Student Blogs & Vignettes
Orion Witmer
Orion Winter, USF CMS Student
ABOUT MY RESEARCH
Growing up in the small town of Morro Bay in the heart of the central coast of California, the ocean has been an integral part of my life for as long as I can remember. Surfing was the first activity that drew me into the water at a young age and sparked my continued passion for the physical aspects of the ocean. My research interests include waves, tides, currents, and ocean circulation. I am interested in wave and energy forecasting, as well as harnessing energy from the ocean for renewable energy sources. I am currently working on building a numerical model for the waters off the east of Florida and hope to employ this to tackle a variety of applications such as red tide prediction, contaminant transport, oil spill cleanup, and sediment transport to name a few.
WHY USF CMS?
USF CMS touts a highly accredited research-focused program that offers students an opportunity to pursue their passions while receiving instruction and guidance from experts. With an outstandingly low student-to-faculty ratio there is ample opportunity to connect with all faculty members on a personal and professional basis regularly and create lifelong connections as well as highly impactful networks. Geographically located on the waterfront with easy access to the Gulf of Mexico and partners with many other influential Universities it provided me an exceptional opportunity to advance my education, skills, and career.