Meet Our Past Interns - 2023
- Biodiversity and Conservation
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Burghardt, Meera ’24
School of Public and International Affairs
PROJECTPromoting Pro-conservation Behaviors in Recreational Scuba Divers on Coral Reefs in Southeast Asia
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONWilcove Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Bali, Indonesia; Malapascua, Philippines; Panglao, Philippines
MENTOR(S)David Wilcove, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Bing Lin, Ph.D. candidate, School of Public and International Affairs
Certificate(s): Applications of Computing, Environmental Studies
I traveled across Southeast Asia researching environmental attitudes and behaviors among recreational scuba divers. Bailey White and I worked together with our mentor, Bing Lin, to collect various types of data that will be used to make conclusions on the impact of recreational scuba diving on coral reefs. Coral reefs are dying at an alarming rate, and recreational scuba diving is one of the many human interactions causing their decline. In one facet of the research, we collected video footage of scuba divers during their dives and observed their interactions with the reef. We also conducted surveys to assess environmental attitudes among divers. This research will hopefully give insights into the specifics of how recreational scuba diving is hurting coral reefs that can be used to develop policy recommendations that promote pro-conservation attitudes and behaviors.
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Demefack, Emma ’26
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
PROJECTClimate-change Mediated Evolutionary Shifts in a High-alpine Hibernating Mammal
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONvonHoldt Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, Colorado
MENTOR(S)Bridgett vonHoldt, Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University; Daniel Blumstein, Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles; Stavi Tennenbaum, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University
I worked as a field technician and research assistant on the Marmot Project, a historic study that began in 1962 and is one of the world’s longest-running studies of mammals in the wild. At the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Gothic, Colorado, I worked alongside a high-energy field team of undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. My day-to-day responsibilities included taking behavioral observations, trapping and handling live animals, collecting biological samples such as blood and feces, performing timed running trials, taking morphological measurements, processing samples and managing our database. Additionally, I collected data to study the genomic responses of hibernating marmots to climate changes in high-alpine meadows in the Rocky Mountains. This meant focusing on drawing blood and preserving the blood’s RNA. Although the fieldwork was challenging, I ultimately found it very rewarding. I learned valuable technical fieldwork skills and a better understanding of high-alpine ecology, specifically within mammals. As a result, I now have a deeper curiosity about studying the evolutionary biology of other animals.
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Dorini, David ’25
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
PROJECTUnderstanding Biodiversity Loss in Large Tropical Forest Fragments
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONWilcove Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Mato Grosso, Brazil
MENTOR(S)David Wilcove, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Alex Wiebe, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
I worked on a project studying the effects of forest fragmentation on bird communities in the Brazilian Amazon. Forest fragmentation is an issue for birds and biodiversity in general. It is a particularly important issue in the face of the widespread deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon, an area known for its enormous biodiversity. We conducted fieldwork in Mato Grosso, Brazil to examine forest fragments of diverse sizes. In each fragment, I assisted with a series of point counts to document every individual bird that was heard or seen from each point. I also assisted with surveys of mixed species flocks, which provided a different method of sampling bird communities in each fragment, and environmental surveys to document leaf litter depth and the number of groundcover plants in different transects throughout each fragment. I gained a focused understanding of habitat fragmentation and mechanisms of species loss and a greater understanding of concepts in ecology and biology more generally. It was particularly rewarding to see concepts that I had studied in class applied in the field, and I hope to further study some of these concepts in my own research at Princeton.
