Assistant Professor of Biology Amy Smith Selected as Peerside Mentor
GREAT BARRINGTON, MA — Dr. Amy Smith has been selected as a Peerside Mentor, a position
that supports training and career development for students interested in marine sciences.
Three Simon’s Rock students have been chosen to receive this prestigious mentorship: junior Cyrus Blake, and Sophomores Anna Mae Ullman and Solomiia Cherednikova. Through Peerside, the students and their mentor will partake in two research expeditions this summer, one at sea using remotely-operated vehicles to collect deep-sea samples at cold seeps in the Gulf of Mexico, and one where they will participate remotely from shore to provide support for another group of mentees.
The 2025 Peerside Program consists of year-round training and mentoring from the Florida Institute of Oceanography as well as a three-week seagoing experience for students and mentors. Mentees will also receive a full year of scientific training with the Peerside community. This opportunity is unique among early colleges and will represent a significant leap in education and career support for Simon’s Rock students.
“We will be collecting samples from the seafloor of the Gulf of Mexico at cold seeps, or locations on the seafloor where trapped oil and gas is seeping out. These sites fuel productivity on the seafloor and are covered with animals and bacteria benefiting from the energy and food present here,” said Smith. “The students and I will be paired with another group from Stockton University and spend one week at sea and one week on shore, helping yet another team who will be out at sea.”
The students will also participate in a final project related to the research they performed in the program and will present it to Peerside as well as the public in a future conference.