Meet Our Past Interns

PROJECT

Investigating Climate-influenced Evolutionary Changes in an Alpine Yellow-bellied Marmot Population

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

vonHoldt Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, Colorado

MENTOR(S)

Bridgett vonHoldt, 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

Minor(s): Climate Science, Environmental Studies, French

I worked with Team Marmot at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Gothic, Colorado. This study is one of the longest studies on free living mammals — second only to Jane Goodall’s study of chimpanzees — and has produced a vital dataset for scientists studying sociality, climate change, biological populations and phenological and evolutionary changes. One of my primary roles in this internship was trapping and handling marmots to collect biological samples which I later processed in the lab. This allowed me to learn ethical trapping practices along with environmental, health and safety regulations for working with mammals in compliance with IACUC guidelines. Additionally, I collected over 70 hours worth of observational data on the marmots’ social interactions, daily habits and foraging habits through daily monitoring. This was my first time participating in intensive fieldwork and I learned that I enjoyed both the intensive outdoor work aspects of research as well as data analysis. I hope to find more opportunities like this in the future.

SEE PRESENTATION

Cabrera, Maya ’27

PROJECT

Understanding Host-Symbiont Interactions Across a Sociality Continuum: Insights from Bees and Nematodes

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

The Graham Group, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Andrea Graham, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Charlotte Knopp, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Minor(s): Visual Arts

I studied two types of bees, Augochlorella aurata and Augochlora pura, and the nematodes that live inside them. These bees, commonly known as ‘sweat bees’ (Hymenoptera: Halictidae), have different social structures, with A. aurata being eusocial and A. pura being solitary. The overall goal of our project was to see how sociality affected nematode prevalence and burden in the two species, and to determine whether their nematodes act as parasites, commensals, or mutualists. I engaged in both fieldwork and lab work. In the field, I excavated sweat bees from their nests and collected them as they were foraging on flowers. In the lab, I dissected bees to see the number of nematodes in their bodies and performed “choice assays” to examine why nematodes choose to inhabit certain bees and not others. I now know how to identify multiple types of native bee species and properly dissect them and can also identify the different lifecycles of nematodes and perform choice assays using them. This experience has inspired me to seriously consider studying bees for my junior paper or senior thesis and I plan to continue working with the Graham and Kocher labs in the fall.

SEE PRESENTATION

Chittenden, Anna ’27

PROJECT

Naturalizing the Environmental Experience of “Model Mammals” for Immunology and Beyond

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

The Graham Group, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Andrea Graham, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; David Chang van Oordt, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Yoon Chang, Ph.D. Candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Minor(s): Spanish

Since the early 1900s, lab mice have been the most widely used laboratory animal in biomedical research. However, lab mice have begun to exhibit unusually different immune profiles compared to free-living mammals as a result of selective breeding and their controlled living environments, and these immunological differences have resulted in the unsuccessful translation of therapies between lab mice and humans. To test how environment impacts immune response, I compared the immune responses of lab mice housed in a lab environment with “rewilded” mice that were released into a more natural environment at Stony Ford Research Station. I worked in the field to maintain the mouse enclosures, replaced water and chow for the mice and replaced batteries on radio-frequency identification tag readers. I also helped collect blood, skin and fecal samples from the mice at different timepoints of the experiment. In the lab, I processed these samples by extracting plasma and performing worm and egg counts to compare the immune responses of the lab and “rewilded” mice. I also learned to use the programming language R to analyze our large dataset. This internship enabled me to experience both lab and field research and learn from some truly inspiring and supportive mentors.

