Meet Our Past Interns - 2022
- Biodiversity and Conservation
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Baidoo, Kojo ’24
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
PROJECTThe Role of Multiple Interacting Disturbances in Dictating Savanna Plant Community Composition
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONPringle Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique; Kruger National Park, South Africa
MENTOR(S)Robert Pringle, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Joel Abraham, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
SEE PRESENTATIONAfrican savannas are subject to a variety of ecological disturbances, including fire, flood, drought, and herbivory. Each of these processes structure plant community composition differently, yet their interactions are not often evaluated together and are difficult to predict. Gorongosa National Park is a conservation success story, with the amazing recovery of many animal species after populations were decimated because of the Mozambican Civil War, while Kruger National Park is a well-known tourism hotspot and is abundant in many archetypal savanna species. In Gorongosa, where fire/herbivory and fire/flooding are the prevailing interactions, I helped to collect and sieve soil samples for nutrient analyses. In Kruger, where drought/fire/herbivory are the prevailing interactions, I helped to conduct dung counts and samples for DNA metabarcoding to evaluate herbivore landscape use and diet. This internship gave me a view into a career path in ecology and academia, the chance to witness and study core processes I had previously learned about in the classroom, and a new appreciation for aspects of the natural world.
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Baran, Rio ’25
Geosciences
PROJECTTeaching Assistant for Conservation Clubs
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONRubenstein Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki, Kenya
MENTOR(S)Daniel Rubenstein, Class of 1877 Professor of Zoology, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
SEE PRESENTATIONOver eight weeks, I brought conservation education to 16 after-school groups around Laikipia County, Kenya. Each day, I designed and delivered a lesson to answer a different ecological question. The lessons took different forms, for example using books or games to address questions like “How does energy move through an ecosystem?” During our travels to and from the club sites, I was inspired by elephants, baboons, and other wildlife along the way. When I wasn’t teaching, I helped organize an education fair where each school presented their club’s work in the form of displays, dioramas, dramas, poems, songs, and dances. Community Conservation Day was a success and brought together over 1,500 community members. I made new friends — colleagues, students, and teachers — and learned about a completely new environment; the grassland where I lived. I learned the importance of flexibility, took in the beauty that emerges from the combination of science and art, and realized that conservation is a community project. As an aspiring scientist and conservationist, I commit to grounding future research in the lives, needs, lessons, and expertise of the people around me.
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Brush, Helen ’24
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
PROJECTSeasonality of Plant Interactions in a Changing Arctic
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONLevine Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Toolik Field Station, Fairbanks, Alaska
MENTOR(S)Jonathan Levine, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Ruby An, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
SEE PRESENTATIONCertificate(s): Applied and Computational Mathematics
I worked at Toolik Field Station in the Alaskan arctic to investigate how tundra plants use the growing season. This project is important both as a tool for better understanding plant ecology and in the context of the rapidly changing arctic climate. As growing seasons change, tundra plants may change how they use available time, potentially changing community interactions and composition, and this may in turn have important implications for global carbon cycling. I made frequent phenological measurements (i.e., measurements of different stages of a plant’s lifecycle) of 180 individually tagged plants from six common species. These data create a picture of when different plant species are active. I helped with preliminary data processing and used longer term datasets to explore weather patterns at Toolik. A better understanding of the seasonality of tundra plants will require integrating weather and ecological data. In addition to the work, I thoroughly enjoyed walking through the tundra with other members of the Toolik community and speculating about ecological and biological questions. I plan to carry the curiosity that I exercised this summer into the rest of my education and work, and I hope to pursue further research through both fieldwork and theoretical modeling projects. I am grateful to have had the privilege to spend my summer in awe inspiring wilderness with wonderful people.
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Burghardt, Meera ’24
School of Public and International Affairs
PROJECTInvestigating Water Use by Farmers in Laikipia County, Kenya
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONRubenstein Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki, Kenya
MENTOR(S)Daniel Rubenstein, Class of 1877 Professor of Zoology, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
SEE PRESENTATIONI analyzed water use and water-related conflicts by farmers in Laikipia County, Kenya. Laikipia County has been in a severe drought, which has left many households and farmers without water during the dry season as well as during some of the wet season. Farming is one of the most common lifestyles in Kenya and this practice further exacerbates the drought because of how much water farmers use to irrigate their crops. The project aimed to find a solution to this problem that would ensure that farmers use less water while still maintaining crop quality. The majority of farmers use flood irrigation which uses a lot of water. Drip irrigation, the proposed solution, was expected to use significantly less water. We studied farms that used drip and flood irrigation and compared their crop yield, water usage, and water-related conflicts. We found that drip irrigation uses significantly less water than flood irrigation, and that this was associated with fewer water-related conflicts for farmers.
