First Class Cadet Jacquelyn Kubicko has received a 2016-2017 Fulbright U.S. Student Award to study in the United Kingdom, where she will represent the U.S. and the Coast Guard Academy as a cultural ambassador while pursuing a Master of Research at the University of Southampton, U.K.
As a Fulbright scholar, Kubicko will enhance mutual understanding between Americans and people in the U.K. and join over 100,000 Fulbright U.S. Student Program alumni who have undertaken grants since the program began in 1948. The Marine and Environmental Science major will be conducting research in physical oceanography with applications to climate change. By studying the ocean dynamics caused by climate change, Kubicko will contribute to international climate policy initiatives.
Kubicko previously received the Tomorrow's Leader Laureate Award from Aviation Week magazine, and Board of Trustees List honors for displaying excellence in academic, military, and athletic performance. She also recently received orders to flight school.
As a cadet, Kubicko conducted research in the field of acoustic tomography aimed to image physical characteristics of the ocean in order to contribute to the accuracy of climate change and acidification models. During her junior year, she focused on analyzing how sound moves through seawater to measure ocean properties such as pH and temperature using passive acoustic techniques. The project was supervised by her instructor at the Academy, Lt. Christopher Verlinden, and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
In the summer of 2015, Kubicko assisted with research to explore deep-sea hydrothermal vents off the coast of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador and was supervised by Dr. Robert Ballard, noted for his discovery of the RMS Titanic. Her senior year research, supervised by Dr. Karim Sabra of Georgia Institute of Technology, involves developing methods of measuring temperature changes in coastal areas and under sea-ice.
Her undergraduate research has inspired her interest in pursuing further research in ocean sciences and has provided a solid foundation for continuing research on climate change. By developing models for analyzing ocean characteristics, she will be able to apply her undergraduate research findings and experience to the projects she was invited to undertake at the University of Southampton.
"I truly could not have asked for more than the opportunity to pursue my passion for science as a Fulbright Scholar, while serving my country, as a member of such a unique humanitarian organization," said Kubicko.
