Maya Waller
Howard University
Year: 2024
Project: Global change effects on nitrogen cycling along a temperature gradient in the U.S. Central Grasslands
Advisor: Indy Burke, Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. Dean, Yale School of the Environment, Professor of Ecosystem Ecology, Yale School of the Environment
Experience Overview: “This summer was a blast! While simultaneously building my research sampling and lab procedure skills, I was able to interact with locals and researchers alike across the American West. The research I worked with applied to my specific interest in tackling the daunting threat of climate change. I was able to further my knowledge in climate justice through conversations and literature. Thanks to this fellowship, I can foresee myself as a graduate student in the future!”
Imani Blue
Spelman College
Year: 2024
Project: Insect herbivory and tropical rainforest recovery
Advisor: Liza Comita, Professor of Tropical Forest Ecology, Yale School of the Environment, Co-director, Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture
Marcelina Lewis
Washington College
Year: 2024
Project: Insect herbivory and tropical rainforest recovery
Advisor: Liza Comita, Professor of Tropical Forest Ecology, Yale School of the Environment, Co-director, Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture
Experience Overview: “This summer, I worked as a tropical ecology intern at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s field station in Barro Colorado Island, Panama. While there, I specialized in identifying fungal damage in seedlings of various species of trees and liana. This was an amazing experience that not only gave me invaluable hands on experience in tropical research but also taught me to have confidence to take on new experiences!”
Andrew Fairclough
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Year: 2024
Project: Finding the genes underlying climate resiliency in a widespread herb
Advisor: Jenn Coughlan, Assistant Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Experience Overview: “This program was extremely beneficial for my professional and academic career. I gained so much knowledge about the field of genetics and adaptation, and I gained connections to potential grad school labs through my PI. The postdocs and graduate students in my lab were wonderful, and helped me with much of my project. If you are a student pursuing a research focused field, I highly recommend this internship to further your academic career.”
Alyssa Singletary
North Carolina A&T State University
Year: 2024
Project: Finding the genes underlying climate resiliency in a widespread herb
Advisor: Jenn Coughlan, Assistant Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Experience Overview: “The YIBS SURES program is a great summer internship for students who have prior research experience and are interested in pursuing a career in research. I believe that this program offers great resources to allow students to get the opportunity to gain experience in this field, as well as explore various fields in biology.”
Riley Johnson
Washington College
Year: 2024
Project: Temperate forest ecology using drones and ground surveys
Advisor: Xuhui Lee, Director, The Earth Observation Lab, Sara Shallenberger Brown Professor of Meteorology, Yale School of the Environment
Experience Overview: “During my summer experience at YIBS, I was able to connect and have conversations with several Yale Master’s students and PhD students. Through these conversations, I learned so much about what their studies are and what their experiences have been. Having these conversations showed me all the different research possibilities that could stem from just one environmental discipline. It also sparked my own scientific curiosity and made me think about what else could be researched. As far as my field experience goes for the project I was working on, I gained a tremendous amount of experimental design skills that will set me up to create a thorough research project in my future. Additionally, as someone who is very interested in GIS & remote sensing and their applications in the environment, it was very valuable to get to work hands-on with drones and lidar and to use the data we collected to create some maps!”
Stephanie Ramos
Rio Hondo College
Year: 2024
Project: Temperate forest ecology using drones and ground surveys
Advisor: Xuhui Lee, Director, The Earth Observation Lab, Sara Shallenberger Brown Professor of Meteorology, Yale School of the Environment
Experience Overview: “I loved my summer internship experience because I learned the theoretical background of remote sensing and worked with a new data type. I did not have experience with rasta data before coming to Yale. I can now include this in my portfolio and I can indicate in my resume that I have skills in geospatial analysis.”
Bianka Sanó Perez
Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo
Year: 2024
Project: Discovering the physiological diversity of Caribbean rain frogs
Advisor: Martha Muñoz, Assistant Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Assistant Curator of Vertebrate Zoology (Herpetology), Yale Peabody Museum
Experience Overview: “This summer was amazing! I had the opportunity to conduct molecular work in a full equipped lab with very experienced teachers. I also had the opportunity to take classes with some of Yale’s prestigious professors. At the same time, we had the opportunity to explore the Yale Peabody Museum and some of the most important collections. Last but not least, we explored the unique and amazing Horse Island, where we had a great time exploring the biodiversity and secrets of this island. This program was such a complete experience that every undergrad student should have.”
Reveca Ramirez Gomez
Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo
Year: 2024
Project: Discovering the physiological diversity of Caribbean rain frogs
Advisor: Martha Muñoz, Assistant Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Assistant Curator of Vertebrate Zoology (Herpetology), Yale Peabody Museum
Experience Overview: “The experience was very good, especially in the laboratory, learning about molecular biology and meeting different people.”