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Burton, Casey ’24
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
PROJECTDeveloping Metrics for Community-scale Biodiversity Restoration and Management
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONFriends of Princeton Open Spaces (FOPOS) - Princeton, New Jersey
MENTOR(S)Anna Corichi, Director, Natural Resources and Stewardship, FOPOS; Andy Dobson, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University; Annarie Lyles, Trustee, FOPOS
I interned as a land steward for Friends of Princeton Open Spaces (FOPOS). My co-interns and I worked to increase pollinator habitats and remove invasive plant species. We also collected data that FOPOS needs to apply for the Natural Climate Solutions Grant, which would be used to work on restoring a part of the park called Community Park North. For my own research, I laid the groundwork for future studies on how turtle and insect biodiversity are changing at the Princeton Mountain Lakes Nature Reserve following significant invasive species removal. I collected trial data and tested various methods of data retrieval so that this data could be compared to past and future studies pertaining to species abundance and diversity in comparison to the health of the restoration site. I also planned multiple public engagement events including an “iNaturalist BioBlitz Insect” event, a nighttime moth-sighting event, and I created routes for future turtle sighting events that will include the public.
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Dominguez, Dominic ’25
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
PROJECTClimate Change and Hummingbird Sensory Ecology in the Rocky Mountains
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONStoddard Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory
MENTOR(S)Mary Caswell Stoddard, Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
SEE PRESENTATIONI studied the impact of Toxoplasma gondii, an introduced parasite, on small carnivores in Madagascar. I used field and laboratory methods to investigate how the parasite is transmitted between domestic and endemic species and then used these results to produce a model of disease transmission. I set up and checked traps for rodents and small carnivores, and tracked captured animals after release. I also assisted another team that was studying mosquitos at the field site. I worked in the laboratory to isolate DNA from samples collected in the field and then identified whether they were positive for the parasite. I gained valuable field and lab skills through this project, including radio telemetry and how to process samples in the field. I was also able to work in a laboratory setting for the first time. This research was fascinating, especially looking at the intersection of a parasite between humans, domestic, and endemic species. It has reinforced my desire to perform field research in the future, and also opened up the possibility of pursuing disease ecology in animals as a future career.
* This internship is connected to the HMEI Climate and Energy Grand Challenges project, “Investigating the Effects of Climate Change on Hummingbird Sensory Landscapes.”
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Dorini, David ’25
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
PROJECTPhenology of Bird Migration: The Brown-wave Hypothesis
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONWilcove Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey
MENTOR(S)David Wilcove, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Fengyi Guo, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
SEE PRESENTATIONThe brown-wave hypothesis predicts that fall bird migration across the Eastern United States follows the timing of defoliation and subsequent depletion of available food resources. Defoliation patterns are impacted by climate change, so studying nocturnal bird migration over multiple decades allows us to analyze the long-term impacts of climate change. I screened nightly fall radar data from dozens of sites across the Eastern United States from 1995-2014 to enable the testing of the brown-wave hypothesis and its interactions with climate change. For each available night, I first screened the data to determine whether there was sufficient uncontaminated landbird migration to use, as many nights were too contaminated for further analysis. I learned to use various radar data analysis tools to identify these different contaminations, including reflectivity measurements, correlation coefficient measurements, and the direction and speed of different biological movements. If I identified a night as having sufficient uncontaminated landbird migration, I noted the approximate time of that night’s migratory bird takeoff. These nights will be analyzed further in the coming months. I learned a great deal about radar science and modern research in ecology, and I look forward to following the Wilcove Lab’s further inquiry into this subject.
