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Meet Ocean Explorer Angel Donguines!

Ocean Exploration Trust

OET proudly welcomes Angelie (Angel) Donguines to the Corps of Exploration as part of the Science & Engineering Internship Program. This internship program supports community college, undergraduate, and graduate students in building professional workforce experience and exploring STEAM-related careers that connect to research themes like robotics, ocean science, education, and exploration. Angel is joining E/V Nautilus for our NA180 expedition as an Ocean Science intern.

We sat with Angel to learn more about her experience at sea and the path that led her to Nautilus.

Describe your role with OET.

On board E/V Nautilus, I am an ocean science intern and data logger. During our dives, I note down all the biological and geological parts of the ecosystem as accurately and as detailed as possible. I’m also in charge of capturing important or exciting things with the ROV camera so we can look back at them. Taking note of all these things is important because we use it as a basis to write our dive report, and it is simply something we can look back at for reference.

Can you tell us a little about your background? What influenced you as a child?

I am a Filipino girl who was born and raised on the island of Guam. I feel that being on an island surrounded by water and beaches that are easily accessible has shaped who I am today, personally and professionally. For as long as I can remember, my family has always taken me to the beach, whether it’s for fun or even when I was sick, so you can say I was there a lot. Almost everything I did had some connection to the water, such as swimming, the color blue being my favorite color, and some of my comfort movies or shows being about mermaids or ocean documentaries. You could say I have an obsession at this point.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was a kid, I had so many dreams. I wanted to be a teacher, cook, veterinarian, zookeeper, and even a Coast Guard officer. Surprisingly, I didn’t want to be anything that had to do with marine science because I believed that if I mixed work with my hobby (the beach/ocean), I’d lose my love for it. However, in high school, I had this epiphany thanks to my Marine Biology teacher. Whenever she taught, she had this excitement in her that always drew me in, and I thought to myself that my job should be something I truly love so I can feel the same excitement she has.

What would you consider to be your greatest challenge entering this field?

My greatest challenge entering this field would be my own mind, in all honesty. I feel that this field requires a lot of getting outside of your own box and comfort zone to make connections with people in order to further your career path. And as someone who prefers to be on their own a lot of the time and is shy, it’s sometimes hard to get out of my own shell to make these relationships with people. However, I just needed to push myself to grow and take those baby steps. I had to realize that I wouldn’t get anywhere if I didn’t make the first move. And with the right people by your side, they’ll help nudge you onto the right path for you!

Do you have any advice for someone looking to follow a similar path?

Before applying for this internship, I spent months contemplating if I should because I was so worried that I wouldn’t make it; I hesitated so much that I turned in my application a few minutes before it was due (please don’t be like me and do that…). I want people to know that if they’re really passionate about something and really want to give it a try, then go for it! You will never know until you try. Even if you think the probability of you getting in is low, there is still another part of that probability that you will. If you think about it, not applying ensures you won’t get in, so do it. And this doesn’t have to apply to your career, but your personal life as well. Be the one to take that step forward because who else but you? You are your greatest supporter!

What's next for your ocean studies and career?

After this internship, I will return to the University of Guam to finish my last year of my undergraduate studies in Integrative Biology. After I graduate, I hope to find a job in Marine Biology in order to further my experience in the field. I would like to take a break from academia, and after I feel fulfilled, I will apply to graduate school in order to get a master’s and hopefully a PhD. Throughout this time, I would also like to gain other experiences in different areas of Marine Biology, such as mammalian or fish studies.