Student Blogs & Vignettes

Bella Iannotta

ABOUT MY RESEARCH

I am originally from the Florida Keys, where my dad was a fishing guide and my mom worked for the local newspaper. Naturally, I developed a passion for the ocean at a young age. I graduated from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg in 2023, where I conducted research and completed an undergraduate thesis on the impacts of deep-sea mineral extraction on sedimentary organics. I also spent 2.5 months at sea collecting sediment cores. As I pursue my M.S. degree with Dr. Luther and Dr. Schwing from Eckerd College, I plan to continue researching deep-sea benthic environments and mineral extraction while expanding on the parameters I studied as an undergraduate, including stable isotope analysis, radioisotope analysis, and total organic carbon quantification. I also hope to gain additional field experience, sea time, and exposure to a broad range of marine technologies.

Why USF CMS?

Choosing the College of Marine Science at the University of South Florida was an easy decision. In addition to my desire to stay in the vibrant city of St. Pete, I was attracted to CMS’s prime location downtown, near the water, and within a hub of innovative organizations such as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the Florida Institute of Oceanography. I am excited by the culture of curiosity and collaboration at CMS, where new innovations and scientific breakthroughs happen. I look forward to engaging in opportunities such as the Marine Science Advisory Committee, science communication and outreach, and fieldwork while balancing my studies and proposal writing.