Chryston Best-Otubu, an environmental sciences/marine sciences major, will be attending the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science Ph.D. program in marine biology and ecology upon his May 2020 graduation from UMES.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I was born to immigrant parents who now live in Ellicott City, Md. The first half of my last name, Best, is from my Trinidadian mother, and Otubu is from my Nigerian father. I have two younger brothers, Godfrey and Gabriel, and we refer to ourselves as Trinigerians. My parents are the biggest supporters of my ambitions, and my brothers are next, followed by all of my cousins, aunts and uncles.
Where did your interest in marine science come from?
My interest stems from my deep love for fishing. When I was a child, I would read books and watch informative videos on the diets, habitats and physiology of fish I wanted to catch. I also loved going to the National Aquarium and enjoyed watching nature documentaries to learn about marine life.
However, I would often wonder why none of the scientists looked like me. The lack of diversity among environmental science researchers can be damaging to the dreams of a young person of color to become an environmental scientist.
How did you choose UMES for your undergraduate education?
In summer 2017, I was an intern at the NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center Research Experiences for Undergraduates (LMRCSC REU) program at UMES. After successfully completing my research, my mentor, Dr. Ali Ishaque, offered me an LMRCSC undergraduate fellowship to attend UMES. I transferred from Hampton University to UMES, where I became a fellow in the first cohort of the NOAA-Educational Partnership Program (EPP) LMRCSC.
What experiences at UMES helped you get accepted to a prestigious graduate program?
I have conducted research with graduate students, all working with my advisor Dr. Ishaque. From 2017-2019, I analyzed heavy metals and how they affect Maryland coastal bays in water, sediment and blue crabs. In the spring semester of 2019, my research involved gut content analysis and in-situ tissue analysis on forage fish and predatory fish of the Maryland coastal bays. Since last fall, I have researched microplastic contamination in scallop muscle, digestive tracts and gills. These experiences at UMES allowed me to conduct professional research in marine science and have some of the most amazing experiences in my life.
What mentors have inspired you?
Drs. Ishaque, Paulinus Chigbu, and Maurice Crawford are amazing scientists who have guided and motivated me to become a passionate scientist so that I can one day become as great as they are. They are my prominent role models in marine science and some of the greatest faculty of UMES.
Chelsea Richardson and Enid Munos are grad students that offered lots of advice regarding grad school application and life as a grad student.
Why did the University of Miami stand out to you?
As an undergraduate fellow of the NOAA-EPP LMRCSC, I knew I wanted to attend an LMRCSC grad school. The Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science is a partner institution in the LMRCSC. Miami was my top option because it offers the fastest track to a Ph.D. in marine biology and fisheries, and its program director, Dr. Elizabeth Babcock, is a fantastic mentor whose research interests align with mine.
Another benefit of attending UM-RSMAS is that the campus is across the street from the NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Last summer (2019), I participated in the Woods Hole Partnership Education program in Massachusetts. I interned for the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center Ecosystem Dynamics and Assessment branch there. The research my mentors and I worked on was amazing, so I want to do more research with NOAA Fisheries.
Since I will be conducting research and collaborating with NOAA scientists, UM offers a fantastic opportunity to network and achieve my long-term goal of obtaining a permanent position within the agency.
