MOP Student Interview

Interview with Taylor Williams, UHM MOP Student Staff & NOAA Student Employee

What is your major and how long have you been associated with MOP?

Taylor: I am a Marine Biology Major and have been associated with MOP for the last three and a half years.

What is your internship and current position?

Taylor: My current job is working with NOAA’s Marine Turtle Biology and Assessment Program as a student stranding associate.

Any advice to other MOPers looking to land a dream internship?

Taylor: My advice to other MOPers looking to land a dream internship would be to apply to anything that you’re interested in regardless of whether you meet all of the qualifications, and not to give up because the first position you apply to may not be the right position for you. Just don’t stop looking.

What do you do in your current position?

Taylor: I am responsible for receiving turtles from HMAR (Hawai‘i Marine Animal Response) after hours and setting up the turtles in the NOAA building. I am also responsible for data entry and some data analysis that occur throughout the day. I also assist in necropsies.

How long have you held this position?

Taylor: I have held this position for around six months.

How did you get this position?

Taylor: I got this position through the Marine Option Program. I submitted a resume and letter of interest and then there was an interview conducted by Jeff and another student employee.

Any future plans in this career field?

Taylor: In the future I am planning to apply for a six month position working with nesting green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in French Frigate Shoals.