Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home » Labs & Programs » International Activities

Earth System Science Beyond Boundaries

International Activities

International Scientific Collaboration

Staci Rijal, OAR's International Affairs Director, delivers speech at All Atlantic Forum, July 13, 2022

NOAA’s mission extends beyond the United States to oceans, ecosystems, and the atmosphere throughout the world. While all of NOAA’s line offices conduct research, NOAA Research is the only line office dedicated solely to conducting research and development. NOAA Research supports NOAA’s mission by collaborating with partners from around the world to expand data collection, maximize the mutual benefits of international exchange, and work with global experts in ocean, atmosphere, and climate sciences. 

The NOAA Research International Activities Office is dedicated to working with NOAA labs and programs and international partners to develop new ideas, partnerships, and technologies that result in improved services for the United States.

 

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH
PARTNERSHIPS BENEFIT THE NATION

NOAA’s science and technology enterprise is enhanced by engaging with other countries on large-scale projects of mutual interest. Our partnerships with international institutions allow NOAA access to foreign data, technology, expertise, geographic locations, and other cost-sharing opportunities that advances our research and benefits the global community. 

Our three operational objectives support NOAA’s overall vision of healthy ecosystems, communities, and economies that are resilient to environmental change.

Headshot of IA office director Staci Rijal

Staci Rijal, Director

Responsibilities:

  • Principal Advisor for OAR on International Activities
  • Budget management/execution
  • NOAA International Affairs Council Representative for OAR
  • China and Taiwan Lead
  • Personnel Actions/Performance Evaluations
  • Oversight of all IA programs and staff activities
  • Liaison to OAR Front Office, Office of International Affairs, other NOAA International Office’s leadership, and interagency international offices

Headshot of IA office member Monica Morales

Mónica Morales, Program Support Specialist

Geographic Portfolio:

  • Latin American (support)
  • Caribbean (support)
  • IOCARIBE (support)
Other Responsibilities:
  • Electronic Country Clearance (eCC) (All OAR)
  • J1 Visas (All OAR)
  • OAR/IA Website
  • OAR/IA Internal Handbook
  • Assist with foreign travel
  • Records Management
  • Office Supplies/Equipment
Liaison:
  • National Sea Grant (support)

Headshot of Jim Berkson

Jim Berkson, Program Analyst

Geographic Portfolio:

  • Canada
  • Russia
  • Polar Basin Team Lead
  • Atlantic Ocean Basin Team
Other Responsibilities:
  • World Meteorological Organization
  • All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA)
Liaison:
  • Weather Program Office
  • National Severe Storms Laboratory

Headshot of Alicia Cheripka

Alicia Cheripka, Program Analyst

Geographic Portfolio:

  • Europe Lead
  • Atlantic Ocean Basin Lead
  • Polar Basin Team
Other Responsibilities:
  • Marine Scientific Research Permits
  • United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference
Liaison:
  • Office of Ocean Exploration and Research
  • Boulder Research Laboratories (GSL, GML, CSL, PSL)
  • Knauss Fellowship Lead

Headshot of Joseph Naughton

Joseph Naughton, Program Analyst

Geographic Portfolio:

  • Africa Lead
  • Middle East Lead
  • Antarctica Lead
  • Indian Ocean Basin Lead
  • Polar Basins Team
  • Atlantic Ocean Basin Team
Other Responsibilities:
  • Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)
  • G7/G20
  • UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Liaison:
  • Climate Program Office
  • Air Resources Laboratory (ARL)

Zoraida Perez Delgado headshot

Zoraida P. Pérez Delgado, Program Analyst

Geographic Portfolio:

  • Latin America Lead
  • Caribbean Lead
  • Atlantic Ocean Basin Team
  • Pacific Ocean Basin Team
Other Responsibilities:
  • U.S. National Focal Point for IOCARIBE
  • Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation
  • AAORIA
Liaison:
  • Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing Program (GOMO)
  • Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML)
  • OAR Communications

Sarah Zaunbrecher headshot

Sarah Zaunbrecher, Program Analyst

Geographic Portfolio:

  • South and Southeast Asia Lead
  • Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands Lead
  • Indian Ocean Basin Team
  • Pacific Ocean Basin Team
Other Responsibilities:
  • Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
  • UN Regular Process/World Ocean Assessment
  • Quad Indo-Pacific Ocean Research Alliance
Liaison:
  • National Sea Grant College Program
  • Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL)
  • Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL)
  • Legislative Affairs/Congressional Affairs

Mikayla Basanese headshot

Mikayla Basanese, Program Analyst (Contractor)

Geographic Portfolio:

    Korea Lead
  • Japan Lead
  • Arctic Lead
  • China and Taiwan (Support)
  • Pacific Ocean Basin Team Lead
  • Polar Basins Team
Other Responsibilities:
  • UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Liaison
  • Climate Program Office
  • Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL)

Madyson Miller headshot

Madyson Miller, Program Analyst (Contractor)

Geographic Portfolio:

  • Europe (Support)
  • Atlantic Ocean Basin Team
Other Responsibilities:
  • UN Decade
  • Our Ocean Conference
  • eCC Backup (All OAR)
Liaison:
  • Boulder Labs (Support)
  • Ocean Acidification Program

Devin Burri headshot

Devin Burri, 2023 Sea Grant Knauss Fellow

Geographic Portfolio:

  • South and Southeast Asia (Support)
  • Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands (Support)
  • Pacific Basin Team
  • Polar Basins Team
Other Responsibilities:
  • IOCaribe Vice Chair Support
  • NOAA Science Council Foreign Nationals WG Exec. Sec.
Liaison:
  • National Sea Grant (support)
  • OAR Communications (support)

Jai Tiarks

Jai Tiarks, 2024 Knauss Fellow

Geographic Portfolio:

  • Africa (Support)
  • Atlantic Ocean Basin Team
  • Pacific Ocean Basin Team
Other Responsibilities:
  • Korea Sea Grant JPA
  • All Atlantic Ocean and Research Innovation Alliance (AAORIA)
  • UN Ocean Decade (support)
  • Knauss Fellowship (for ‘25; support)
  • Weekly reports/IA Calendar
Liaison
  • National Sea Grant

Headshot of Meredith Kurz

Meredith Kurz, Program Analyst

Currently on detail

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES NEWS

See what’s happening in OAR International Activities

Scroll to Top

Popup Call to Action

A prompt with more information on your call to action.