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Dugan, Christopher ’23
Chemical and Biological Engineering
PROJECTReserve and Forest Stewardship at The Watershed Institute
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONThe Watershed Institute - Pennington, New Jersey
MENTOR(S)Allison Jackson, Stewardship Coordinator, The Watershed Institute; Erin Stretz, Assistant Director of Science and Stewardship, The Watershed Institute
SEE PRESENTATIONCertificate(s): Materials Science and Engineering
I worked to improve biodiversity and ecological sustainability at The Watershed Institute while also furthering community involvement and education. I helped remove invasive plants and planted native plants that are resistant to invasive insects. I also worked with volunteers from a variety of local companies, and taught school-aged children about our work and its importance at The Watershed Nature Camp. I learned about a wide variety of native and introduced plants: how to identify them, their roles in and effects on the ecosystem, and how they can be properly managed to support native animals. I also had the chance to experience and observe the intricacies of working in forest management, for example how new developments and approaches are communicated, and how disagreements in the field are discussed and resolved. I now plan to take a course in forest ecology this spring and to apply to jobs in the field of forest management. I enjoyed working on the reserve even with the heat of the summer and would be happy doing more work like this in the future.
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Farrell, Katie ’25
Undeclared
PROJECTThe Carolina Wren in Princeton, New Jersey
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONRiehl Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey
MENTOR(S)Christina Riehl, Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Trey Hendrix, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
I investigated the evolved traits of the Carolina wren, a songbird native to New Jersey that exhibits several unique social behaviors more commonly found in the tropics: monogamous mating with long-term mating pairs; duetting (joint participation in song); and collaborative, year-round territory defense. An understanding of these climate-atypical behaviors and their evolution is critical as the range of the Carolina wren continues to expand northwards, and as the climate continues to change. As part of this study, I tracked the locations and mating habits of several birds of interest, noting especially their chosen nesting sites, their current number of fledglings, and their mating partner. I helped apply color bands to birds, and obtained blood samples from both adults and nestlings. I also photographed specific individuals, which aided identification of individual birds by way of their bands and the presence of radio transmitters on their backs. Working with living subjects was challenging at first but was ultimately an extremely rewarding experience. I learned a number of technical fieldwork skills, and I gained a much more intimate understanding of Princeton’s local ecosystems and the world of evolutionary biology research.
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Glenetske, Bailey ’25
Geosciences
PROJECTDeveloping Metrics for Community-scale Biodiversity Restoration and Management
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONFriends of Princeton Open Spaces (FOPOS) - Princeton, New Jersey
MENTOR(S)Anna Corichi, Director, Natural Resources and Stewardship, FOPOS; Andy Dobson, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University; Annarie Lyles, Trustee, FOPOS
Certificate(s): Environmental Studies, Journalism
I worked closely with community members to develop strategies for protecting the biodiversity and accessibility of parks in the Princeton-Montgomery Township area. My responsibilities included assessing areas of the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve for biodiversity and performing restoration work, such as removing invasive species and planting natives. I also had the opportunity to work closely with the staff and board members of Friends of Princeton Open Spaces (FOPOS). My research specialization for the internship was geographic information system (GIS) mapping. I collected GPS data from various areas of the park in order to create custom, geo-referenced maps for ongoing use by FOPOS. I used a Garmin GPS device to collect the updated data and then cross-checked it with the existing data using geo-referenced maps through the Avenza Maps app on my iPhone. Then, I transferred the GPS data onto my computer, where I used the software Garmin BaseCamp and ArcGIS Pro to design and export the maps for use. With my new mapping skills and experiences, I am excited to research the expanding applications of GIS mapping in the fields of climate science and its intersection with biodiversity conservation.
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Gong, Connie ’25
Anthropology
PROJECTTeaching Assistant for Conservation Clubs
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONRubenstein Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki, Kenya
MENTOR(S)Daniel Rubenstein, Class of 1877 Professor of Zoology, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
SEE PRESENTATIONCertificate(s): African Studies, Environmental Studies
The Northern Kenya Conservation Clubs (NKCC) use experiential learning to foster awareness of environmental problems, and empower students to lead community conservation projects. As an intern for the NKCC, I worked as a teacher, community organizer, and graphic designer. I developed and facilitated lessons that taught local students about basic ecological concepts and conservation issues through games and art making. I also worked with fellow interns to organize Community Conservation Day, a showcase of the club’s accomplishments achieved over the past year. Community Conservation Day brings together students, teachers, and community members from across Laikipia. Working with the NKCC exposed me to a wealth of ecological knowledge. I was humbled by and fascinated with the origins of this knowledge and the stories that accompany it. For my senior thesis work, I am interested in returning to Kenya to write an ethnography about such stories and how they interact with Laikipian communities’ perceptions of climate change. My experiences have also inspired me to pursue a certificate in African Studies.