Granier, Leila ’26

PROJECT

Investigating Hummingbird Behavior, Wildflower Interactions and Climate Change in the Rocky Mountains

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Stoddard Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, Colorado

MENTOR(S)

Mary C. Stoddard, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Benedict Hogan, Associate Research Scholar, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Katja Kochvar, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Audrey Miller, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Minor(s): Climate Science, Environmental Studies

I studied broad-tailed hummingbird foraging behavior in a subalpine meadow ecosystem at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL). Fieldwork consisted of placing trail cameras on hummingbird food source wildflowers and counting flowers on transects across three sites in the valley. Through this, we captured hummingbird foraging visits and measured floral abundance throughout the season. The time-lapse footage from our cameras was sent through a deep machine learning algorithm that filters for images containing hummingbirds, which we then manually confirmed for accuracy. The data we collected contributes to the HummerFlowerWatch project (HFW), a long-term study of broad-tailed hummingbird foraging patterns at RMBL. As part of the RMBL Education Program, I wrote a research paper on the impact of wildflower phenology on broad-tailed hummingbird visitation patterns, investigating relationships between hummingbird visitation rates, wildflower blooming times and snowmelt timing using HFW data. Through this internship, I gained valuable ecological fieldwork experience, advanced my research skills by coordinating my own project and developed my scientific writing skills. Connecting with the variety of scientists at RMBL gave me insight into my own academic and career path and motivated me for a future in ecology.

* This internship is connected to the HMEI Climate and Energy Grand Challenges project, “Investigating the Effects of Climate Change on Hummingbird Sensory Landscapes.”

SEE PRESENTATION

Guedel, Collin ’26

PROJECT

Understanding Host-Symbiont Interactions Across a Sociality Continuum: Insights from Bees and Nematodes

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

The Graham Group, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Andrea Graham, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Charlotte Knopp, Ph.D candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Minor(s): Environmental Studies, Planets and Life
Certificate(s): Quantitative and Computational Biology, Teacher Preparation

I caught and studied specimens of two sweat bee species (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) local to the Princeton area and the small nematodes that are often found within them, to determine how host social behavior influences the transmission and proliferation of organisms internal to the host. Alongside a fellow intern and my graduate student advisor, I caught foraging bees in nearby parks and forests and we then dissected those bees in the lab to identify the presence of nematodes. We sought to determine how and when these nematodes choose which bees to infect, by giving them a series of variables in single and two-choice assays. Through this project I practiced and refined a slew of biological laboratory techniques, including insect dissections, microscopy and bacterial culture. Most illuminating, however, was the experience of conducting field work. I greatly enjoyed the chance to make in situ observations of organisms and their behaviors and improve my bee-netting skills. While I am not a biology major, this experience reinforced the passions I want to explore in the Geosciences department and cemented my love of both field and lab work.

SEE PRESENTATION

Huan, Mulin ’26

PROJECT

Competition-induced Evolution in a Seasonal Environment

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Levine 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

Though we have a good understanding of how the environment shapes evolution and competition, it remains unclear how rapid evolution in response to environmental changes affects competition between species. I worked on an experimental evolution project in fruit flies that aims to shed light on this process. For this project, I helped to set up 170 mesocosms consisting of monocultures and two-species mixtures with four different fruit fly species. We tracked the rapid phenotypic evolutions that these flies exhibited throughout the summer months and manipulated the treatment mixture mesocosms weekly as we replaced all newly emerged flies in these mesocosms with the same amount of similarly aged individuals of each species from the monoculture mesocosms. Through this, we hope to gain a better understanding of how fly species that evolve with and without interspecific competition compete with each other. I hope to elaborate on some aspects of this project as part of my junior independent work. Aside from ecological knowledge, I’ve gained a new understanding of the importance of organization and planning. I believe these takeaways will help me tremendously as I pursue a research career that delves into similar topics.

* This internship is connected to the HMEI Biodiversity Grand Challenges project, “The Maintenance of Species Diversity through the Rapid Evolution of Competitive Ability.”

