UCSC-GEOPATHS SUMMER INTERNSHIP: DEVELOPING A BIOFUEL BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS IN 2020

Abstract:

UCSC GEOPATHS is an NSF-supported initiative to improve student success in the geosciences, driven by a desire to broaden participation. One component of the program is undergraduate student internships that provide authentic, career-relevant experiences – across all employment sectors – to increase student engagement in the geoscience pipeline.

My GEOPATHS Internship at Peregrine Fuels, a young startup company in Santa Cruz selling biofuel to local residents, focused on helping develop Peregrine Fuels as a stable business in Santa Cruz. This business was created to help reduce carbon emissions, to show alternative fuels are better than fossil fuels, and to help the U.S. reach the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) goal that 25% of fuel will come from biofuels by 2022. Because it is a small business, the bulk of the internship was spent communicating to customers through a newsletter service and co-writing a business plan to grow the business during these unprecedented times. By the end of this internship, I acquired several skills that included creating a poster, giving a presentation at a conference, and applying to entry-level jobs. Working with Peregrine Fuels has given me hands-on experience on building and growing a startup and exposed me to a non-academic career within the Earth Sciences that can impact society to change the future. I will share the results of my project and experiences in the program.