Anna McNally
University of Iowa
Year: 2024
Project: Defining the pattern of Paleozoic oceanic anoxic events (OAEs)
Advisor: Alan Rooney, Assistant Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Experience Overview: “My time in the YIBS program was informative and exciting. I gained valuable experience in clean lab settings and with mass spectrometry while challenging my understanding of ocean chemistry.”
Elsie Twumwaah Donkor
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Year: 2024
Project: Response of Vepris heterophylla seedlings to drought and fire stress
Advisor: Carla Staver, Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, YIBS Associate Director from 2021-2024
Siani Robinson
Howard University
Year: 2024
Project: Analysis of animal bones from African Stone Age archaelogical sites
Advisor: Jessica Thompson, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Assistant Curator of Anthropology, Yale Peabody Museum
Experience Overview: “Overall, I enjoyed my experience. Within the lab that I worked in, I obtained new skills that opened a door into the research world, and has allowed me to grow my liking for research.”
William Brown
University of New Haven
Year: 2024
Project: Validating a new measure of extinction risk
Advisor: David Vasseur, Professor and Chair of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Experience Overview: “The YIBS SURES internship was a phenomenal learning and working experience.”
Maaria Patel
Bakersfield College
Year: 2024
Project: Plant root exudates in northeastern temperate forests
Advisor: Michelle Wong, Assistant Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Madeline Dissinger
University of Alabama
Year: 2023
Project: Quantifying Evolutionary Changes in Molluscan Prey
Advisor: Derek Briggs, G. Evelyn Hutchinson Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curator, Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, Erynn Johnson, Gaylord Donnelly Postdoctoral Associate
Experience Overview: ”My expectation of SURES was that I’d learn more about invertebrate paleontology, and research in general. I can safely say that that expectation was far exceeded. The opportunity to study at Yale gave me invaluable connections and a strong group of friends. I was able to dive into the Ivy League experience in a way that I hadn’t anticipated. From exploring campus to visiting the Peabody’s world-renowned collections, I gained so much knowledge about my career path. Through SURES, I became more confident that research is the right choice.”
Whitney Viera Ribeiro
Brown University
Year: 2023
Project: Quantifying Evolutionary Changes in Molluscan Prey
Advisor: Derek Briggs, G. Evelyn Hutchinson Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curator, Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, Erynn Johnson, Gaylord Donnelly Postdoctoral Associate
Gabriela Lebron
Skidmore College
Year: 2023
Project: How Do Plants Adapt to Harsh Environments?
Advisor: Jennifer Coughlan, Assistant Professor, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Experience Overview: “This summer was incredibly informative for many reasons! I was able to experience first hand what it’s like being in a lab and getting to be a part of a lab community. I learned so much from my PI and other lab members. It was also great to learn about the research that other labs were conducting, seeing collections from the Peabody Museum, and getting to know the New Haven area!”
Nikita Jaisiree
Gateway Community College
Year: 2023, 2024
Project: The Role of Animal Behavior in Disease Avoidance
Advisor: Vanessa Ezenwa, Professor, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Yen-Hua Huang, G. Evelyn Hutchinson Postdoctoral Associate
Experience Overview: ”My summer experience was truly exceptional, exceeding even my highest expectations. I gained a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between ecology and immunology, which further ignited my passion for pathology. Throughout the program, I felt incredibly supported as I delved into new concepts and techniques in both the laboratory and fellowship activities. This immersive experience provided a unique platform to explore new areas of interest while nurturing existing passions. I wholeheartedly recommend this program to anyone seeking an enriching opportunity to expand their scientific horizons.”
Cynthia Huerta
Clarkson University
Year: 2023
Project: Agroforestry as a Natural Climate Solution
Advisor: Sara Kuebbing, Director of Research, Yale Applied Science Synthesis Program, The Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment; Cole Gross, Research Affiliate, The Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment
Christine Lumen
Miami Dade College
Year: 2023
Project: Agroforestry as a Natural Climate Solution
Advisor: Sara Kuebbing, Director of Research, Yale Applied Science Synthesis Program, The Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment; Cole Gross, Research Affiliate, The Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment
Experience Overview: “It was the best summer! I immersed myself in an experience of true research, where I could make a real-world impact. Collaborating with like-minded individuals, real professionals in their field, fueled my passion for research - fostering an environment that encouraged continuous learning and personal growth.”