Johnson, Sophie ’26

PROJECT

Health and Conservation at the Human-domestic Animal-wildlife Interface in Madagascar

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Metcalf Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Antananarivo, Madagascar; Betampona Natural Reserve, Madagascar; Kirindy, Madagascar

MENTOR(S)

C. Jessica E. Metcalf, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs; Fidisoa Rasambainarivo, Assistant Professor, East Carolina University; Benjamin Rice, Associate Research Scholar, High Meadows Environmental Institute

Minor(s): Environmental Studies

The overall goal of our research was to study the transfer of toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease, from invasive carnivores to endemic carnivores in Madagascar. Each day in the field consisted of hours of hiking in order to check traps and track wildlife species. During the late afternoons we would work side by side with our research leads to acquire blood and other bodily samples from the animals captured on that given day. Invasive species were euthanized whereas native species were returned to their exact capture location the following day. During our time back in Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital, we spent our days in the lab, preparing blood and organ samples so that they could be tested for abnormalities. This internship gave me the opportunity to gain field skills and experience that will be very helpful when I begin to advance into a career of field work, as I plan to do following my undergraduate degree. I hope to eventually write a junior paper and possibly my thesis on the research and experience I gained in Madagascar.

* This internship is connected to the HMEI Biodiversity Grand Challenges project, “Biodiversity Conservation and Health at the Human-Domestic Animal-Wildlife Interface in Madagascar.”

SEE PRESENTATION

Kerker, Austin ’26

PROJECT

Competition-induced Evolution in a Seasonal Environment

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Levine 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

The goal of this project was to study competition-induced evolution between pairwise combinations of four species of fruit flies as the seasons changed from May to October and to study the subsequent effect of this evolution on competitive dynamics among the species. My main responsibilities throughout were making fly food, switching out the food in 170 cages, counting fly census pictures and vials and reading the literature on competition-induced evolution. From this experience, I acquired knowledge on previous studies regarding competition-induced evolution as well as many ecological and evolutionary processes that are essential for adaptation and coexistence. Ultimately, this internship has greatly helped me to refine my major choice and possible career paths. Although I am switching my major to molecular biology and no longer pursuing a career in ecological research, I will always have an interest in learning about 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.”

Miller, Sam ’26

PROJECT

Thermoregulation as an Axis of Niche Partitioning in Spiral-horned Antelope

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Pringle Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

MENTOR(S)

Robert Pringle, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Henry Gage, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

I assisted on research into Tragelaphus or spiral-horned antelopes in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique. As numerous Tragelaphus species occur in Gorongosa — such as bushbuck, nyala, kudu and eland — the park serves a useful system for studying niche partitioning. This project aims to investigate how differing thermoregulatory constraints on Tragelaphus species may inform their spatio-temporal usage of the landscape and thus facilitate their coexistence. I assisted with taking pelage samples of bushbuck while the animals were captured and subsequently counted the hairs in those samples, which will serve to parameterize models for the thermoregulatory costs that the animals experience. I also used telemetry to help track collared kudu and conduct behavioral observations to better understand their habitat usage and assisted in the establishment of weather stations throughout the park’s habitats. In addition to the field techniques I learned, this work massively increased my understanding of the logistics of field work and how lab groups achieve productive international relationships with research partners. This opportunity has also greatly increased my interest in pursuing a research-based career and I am very interested in pursuing future work at Gorongosa while I am at Princeton.

Neals, Payge ’26

PROJECT

Connecting Resource Availability to Large Mammal Diets in Akagera and Nyungwe National Parks, Rwanda

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Pringle Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Akagera National Park, Rwanda; Kigali, Rwanda; Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda

MENTOR(S)

Robert Pringle, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Megan Sullivan, Fulbright Scholar, Research Affiliate, Center of Excellence in Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management, University of Rwanda

My project aimed to increase our understanding of how variations in resource availability impact the behavior of elephants and chimpanzees. I worked alongside my research partner Daisy Prosser and under the supervision of Megan Sullivan. We were first based in Akagera National Park doing field work, conducting non-invasive dung surveys for savanna elephants. Understanding the diets of these megafauna will allow researchers to recognize their foraging strategies and investigate how environmental changes impact them. We also worked on individual ID cataloging for the elephants to help determine how group dynamics are altered with variations in resource availability. Additionally, Daisy and I were tasked with utilizing R to format and clean a long-term phenology dataset from Nyungwe National Park. Our changes significantly improved the usability of the dataset for future analyses of how fluctuations in fruit availability relate to the movement patterns of chimpanzees. We also attended the 60th Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology & Conservation, which gave me insight into the global research that is being conducted to conserve our natural world. This experience has inspired me to continue exploring research as I complete prerequisite courses for my pre-vet interests.

