Duration of Internship: December 2025 to May 2026

Qualifications
B.Sc. Marine Biology, University of Plymouth, England (2023 – 2027)

Marianna completed a 6 month internship at MERLab contributing to a variety of marine research, conservation, and outreach projects in Cyprus. She was heavily involved in MER’s Marine Litter Programme, participating in beach clean-ups, litter sorting and categorisation, data entry, and the correction of long-term datasets to improve data quality. She also created a project proposal video and designed an infographic-style conference poster for a conference.

As part of the RESPOCY project, Marianna contributed to Posidonia oceanica restoration through literature review writing, restoration preparation, and the development and delivery of educational presentations for a high school audience. She also supported the IASUS project by helping monitor sponge aquaculture structures and having the opportunity to participate in fieldwork and diving activities. Throughout the internship, she developed strong skills in species identification, scientific communication, data handling, and applied marine research within a professional consultancy environment.

“My internship at MER Lab gave me the opportunity to experience many different aspects of marine science, from conservation and restoration projects to fieldwork, data analysis and outreach. I particularly enjoyed the variety of work and the chance to develop new skills while contributing to meaningful projects. I am very grateful to the MER team for their support and for making my internship such a rewarding and memorable experience.”