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Gilbert, Claire ’26
Neuroscience
PROJECTNaturalizing the Environmental Experience of “Model Mammals” for Immunology and Beyond
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONThe Graham Group, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey
MENTOR(S)Andrea Graham, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Yoon Chang, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; David Chang van Oordt, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Alec Downie, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
I investigated immunological and social behavioral differences between lab mice that were “rewilded” — returned to nature in an outdoor enclosure at the Stony Ford Research Station — and those that remained in the lab. The Graham Group studies how the outdoor environment could affect the mice’s ability to fight off parasites and how mice’s social behavior could contribute to their immune profiles. I performed husbandry checks on the rewilded mice to ensure they had adequate food, water and shelter and to ensure their physical safety from predators. I analyzed data collected from radio-frequency identification tags, which had been implanted into each mouse to determine the number of mice that were active each day and to check whether any mice had escaped. I collected camera footage from select locations in the mice enclosure to track specific behaviors such as eating, fighting and climbing, which contributes to our understanding of how the mice interact with each other and their environment. Overall, the project gave me the opportunity to acquire fieldwork and laboratory skills, and experience in a new coding language. I deeply enjoyed the time in nature and working with a supportive network of researchers.
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Houlahan, Grace ’25
Psychology
PROJECTComparing Large Mammal Behavior Across Two African-protected Areas
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONPringle Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique
MENTOR(S)Robert Pringle, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Joel Abraham, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Erin Phillips, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
I worked with the Pringle Lab in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, under the supervision of Joel Abraham. In Gorongosa, ecological disturbances such as fire, flooding and herbivory affect plant life and ecosystems. Our research goal was to determine and understand how these disturbances interact and affect the savanna. To do this, we quantified the abundances of herbivores and invertebrates to understand herbivory presence, implemented flood sensors to measure flood levels, and collected soil cores to analyze soil composition. These methods were sometimes tedious, but I found my field work extremely rewarding. Along with these various sampling methods, I learned about the unique history of Mozambique and how enjoyable field research can be in a team environment.
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Huan, Mulin ’26
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
PROJECTSeasonal Evolution of Fruit Fly Competitive Ability
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONLevine Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey
MENTOR(S)Jonathan Levine, J.N. Allison Professor in Environmental Studies, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Jamie Leonard, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
I studied how fruit fly phenotypes such as heat tolerance, starvation tolerance, chill coma recovery and fecundity can rapidly evolve over a few months and used experiments to examine how these rapid evolutions affect their competitive abilities. I set up a field experiment site with fly cages and tents at the Princeton University nursery but ran into several issues when storms knocked down the tents and cages. However, my adviser and I came up with ideas to fix the problem. I also took part in making food for all the flies and recording data during the phenotyping of the flies. I learned many techniques, especially skills involving collecting and sampling flies from orchards and cages. As a rising sophomore, this opportunity offered me great insights including how to work safely and efficiently in a university laboratory and deal with unexpected challenges in the field. Overall, I developed further confidence in my aspired career as a researcher in ecology and evolutionary biology.
* This internship is connected to the HMEI Biodiversity Grand Challenges project, “The Maintenance of Species Diversity through the Rapid Evolution of Competitive Ability.”
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Kim, Chloe ’24
History
PROJECTBroad-tailed Hummingbird Foraging Patterns and Climate Change
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONStoddard Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, Colorado
MENTOR(S)Mary C. Stoddard, Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Benedict Hogan, Associate Research Scholar, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Audrey Miller, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Certificate(s): Environmental Studies
I collected data on broad-tailed hummingbird feeding and wildflower availability to add to a long-term dataset maintained by the Stoddard Lab. My research partners and I identified flower species that hummingbirds are known to visit at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory and set camera traps on these flowers to record hummingbird visits. We also used this dataset to investigate whether changes in daily temperature affect hummingbird foraging patterns. The fieldwork component of this project taught me to be a careful observer and appreciator of my environment, and I also learnt the value of repetitive work and the importance of diligence and detail. This research experience has strengthened my data analysis skills and taught me to be critical and curious. I plan to continue conducting research at Princeton and am excited to work closely alongside other scientists who are passionate about the environment
* 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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Kumar, Rohan ’26
Undeclared
PROJECTInvestigating the Structure and Composition of Dung Beetle Food Webs in an African Savanna
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONPringle Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Mpala Research Centre, Laikipia, Kenya
MENTOR(S)Robert Pringle, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Finote Gijsman, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
I helped investigate the structure, stability and complexity of species interaction networks between large mammalian herbivores and dung beetles in African savannas. Dung beetles are vital for ecosystem functioning, but their diversity, distribution and associations with mammals in these ecosystems are not fully understood. Moreover, dung beetles are at risk of extinction due to their vulnerability to environmental and anthropogenic disturbances, and this risk is exacerbated by the alarming reductions in large herbivore population reduction and growing human-environment interference. Understanding the beetles and their food webs is essential for their conservation. To learn more about beetle diversity in the presence of various savanna herbivores, I helped collect and process herbivore dung samples and surveyed dung beetles at various locations. I also assisted with laboratory trials to assess beetle food preferences. To improve species identification ability and create a large public database, I helped set up DNA barcoding plates and photographed dung beetle specimens for morphological trait measurements. I also aided in dissecting beetles so that their gut contents could be metabarcoded. The whole experience was incredibly rewarding as I gained an invaluable glimpse into the world of evolutionary and ecological biology research.