SEE PRESENTATION

Prosser, Daisy ’27

Neuroscience

PROJECT

Connecting Resource Availability to Large Mammal Diets in Akagera and Nyungwe National Parks, Rwanda

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Pringle Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Akagera National Park, Rwanda; Kigali, Rwanda; Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda

MENTOR(S)

Robert Pringle, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Megan Sullivan, Fulbright Scholar, Research Affiliate, Center of Excellence in Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management, University of Rwanda

Minor(s): English

I investigated different aspects of resource availability, diet and mammal movement and behavior patterns in Akagera and Nyungwe National Parks, Rwanda. In Akagera, we conducted non-invasive surveys of individually identified elephants to sample dung for metabarcoding analyses. Information from these samples can help us better understand these animals’ diet and foraging habits and how these are influenced by changes in the environment. In Nyungwe, we worked with a long-term fruit production dataset, cleaning and formatting the data so that it can be used for future analyses. Our efforts made the data more accessible, which will permit researchers to combine resource availability data with chimp movement and behavior data to further understand how the two relate. I also had the opportunity to attend the 2024 Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation conference in Kigali, Rwanda, which was an incredible way to learn from leading researchers around the world. While I enjoyed the chance to gain both coding and fieldwork experience, this internship most importantly has given me insight into the intersectionality of conservation research, which I hope to continue to explore as I move forward with my studies.

SEE PRESENTATION

Tiruneh, Sedise ’27

PROJECT

Health and Conservation at the Human-Domestic Animal-Wildlife Interface in Madagascar

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Metcalf Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Antananarivo, Madagascar; Betampona Natural Reserve, Madagascar; Kirindy, Madagascar

MENTOR(S)

C. Jessica E. Metcalf, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs; Fidisoa Rasambainarivo, Assistant Professor, East Carolina University; Benjamin Rice, Associate Research Scholar, High Meadows Environmental Institute

Minor(s): Global Health and Health Policy

I studied disease and conservation dynamics among wildlife and local populations in Madagascar. Madagascar has exceptional biodiversity and high levels of endemism, which make its wildlife particularly vulnerable to emerging pathogens. Understanding disease dynamics helps protect these unique species and their ecosystems, ensuring the preservation of Madagascar’s rich biological heritage. I helped collect data through camera traps and biological samples to assess the presence and prevalence of infectious parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii. We conducted research across Madagascar’s diverse climates, gaining understanding of how environmental factors influence pathogen dynamics and wildlife health. I also worked to analyze these samples in the lab, which provided essential data on pathogen exposure across various species. From red blood cell microscopy, DNA purification, sequence extraction and fecal flotations, this research project used laboratory procedures to better understand transmission and the parasitology of relevant pathogens. By integrating laboratory analysis with field research, this project will support the development of epidemiological research and strategies to manage infectious diseases in Madagascar. I feel confident that my contributions were instrumental in enhancing pathogen detection, advancing knowledge on disease impacts and formulating practical recommendations for wildlife conservation and public health.

* This internship is connected to the HMEI Biodiversity Grand Challenges project, “Biodiversity Conservation and Health at the Human-Domestic Animal-Wildlife Interface in Madagascar.”

SEE PRESENTATION

Toh, Yi Jin ’25

School of Public and International Affairs

PROJECT

Machine Learning for Biodiversity Monitoring

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Conservation X Labs - Washington, D.C.

