has provided me with many opportunities to expand and explore within my field.  They have given me the opportunity to attend the 25th Annual National Conference on Higher Education; for seminars, forums, workshops and research in the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) field.  They have provided me to be a candidate for the 2010/2011 Glaxo Smith Kline Women in Science Scholar where I had to opportunity to shadow and oversee women who have devoted themselves in their field. It has also given me the opportunity to be a part of the Undergraduate Research Experience in Ocean, Marine and Polar Sciences (URE OMPS) program.  My passion is Marine animals such as dolphins, whales and manatees. I know this was a passion since a birthday trip to the Baltimore Aquarium. I would like to explore beyond my passions to not only help myself but the Marine and Ocean community.

For the summer of 2011, I was accepted into the URE OMPS program, under the direction of Dr. Linda Hayden and the mentorship of Mr. Jeff Wood. This program is hosted at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU). We, the 2011 URE OMPS Pasquotank Watershed Team will perform water quality test (dissolved oxygen, pH, salt, total dissolved solids, conductivity, air/water temperature, wind speed/direction, and turbidity measurements) to see the health of the water. The water quality tests will take place in several areas including the main channel of the river from Elizabeth City up to the Dismal Swamp Canal. Tributaries to be tested on the south side of the watershed will be Newbegun Creek and Knobbs Creek. The tributaries on the north side of the watershed will be Areneuse Creek, Mill Dam Creek, and Sawyers Creek. After collected the data we will post the information; dissolved oxygen, pH, salt, total dissolved solids, conductivity, air/water temperature, wind speed/direction, and turbidity measurements, GPS coordinates, on Google Maps.

After college I plan to further my education by attending graduate school for both my masters and PhD. I plan to obtain a duel masters in Marine Biology and Oceanography and then decide to get my PhD in one of the two fields.  Before graduate school I would like to absorb as much within Ocean and Marine Sciences by doing research as possible. Therefore, I will try to experience and get involved in everything that comes down my path.