Aida Mohd Khairi
University of New Haven
Year: 2023
Project: Lungless Salamanders
Advisor: Martha Muñoz, Assistant Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology; Assistant Curator of Vertebrate Zoology, Yale Peabody Museum
Esther Yniguez
California State University - San Bernardino
Year: 2023
Project: Assessing How Historical Variation in Urban Neighborhood Housing and Green Development is Linked to Urban Mammal Diversity
Advisor: Oswald Schmitz, Oastler Professor of Population and Community Ecology, Yale School of the Environment and the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology; YIBS Director from 2011-2018
Rachel Jones
Spelman College
Year: 2023
Project: Urban Tree Canopy
Advisor: Karen Seto, Frederick C. Hixon Professor of Geography and Urbanization Science, Yale School of the Environment; Co-director, Yale Center for Geospatial Solutions
Kaleab Tefera
University of Rochester
Year: 2023
Project: Urban Tree Canopy
Advisor: Karen Seto, Frederick C. Hixon Professor of Geography and Urbanization Science, Yale School of the Environment; Co-director, Yale Center for Geospatial Solutions
Camila Freire
Sao Paulo State University
Year: 2023
Project: Plant Roots in Brazilian Savannas
Advisor: Carla Staver, Associate Director, Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies, Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Juliana Teixeira, Postdoctoral Associate
Experience Overview: ”The SURES program was truly one of the most exceptional experiences I could have as an undergraduate. Beyond the contact with interesting research, the fieldwork also provided a great opportunity for learning from exceptional scientists, formulating questions, and conducting new experiments. Visiting the campus, presenting work and meeting other researchers were also experiences that enriched my perspectives on building my career in science.”
Leticia Giacom
Sao Paulo State University
Year: 2023
Project: Plant Roots in Brazilian Savannas
Advisor: Carla Staver, Associate Director, Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies, Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Juliana Teixeira, Postdoctoral Associate
Experience Overview: ”My experience in the SURES program was truly transformative. It broadened my horizons and solidified my determination to pursue a career in science. The program provided me with the unique opportunity to design and develop a research project from start to finish, collecting data in the field and working with the results under the guidance of exceptional scientists. This hands-on approach to scientific research was an invaluable experience that helped me further in achieving my dream of becoming a scientist.”
Kieren Leif Dykstra
Brown University
Year: 2023, 2024
Project: Phages in the Microbiomes of Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, and Possibly Other Marine Animals
Advisor: Paul Turner, Rachel Carson Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology; Director, Center for Phage Biology and Therapy; Director, Quantitative Biology Institute; Director, Program in Physics, Engineering, and Biology, Catherine Hernandez, Gaylord Donnelly Postdoctoral Associate
Experience Overview: ”This summer fellowship was amazing! Not only did I gain a great deal from working in the lab, but the program accommodations and educational events were very helpful as well. Living in the Yale dorms granted a unique experience, and allowed for a very easy commute to the lab. Through my work in Turner Lab under Paul Turner and Cathy Hernandez I have been able to do everything from improving from my basic lab work skills to developing my own experimental evolution study. This has been a truly unforgettable experience.”
Alina Garza Pizana
University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley
Year: 2023
Project: Forecasting the Risk of Warming and Temperature Variability on Species
Advisor: David Vasseur, Professor, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Experience Overview: ”My academic journey took an unexpected turn midway through college (at the beginning of my junior year) after I took a couple of pivotal environmental science courses: Ecology, Evolution, Genetics, Global Change Ecology, and Introduction to Environmental Studies. The sheer volume of information and data I was exposed to completely reshaped my career aspirations, and I can honestly say it was the riskiest yet best decision I ever made.
Fast forward to April 2023, I found myself applying to the Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies Undergraduate Research Program (SURES), which is, in my opinion, one of the most prestigious internship opportunities in the country for aspiring ecological science fellows. What drew me most to this umbrella program was its objective to investigate the broad effects of global change from multiple angles through individual studies focused on topics such as temperature variability, landscape genomics, natural resource depletion, climate change, deforestation rates, and more. The ultimate goal was to develop the findings of each individual study/project into a publishable scientific publication.
In particular, I was fascinated by a study focused on forecasting the risks of temperature variability and resource depletion on microbial species, which provide an incredibly rich array of ecosystem services, such as regulating the Nitrogen cycle. Through a series of two main temperature-dependent experiments, encompassing 11 temperature treatments, four nutrient concentrations, and five well-studied protist species, our aim was to map the minimum, optimum, and maximum temperatures at which these five species could maintain positive growth and determine the points at which growth ceases at the thermal extrema. This information would then be used to forecast future protist population trajectories in the context of a rapidly changing climate.