MENTOR(S)

Peter Bermant, Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Conservation X Labs; Henrik Cox, Head of Product, Conservation X Labs; Dante Wasmuht, Lead AI Researcher, Conservation X Labs

Minor(s): Environmental Studies

Camera traps are crucial to biodiversity conservation, enabling data collection on wildlife populations without disrupting natural habitats or requiring intensive fieldwork. However, the vast amount of data often overwhelms manual processing, leading to overlooked conservation insights. While machine learning models are increasingly used to automate this analysis, they struggle with out-of-distribution (OOD) data — i.e., species or objects that were not seen during training — which can compromise prediction reliability. My internship focused on addressing this OOD challenge through machine learning research. I conducted a comparative study of state-of-the-art OOD detection methods using real-world camera trap data, evaluating their effectiveness in biodiversity monitoring. Additionally, I improved our team’s software and data engineering processes by developing image processing pipelines and revamping our database. This project was part of a broader initiative led by my supervisors at Conservation X Labs and their partners at Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab, who are leaders in the field working to establish best practices for applying machine learning on camera trap data. This experience has been deeply rewarding, as my work will directly impact real-world conservation efforts. The experience and connections I gained have prepared and further motivated me to continue pursuing conservation technology.

Uglialoro, Joe ’27

PROJECT

Investigating Hummingbird Behavior, Wildflower Interactions and Climate Change in the Rocky Mountains

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Stoddard Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, Colorado

MENTOR(S)

Mary C. Stoddard, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Benedict Hogan, Associate Research Scholar, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Katja Kochvar, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Audrey Miller, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Minor(s): Environmental Studies, History

I worked at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) to study broad-tailed hummingbird foraging patterns in a wildflower-rich meadow ecosystem. Alongside my research partners, I placed trail cameras on wildflower species pollinated by hummingbirds at sites around the valley. These timelapse cameras recorded hummingbird visits on a series of images, which we then processed to sort out frames with hummingbirds. These data, alongside floral abundance transect data we collected, contributes to the Stoddard Lab’s HummerFlowerWatch study, which documents year-to-year changes in wildflower phenology and hummingbird behavior. I also participated in RMBL’s undergraduate education program by writing a paper on the relationships between snowmelt, wildflower blooming times and hummingbird visitation rates. This internship gave me my first extensive field experience, a chance to hone my scientific writing and data analysis skills and a transformative summer surrounded by some of the most wonderful nature and people I’ve ever encountered.

* This internship is connected to the HMEI Climate and Energy Grand Challenges project, “Investigating the Effects of Climate Change on Hummingbird Sensory Landscapes.”

SEE PRESENTATION

Villacorta, Ella ’26

PROJECT

Investigating Phenological Changes in a High Alpine Yellow-bellied Marmot Population

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

vonHoldt Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, Colorado

MENTOR(S)

Bridgett vonHoldt, 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 at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Gothic, Colorado as a research assistant on the Marmot Project, which has been running since 1962 and is one of the longest running studies on wild mammals in the world. I worked alongside other undergraduate and graduate students to collect information on the population of alpine yellow-bellied marmots in the greater-Gothic area. My role as a field technician included trapping and handling live marmots, taking behavioral observations, collecting biological samples like blood, feces and saliva, measuring flight initiation distances, conducting morphological measurements, processing samples and administering the database. I assisted projects that investigated group social structure and the effects of climate change on anti-predator behavior, as well as genomic changes made in response to a changing climate. Conducting fieldwork was a very valuable experience and has opened my eyes to the types of research I can do in the future. The extensive set of fieldwork skills and experience handling wild animals that I have gained from this internship has interested me in working with and researching other animal species. I am excited to continue studying the behavior and evolutionary biology of animals.