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Mhando, Brian ’26
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
PROJECTUnderstanding Biodiversity Loss in Large Tropical Forest Fragments
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONWilcove Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Mato Grosso, Brazil
MENTOR(S)David Wilcove, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Alex Wiebe, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Certificate(s): African American Studies, Global Health and Health Policy
I analyzed the impact of habitat fragmentation on bird populations in the Amazon rainforest. Over the past few years, huge tracts of land have been deforested for farm use, leaving the current landscape of the southern Amazon unrecognizable. In the field, I worked alongside doctoral candidate Alex Wiebe to conduct bird point counts each morning, and in doing so I learned how to identify some species of birds by sight and sound. I also collected environmental data by conducting understory tree surveys in eight meter transects. This project has helped me better understand the importance of understory and canopy trees for maintaining biodiversity in bird populations. What intrigued me the most were the possible political causes of biodiversity loss, such as the international demand for more farmland. Participating in this project has made me consider more career paths that bridge ecological concerns with public policy advocacy.
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Newcombe, Patrick ’25
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
PROJECTCompetition, Coexistence and Carnivores: Intraguild Dynamics of Understudied Mesocarnivores in a Recovering African Savanna
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONPringle Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique
MENTOR(S)Robert Pringle, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Erin Phillips, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Certificate(s): African Studies, History and the Practice of Diplomacy
I investigated the dynamics of carnivore competition and coexistence in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, a setting of conservation and development. I worked with doctoral candidate Erin Phillips, who’s mentorship granted me incredible experience in experimental design, diverse methods and on-the-ground insights. I conducted a manipulative field experiment to better understand fear-induced responses to a perceived threat. I learned and executed a variety of field methods, including carnivore capture and collaring, remote camera trapping, environmental DNA swabbing, soil sampling and dietary metabarcoding. I also gained exposure to vulture banding and antelope collaring and engaged in many discussions with Pringle Lab members and scientists that enhanced my understanding of ecological dynamics. I visited the forest restoration project, worked closely with the park’s rangers and discussed the park’s conservation and development strategies with staff at all levels of the organization, which gave me insight into challenges, creative solutions and opportunities that emerged over the park’s history. I spent time in the buffer zone and heavily populated parts of Mount Gorongosa, where public-private partnership leverages conservation to alleviate poverty and advance human rights — granting vital lessons in what it means for one African national park to be a “Park for Peace.”
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Ngo, Trang ’25
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
PROJECTBroad-tailed Hummingbird Foraging Patterns and Climate Change
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONStoddard Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, Colorado
MENTOR(S)Mary C. Stoddard, Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Benedict Hogan, Associate Research Scholar, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Audrey Miller, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Working at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) in Gothic, Colorado I contributed to a long-term field dataset that the Stoddard Lab began collecting in 2018. Named the HummerFlowerWatch project, the data looks at broad-tailed hummingbirds’ foraging patterns. I collaborated with two other interns, and our daily routine including upkeep and monitoring of cameras at our sites and collecting flower abundance data. Our group also participated in RMBL’s undergraduate research program, which entails designing a research project and presenting it to the scientific community there. Our research question examined whether daily temperature changes affect hummingbirds’ foraging activities. This internship taught me the importance of collaboration and gave me a glimpse into the world of field biology and how to conduct a professional scientific project. It has inspired me to pursue this as a potential future career and prompted ideas for my senior thesis.