I am immensely grateful for this transformative opportunity. Growing up in the most impoverished region of the United States (South Texas), I rarely encountered people who expressed an interest in the scientific field. For most, the primary concern was providing food for their families. Witnessing these disparities and the lack of representation for women of color in STEM only fueled my determination to choose the path of most resistance today to reap the rewards of a better quality of life tomorrow. This program ignited my passion for science and propelled me further along this exciting career path.
My hope is that my journey serves as an inspiration to anyone from a lower socioeconomic background or disadvantaged background. The seemingly unfair adversities you may face in life can sometimes become your single most valuable asset in leveling the playing field. Embrace the challenges, persevere, and never give up on your dreams.”
Lauren Latham
Tuskegee University
Year: 2023
Project: Forecasting the Risk of Warming and Temperature Variability on Species
Advisor: David Vasseur, Professor, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Experience Overview: ”This fellowship was an invaluable asset to my academic journey and research aspirations. Despite entering the program with limited experience in research and a developing understanding of the environmental sciences, I gained profound insights into the field through the program’s training and mentorship. This transformative experience has propelled my skills and knowledge to new heights, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have participated in this exceptional program.”
Jesús Buenrostro
Heritage University
Year: 2022
Project: Lungless Salamanders (Plethodontidae)
Advisor: Martha Muñoz, Assistant Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology; Assistant Curator of Vertebrate Zoology, Yale Peabody Museum
Experience Overview: “My experience this summer was a bit of everything! From personal gain and experience, stem research and working in a lab environment and in the field as well was pretty cool! I liked being able to venture out and travel a bit around the area besides doing my research, as well! Meeting new people who are too interested in a stem career! My wonderful PI who made it her mission for this to be an exceptional experience! My second advisor who was always there for me when I needed some help, advice, questions answered. Help was always there and available, which gave me a sense of comfort and hospitality. I was a bit homesick here and there but keeping myself busy helped take my mind off that feeling, which there was lots to do. Overall, very grateful for the opportunity and hospitality.”
Christian Capuno
California State University, Stanislaus
Year: 2022, 2023
Project: Phages in the Microbiomes of Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, and Possibly Other Marine Animals.
Advisor: Paul Turner, Rachel Carson Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology; Director, Center for Phage Biology and Therapy; Director, Quantitative Biology Institute; Director, Program in Physics, Engineering, and Biology
Experience Overview: “I was raised in a rural farming town with limited opportunities for STEM, and grew up feeling stifled, that I had unrealized potential. This fellowship provided me with that big break— by immersing me in this environment, I discovered both my penchant and aptitude for research, fully confirming the career path I would pursue. SURES supported me the whole way through— from analyzing publications, to authoring my own, and lecturing on such. Through this program, you learn about the reality of full-time research, and whether it’s right for you— and for that, I recommend it highly.”
Nirvana Delev Martinez
University of La Verne
Year: 2022
Project: The Malawi Ancient Lifeways and Peoples Project (MALAPP)
Advisor: Jessica Thompson, Assistant Professor of Anthropology; Assistant Curator of Anthropology, Yale Peabody Museum
Experience Overview: “A once in a lifetime opportunity, is more than fitting for the enriching 2 months spent in the beautiful country of Malawi, Africa. From a typical ‘California’ city girl turned backpacking, camping expert overnight, my time as a part of the Malawi Ancient Lifeways and People’s project was beyond fulfilling through the submergence learning to live day to day life as a Malawian in Lunjika village, making friends from around the world, and experiencing the importance of educating oneself of cultural evolution through archaeology. Our full-time schedule consisted of driving or hiking to our sites; working alongside locals for the duration of the day completing tasks such as paperwork housekeeping, recording found artifacts, interviewing excavators, being the excavator, ‘shooting’ thousands of points a day per site, and working in the lab to help label, categorize and sort the hundreds and thousands of artifacts. Simultaneously sharing within the community, the importance of our research, and encouraging locals to build similar interest in the preservation of sites containing the evolution of their ancestors. I will forever hold gratitude for the opportunity I was granted to broaden and diversify my experiences in STEM by the Yale Institute of Biospheric Sciences.”
Rosangela Gutierrez
Florida International University
Year: 2022
Project: Speciation and Species Discovery in Black Basses
Advisor: Thomas Near, Chair and Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology; Bingham Oceanographic Curator of Ichthyology, Yale Peabody Museum; Head of College, Saybrook College
Experience Overview: “I cannot think of a better way to have spent this past summer. The YIBS SURES fellowship not only focuses on the research program, but also includes a lot of activities to keep students engaged in different ways. Every week there is a new workshop led by an expert to provide a well-rounded experience. The accommodations are great, the faculty and staff are very helpful and knowledgeable. Also, this program is structured in a way that gives students the opportunity to explore Yale.”