SEE PRESENTATION

Climate and Environmental Science

Aepli, Will ’26

PROJECT

Mechanisms of Shrubification in a Changing Arctic

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Levine 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

Minor(s): Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies

The Arctic is perhaps the most challenging environment for life to succeed, but in recent years, deciduous shrubs have increasingly found a home in this unforgiving landscape. Our project aimed to clarify the mechanisms behind the shrubification of the Arctic through the use of climate manipulations. We tested whether warming temperatures, increased nitrogen in the soil, or a longer snow-free summer could be behind the Arctic’s increasing shrubification. My primary responsibility was to collect a wide variety of data, including plant photorespiration rates, thaw depth measurements and phenology timelines. I also assisted with miscellaneous tasks such as coding, installation of various devices and photography. This experience taught me how proper experimental design can help test a theoretical or underexplored question, which will be critical for my senior thesis, where I hope to model species competition and success. By interacting with numerous research groups at the station, I learned to be curious about the everyday phenomena around us, to thrive in an isolated, tough environment and how to have fun in the process.

SEE PRESENTATION

Al Hashimi, Nabaa ’25

PROJECT

Carbonate Diagenesis During the Hirnantian Glaciation

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Higgins Lab, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

John Higgins, Professor of Geosciences; Gemma Sahwell, Ph.D. candidate, Geosciences

My research focused on studying lithium isotopes and different elemental abundances in shallow water carbonate rocks from the Baltics. Carbonate rocks are assumed to preserve the chemical composition of the seawater from which they formed, making them archives of the Earth’s past. Lithium isotopes have been used as a proxy for continental silicate weathering, the products of which drain into seawater. Past studies from the Higgins lab complicate this simple proxy understanding of lithium isotopes through the process of diagenesis, the physical and chemical changes that carbonates undergo as they form and are altered with time. To study diagenesis, I used a special dissolution procedure to avoid silicate contamination and then purified lithium out of the samples using ion chromatography. I also used mass spectrometry to look at the abundance of lithium isotopes and other elements in the samples, which is key to understanding how diagenesis has affected the geochemistry of these carbonates. This project allowed me to gain exposure to new lab techniques and to develop a better understanding of the Earth’s element cycles, which will be useful in my ongoing pursuit of research at Princeton and beyond.

SEE PRESENTATION

Baran, Rio ’25

School of Public and International Affairs

PROJECT

Mechanisms of Shrubification in a Changing Arctic

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Levine 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

Minor(s): Environmental Studies

“Shrubification” refers to the geographic expansion of shrubs in Arctic regions as a result of the warming climate. It is unclear what drives shrubification. To study the mechanisms behind this process, I traveled to the North Slope of Alaska. My research focused on examining the impact of prolonged growing seasons, increasing temperatures and greater nutrient availability on shrub growth. Through a season of fieldwork based at the Toolik Field Station, I measured the phenology, allometry and photosynthesis of multiple species of shrubs under environmental manipulations in relation to factors in their surrounding environment, for example other species, temperature, light availability. While the fieldwork was thrilling, the scientists I met from around the world, the unique plants and animals of the tundra, the midnight sun and mid-summer snow made my experience truly unbelievable. I was inspired to plan and coordinate collection of plant samples which I will analyze for my senior thesis. I plan on measuring magnesium and calcium isotope fractionation from tundra plants and from plants in the California redwoods — two vastly different ecosystems. These results can then be compared to magnesium and calcium isotopes in dinosaur teeth enamel to inform studies of dinosaur diets and ecology.

SEE PRESENTATION

Buckley, Thomas ’26

PROJECT

Plant Pathogens in a High Altitude System

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Metcalf Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, Colorado

MENTOR(S)

C. Jessica E. Metcalf, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs, Princeton University; Amanda Gibson, Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Virginia; Juliana Jiranek, Ph.D. candidate, University of Virginia

Minor(s): Environmental Studies

I worked on a team studying “flax rust,” an obligate fungal pathogen that parasitizes Lewis flax (Linum lewisii), a wildflower native to western North America. The flax-rust system is a widely used model for understanding the coevolution of plant pathogens and their hosts. Our group collected data on disease spread in 12 different sites with elevations between 2440 and 3410 meters in the area near the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Gothic, Colorado. These data will be used to understand how plant-pathogen interactions vary across an elevational gradient and can also be used to study how climate change will impact disease spread in the coming decades, which has important implications for commercial flax cultivation. Through this project, I gained new insight and appreciation for plant disease dynamics that I hope will inform my future studies.

