Gitanjali Gnanadesikan, 2014, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
My internship with the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department focused on mammal migrations. I conducted extensive literature-based research to compile a database documenting various aspects of migratory behaviours (or lack thereof) for over a thousand mammalian species; I then took this data and began to look at the patterns which emerged. This broad look at migration across species has illuminated several patterns and concepts and will inform the development of computer models and possibly further scientific observations and conservation efforts. This internship gave me the opportunity to familiarize myself with the field of ecology, learn valuable technical skills, and gather foundational knowledge and experience. It also confirmed my choice of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology as my major.