* 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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Thurber, Michelle ’26
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
PROJECTBroad-tailed Hummingbird Foraging Patterns and Climate Change
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONStoddard Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, Colorado
MENTOR(S)Mary C. Stoddard, Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Benedict Hogan, Associate Research Scholar, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Audrey Miller, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
I worked with a team of researchers to collect data on broad-tailed hummingbird foraging patterns. My teammates and I placed motion-sensing cameras on wildflower species at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) in Gothic, Colorado and recorded broad-tailed hummingbird visits. This project is part of a long-term study on how climate change affects wildflower blooms and hummingbird foraging patterns. As participants in RMBL’s Summer Education Program, we also investigated the effect of shorter-term temperature variation on hummingbird visitation rates using data collected by previous HMEI interns. We did not find evidence of a relationship between temperature and visitation rate, which was an intriguing result for a tiny, fast-moving bird that we thought would require even more frequent refueling of nectar during colder temperatures. This was my first experience doing research and writing a scientific paper, and it was also my first time climbing a mountain and seeing the Milky Way. My summer of complete immersion in nature, through science and my adventures, transformed me in many ways. As a result, I’ve become interested in helping others connect with birds, stars, mountains or whatever elements of nature speak to them.
* 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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White, Bailey ’25
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
PROJECTPromoting Pro-conservation Behaviors in Recreational Scuba Divers on Coral Reefs in Southeast Asia
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONWilcove Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Bali, Indonesia; Malapascua, Philippines; Panglao, Philippines
MENTOR(S)David Wilcove, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Bing Lin, Ph.D. candidate, School of Public and International Affairs
Certificate(s): Environmental Studies
I investigated the behavior of recreational scuba divers on coral reefs in the Philippines and Indonesia. These countries lie within the Coral Triangle, the most biodiverse marine ecosystem on the planet. Coral reefs are hotspots of ecotourism, yet tourists such as scuba divers can damage a reef by intentionally or accidentally touching the coral. This project aimed to collect data on the prevalence of contacts between divers and reef by recording divers underwater. I reviewed this footage and tabulated all contacts, their suspected cause, and the resulting damage. I also asked divers to complete a survey after their dives to shed light on the potential root causes of reef contacts. Throughout this project, I conducted 37 research dives and collected data on dozens of divers. I gained an understanding of and practice with scientific research diving principles and learned how to use diving as a tool for research. This experience has reaffirmed my passion for conservation biology and my commitment to studying threats to marine biodiversity.
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Wu, Zehao ’26
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
PROJECTNaturalizing the Environmental Experience of “Model Mammals” for Immunology and Beyond
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONThe Graham Group, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey
MENTOR(S)Andrea Graham, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Yoon Chang, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; David Chang van Oordt, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Alec Downie, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Certificate(s): East Asian Studies, Environmental Studies
In many biomedical experiments, lab mice are considered “model mammals.” However, immune profile differences contribute to a disparity between mice and clinical results. At Stony Ford Research Station, I participated in a study of how releasing lab mice into a natural environment impacts how their immune system responds to parasitic nematode (Trichuris muris) infection. In the field, I assisted with cleaning the mouse feeders, refilling food and water and fecal sampling. I also edited camera footage of mouse activity to present to the lab and assisted with compiling daily reports that checked the number of mice and the number of escapees. I found that observing mice’s behavior patterns and social interactions was one of the most captivating aspects of the work. Through this experience, I gained a more robust knowledge of fieldwork logistics and a more advanced understanding of R programming. This internship affirmed my interest in the intersection of environmental science and immunology. Although fieldwork was initially challenging, I plan to continue researching immunology and environmental science through lab or fieldwork.
