Samuel Gittens, Jr.
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
Long-term Fellow: October 2024 - 2025
Mentored by Dr. Marilyn Brandt, University of the Virgin Islands
As a Navigating Home Fellow working with Dr. Marilyn Brandt, I’ve been immersed in every part of coral reef conservation – from hands-on fieldwork to data analysis. On any given week, you might find me treating corals affected by Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease, maintaining coral nurseries, or diving to monitor bleaching and spawning events. Other days, I’m at my computer creating maps with ArcGIS, cleaning GPS dive tracks, or entering data on disease spread, benthic and coral monitoring. It’s a mix of field and lab work that keeps me learning every day.
This fellowship has given me opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise. I gained my technical diving certification, learning to dive as deep as 130 feet, and built new skills in coral spawning monitoring and outplanting. I also renewed my Emergency First Responder certification, completed Mental Health First Aid training, and took part in UVI’s cybersecurity and sexual harassment trainings, all of which make me better prepared as both a diver and a professional.
The fellowship also brought me to conferences like SACNAS, where I connected with fellows from Puerto Rico and Guam, and Reef Futures, where I exchanged ideas with scientists working on coral health and restoration. These experiences not only expanded my knowledge but also helped me grow my professional network.
One of my biggest personal challenges has been learning time management. I tend to say yes to everything, but through mentorship and support from the Navigating Home team, I’ve started to balance my workload and protect my mental health. That’s been just as valuable as any field skill.
For me, this work is about more than science – it’s about protecting the reefs that sustain our islands, support local fishers, and buffer us against storms. Being part of that effort makes me feel like a “hidden superhero” for the Virgin Islands. My hope is to continue building a career here at home, applying what I’ve learned in coral disease treatment, restoration, and community outreach to make a real difference.
My advice to future fellows? Believe you can do it. It may not happen right away, but with persistence it will. And always take care of yourself—fieldwork can be tough, but your health is just as important as the work you’re doing.