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Gottfried , Julian ’24
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
PROJECTHealth and Conservation at the Human-Domestic Animal-Wildlife Interface in Madagascar
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONMetcalf Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Antananarivo, Madagascar; Betampona Natural Reserve, Madagascar
MENTOR(S)C. Jessica Metcalf, Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs; Fidisoa Rasambainarivo, Postdoctoral Research Associate, High Meadows Environmental Institute; Benjamin Rice, Associate Research Scholar, High Meadows Environmental Institute
SEE PRESENTATIONCertificate(s): Applications of Computing
I studied the spread of an introduced parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, among endemic animals to Madagascar. Village encroachment on the jungle is changing the dynamics of disease by mediating interactions between native wildlife and domestic and invasive species. The disease, toxoplasmosis, has as yet unknown health implications for endemic Madagascan animals, but it presents a major human health risk. This project sought to more fully understand the spread and impact of toxoplasmosis. As a field and lab tech, I checked traps, maintained camera traps, collected biological samples, tracked animals, and collected parasite samples. I also extracted DNA from blood, tissue, and soil samples, and prepared samples for polymerase chain reaction analysis. Additionally, I assisted in the development of a mathematical model of toxoplasmosis transmission. I gained practical skills in field work and knowledge of how to navigate field conditions. I now have a better understanding of how to design research projects. The interdisciplinary nature of this project was by far the most rewarding aspect. I look forward to exploring the complicated world of disease ecology further and using the skills I’ve gained in future field projects.
* This internship is connected to the HMEI Biodiversity Grand Challenges project, “Biodiversity Conservation and Health at the Human-Domestic Animal-Wildlife Interface in Madagascar.”
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Gotts, Max
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
PROJECTRiver Crossings and Wildlife Connectivity in the Laikipia Plateau
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONMpala Research Centre -Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki, Kenya
MENTOR(S)Kimani Ndung’u, Researcher and Field Instructor, Mpala Research Centre; Dino Martins, Chief Executive Officer, Turkana Basin Institute; Daniel Rubenstein, Class of 1877 Professor of Zoology, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University
SEE PRESENTATIONCertificate(s): Applied and Computational Mathematics
I investigated the role of rivers in impeding megafauna traffic along wildlife corridors to understand the potential impacts of the proposed Crocodile Jaws Dam in Laikipia County, Kenya on wildlife migrations and ambulation. Wildlife corridors allow animals to move between protected land based on seasonal patterns, weather variation, and prey abundance. The Crocodile Jaws Dam will back up to the Ewaso Ngiro River to create a large lake; since animals cannot comfortably cross lakes, this construction may pose major problems for animals that presently cross the river. We used a mixture of fieldwork and modeling to investigate this problem. We collected field data on wildlife usage of key river crossings using animal tracks, and determined whether individuals crossed or not. We also collected data on environmental variables such as river speed and depth, physical geography of the surrounding area, grass cover, and substrate type. Then, we used these variables to create a model to determine whether or not Crocodile Jaws Dam will limit animals from moving across Laikipia’s landscape. Performing this research provided me the opportunity to contribute to a scientific project, to enjoy Kenya’s incredible savanna ecosystems, and to work with knowledgable colleagues to protect key megafauna in a changing world.
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Gregory, Alliyah ’25
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
PROJECTPlant Conservation in the Natural Areas of New York City Parks
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONNatural Resources Group, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks)
MENTOR(S)Clara Holmes, Plant Ecologist, NYC Parks; Desiree Yanes, Vegetation Monitoring Technic, NYC Parks
SEE PRESENTATIONCertificate(s): Environmental Studies
I developed conservation assessments for two plant species of local conservation concern in New York City: Amelanchier nantucketensis (Nantucket juneberry) and Sanguisorba canadensis (Canadian burnet). To produce these conservation assessments, I researched basic information on their biology, habitat, and ecology, in addition to specific threats that these species face within New York City. I also researched methods that could be implemented to help save them. Conservation assessments are important because they provide a comprehensive resource for conservationists with all of the information they need to execute conservation measures. I also participated in fieldwork to monitor rare, threatened, and endangered species within the natural areas of New York City parks. This was insightful for me because I had no prior knowledge of conservation efforts in urban areas. I learned about the wide variety of ecosystems that exist in these areas, from forests, to beaches, to salt marshes. My time with NYC Parks cemented my interest in conservation and introduced me to fieldwork. I am now hoping to include these aspects in my future career.
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Heine, Alex ’24
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