- Climate and Environmental Science
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Baran, Rio ’25
Geosciences
PROJECTArchaeocyathids, Earth’s First Reef-forming Animals: Were They Crucial to the Emergence of Complex Life?
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONMaloof Research Group, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Flinders Ranges, Australia; Princeton, New Jersey
MENTOR(S)Adam Maloof, Professor of Geosciences; Ryan Manzuk, Ph.D. candidate, Geosciences
Archaeocyathids, Earth’s first reef-building animals, may hold clues to the sudden and rapid evolution of complex animal life during the Cambrian explosion. I examined Paleozoic-layered sedimentary rocks in the Australian outback to better understand aspects of the early environment such as potential global glaciations and the ecologies from 500 million years ago. My research addressed the questions, to what extent did archaeocyathid reefs modify the surrounding environment and ecologies, and thus, to what extent did archaeos control the emergence of complex life? I camped near the research sites, where I made observations, took measurements and collected samples. Then, returning to Princeton, I dove into sawing and polishing my samples, measuring chemical isotope ratios and looking for spatial patterns in the facies and isotopes. I continue to interpret what these data mean for understanding the ancient past and ponder the luck and beauty of research made possible by rocks — windows into the past. I think about the poetry of walking through time and space as a geologist.
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Brush, Helen ’25
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
PROJECTMechanisms of Shrubification in a Changing Arctic
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONLevine Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Toolik Field Station, Fairbanks, Alaska
MENTOR(S)Jonathan Levine, J.N. Allison Professor in Environmental Studies, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Ruby An, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Certificate(s): Applied and Computational Mathematics
I worked at the Toolik Field Station in the Alaskan Arctic to investigate the mechanisms driving increased shrub presence, or “shrubification,” in the Arctic tundra. This widely observed Arctic phenomenon can have local and large-scale consequences. Understanding the environmental drivers of shrubification is important for predicting the trajectory of this ecosystem under future climate scenarios as the Arctic rapidly warms. I helped to establish a manipulation experiment subjecting nearly 1,000 individual shrubs across 80 experimental plots to combinations of warming, lengthened growing season, and nutrient addition. In these plots, we conducted extensive phenological and physical measurements of the shrubs and surrounding soils and plant communities to track treatment effects. As this was my second summer working at Toolik, I practiced greater independence and contributed more meaningfully to conversations about experimental design and data analysis. Outside of the shrub experiment, I engaged with other members of the Toolik community, learning about their research and helping when they needed extra hands in the field. I gained a heightened appreciation for interdisciplinary work as we took approaches from multiple fields, including community ecology, soil chemistry, and mathematical modeling. Spending the summer in such awe-inspiring wilderness with wonderful people was a privilege that I’m very grateful for.
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Di Landro, Ariana ’25
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
PROJECTMechanism of Shrubification in a Changing Arctic
ORGANIZATION / LOCATIONLevine Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Toolik Field Station, Fairbanks, Alaska
MENTOR(S)Jonathan Levine, J.N. Allison Professor in Environmental Studies, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Ruby An, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Certificate(s): Environmental Studies
I observed how different drivers such as warming, nutrient availability and a longer growing season impact shrub expansion or “shrubification“ across the Arctic, focusing on three species: Betula nana (dwarf birch), Salix sp. (dwarf willow) and Alnus viridis (green alder). Other research has observed that these shrubs are expanding across the Arctic, but with no clear explanation for how and why. Understanding the mechanisms of shrubification is critical in understanding how shrubs impact carbon cycling. I tracked the shrubs’ phenological or developmental changes in summer and fall, for example buds breaking, leafing out and senescence. I also helped set up boardwalks for easier access to plots and to limit the destruction of the tundra, and I assisted in taking soil cores to determine how nutrient addition has influenced the composition of the soil. While learning about plants for the first time and learning to identify them was challenging, it was extremely rewarding to look at the tundra at the end of the summer and be able to identify most of the species below me. I have gained an appreciation for the Arctic’s uniqueness as I gained experience in botany, phenological measurements, biogeochemical skills and data analysis.
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Guest, Tacy ’26
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
