Tyler Tamasi, 2015, Chemistry

Tyler Tamasi ’15

As an intern with the Sigman Group in the Geosciences department at Princeton University, I focused on collecting and analyzing the nitrogen species (primarily NH4+) in New Jersey rainwater and compared my results with data collected from Bermuda rainwater. During my summer experience, I took part in two research cruises from Bermuda and used a plethora of field techniques to better understand the chemistry of air and sea. From hauling plankton nets and taking water samples from the deep Sargasso Sea to measuring minute ammonium concentrations and filtering Bermuda air, I began to elucidate the interplay between pollution in New Jersey rainwater and its effects on Bermuda rain. I gained insight into many aspects of geochemistry by attending lectures by renowned scientists and collaborating with established researchers both in the field and at Princeton. My knowledge of the chemistry that governs global processes has grown exponentially over the course of this summer. As I am planning to major in chemistry, with the goal of impacting alternative energy technologies and environmental issues, being able to collaborate with individuals that understand so much of the earth’s chemical systems has created a framework of possibilities for my future research.