I am a graduate student at Scripps Institution of Oceanography – UC San Diego and a member of the Prather research group. As part of the Center for Aerosol Impacts on Climate and the Environment, broadly I research the chemistry of surface water and sea spray aerosol. My motivation to participate in the Chief Scientist Workshop is to learn to effectively accomplish research at sea. While on the research cruise I aim to investigate the potential influence of upwelling on sea spray aerosol organic content, including potential sea-to-spray carbon isotopic fractionation. I participated in a few research cruises while earning a master’s degree at Tulane University in New Orleans. We cored the Gulf of Mexico in search for geochemical traces of the Deepwater Horizon oil. I found it both challenging and rewarding; a very worthwhile endeavor. Now I want to get better at ship-based sampling and to learn what are the capabilities. Thank you UNOLS for the opportunity.