Lake Champlain Sea Grant 2024 Knauss Fellow Rosaura “Rosie” Chapina has spent the past eleven months working with NOAA Ocean Exploration. She has participated in research expeditions on multiple NOAA ships, working with state-of-the-art equipment alongside world-class scientists.  

Rosie is a Ph.D. student in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources and a Gund Institute for Environment Fellow. The prestigious Knauss Fellowship program provides graduate students and recent graduates the opportunity to spend a year in Washington, D.C., gaining hands-on experience in marine and coastal policy. 

Rosie’s portfolio focuses on maximizing the use of samples collected from the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer and the E/V Nautilus, which include biological, geological, and eDNA samples. Additionally, she is coordinating the logistics for bringing the NOAA Ship Discoverer into operation. She is actively engaging in discussions and collaborating with various NOAA line offices to further advance these efforts.

This summer, Chapina was part of an ROV dive on E/V Nautilus near Hawaii, she met with different scientists and was part of fruitful conversations regarding sampling and priorities in the field of ocean exploration. Rosie also spent four weeks sailing on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, on an exploratory mapping expedition (EX2405) from Honolulu to Hilo, Hawaii.

The E/V Nautilus is a research vessel operated by the Ocean Exploration Trust, founded by Dr. Robert Ballard, who is known for discovering the wreck of the Titanic. The NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer is the only NOAA ship focused solely on exploring unknown parts of the ocean.

Rosie Chapina on one of the NOAA ships

Okeanos Explorer expeditions use mapping sonars and remote operated vehicles (ROV) to explore areas ranging from 250 to 6,000 meters (820 to 19,700 feet). Expeditions typically involve 24-hour mapping or a combination of daytime ROV dives and overnight mapping. Okeanos is operated by the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, and is part of NOAA's fleet which is managed by the NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations. NOAA Ocean Exploration handles the mission equipment used on the ship and coordinates its exploration efforts.

"I never imagined I would be working alongside scientists on collaborative projects with the Ocean Exploration Trust, founded by Dr. Robert Ballard, the discoverer of the Titanic,” said Chapina. “Being immersed in deep-sea research has truly been an eye-opening experience."

This was one of six expeditions in 2024 to support the Beyond the Blue: Illuminating the Pacific project. The project uses deep sea mapping to enhance knowledge, appreciation, and understanding of the waters in the Pacific Islands region. This campaign involves several partners collaborating on coastal and ocean mapping, exploration, and characterization. 

After her expedition in the Pacific, Rosie continued her professional development journey by getting scuba dive certified in Hilo, Hawaii. This certification will enhance Rosie's career opportunities in aquatic biology related to habitat assessments and marine/freshwater conservation projects and will support hands-on experience in aquatic ecosystems.

Applications for the 2026 Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship are now open. The application details are available on the Lake Champlain Sea Grant website. In addition to the Knauss Fellowships, Lake Champlain Sea Grant is accepting applications for the  and the National Marine Fisheries Service/Sea Grant Joint Fellowship.

A version of this story was originally published on the Lake Champlain Sea Grant website.