SEE PRESENTATION

Dornseif, Emma ’25

PROJECT

Modeling Temperature and Mortality Relationships in a Warming World

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

The Vecchi Research Group, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Gabriel Vecchi, Knox Taylor Professor of Geosciences and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Maya Chung, Ph.D. candidate, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

Minor(s): Environmental Studies

I assessed the claim that more people die in cold temperatures than hot temperatures. Because scholarly and media discourse focuses on global warming and not on cold events, we hypothesized that there would be a stronger correlation between heat extremes and mortality than cold extremes. To measure temperature-mortality relationships and assess extreme temperature events associated with higher mortality, we assessed climate data and associated mortality between 2013-2019 across locations with various climates and temperature seasonalities, including continental Europe and the tropical districts of France, French Guiana and La Reunión. We found that more people died during cold extremes than during hot extremes in continental Europe; however, it is worth noting that the heat extremes only slightly exceeded average temperatures, whereas the cold extremes fell much further below average. We observed almost no correlation between temperature and mortality in the tropical locations, which had very few extreme temperature events, indicating that the temperature-mortality relationships calculated at higher latitudes may not apply in the tropics. I plan to investigate these findings in further detail for my senior thesis. This experience taught me a lot about the physical dynamics of the world and how to model and critically evaluate real world situations.

SEE PRESENTATION

McBride, Lindsay ’27

PROJECT

Plant Pathogens in a High Altitude System

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Metcalf Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, Colorado

MENTOR(S)

C. Jessica E. Metcalf, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs, Princeton University; Amanda Gibson, Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Virginia; Juliana Jiranek, Ph.D. candidate, University of Virginia

I studied the evolution and epidemiology of a fungal pathogen (Melampsora lini, “flax rust”) that infects a wildflower species (Linum lewisii) in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. This dynamic has long served as a model to understand how pathogens evolve to better infect their hosts and how hosts evolve to escape their pathogens on a molecular level. However, it is less certain how this coevolutionary relationship will be affected by climate change, which has important implications for agriculture and food security. Diseases caused by fungal pathogens can cause crop losses worth billions of dollars each year and these losses are likely to increase with climate change. To better predict how a changing environment might affect the spread of disease, we conducted weekly disease surveys at field sites ranging from 8,800 to 11,500 ft. in elevation. Through my contributions in fieldwork and R programming, I gained a greater appreciation for the complexity of developing models to fit dynamic ecological systems. I enjoyed living and working alongside other scientists at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory and plan to pursue future research in disease ecology that integrates molecular and environmental data.

SEE PRESENTATION

Rodriguez, Colten ’26

PROJECT

Metal Isotopes in Ancient Carbonates

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Higgins Lab, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

John Higgins, Professor of Geosciences; Matthew Nadeau, Ph.D. candidate, Geosciences

The ocean is the largest carbon reservoir on the planet. Marine carbonate sediments serve a vital role in regulating and recording global climate by burying carbon for long-lasting time scales. Quantifying the degree of postdepositional alteration of carbonates could provide a useful metric for interpreting and evaluating the current paleoclimate record. The goal of this project was to devise a method of accurately characterizing marine carbonates by leveraging computer vision and machine learning techniques to detect facies—units of rock with distinctive characteristics from their surroundings—on high-resolution images of rock samples. I imaged carbonate samples with high-resolution multispectral cameras and collected ground-truth data through manual classifications of select samples. I compared ground-truth classifications with those made by a machine learning model and tool that I constructed to detect facies of imaged carbonate samples. Through this project, I gained insight into the process of composing paleoclimate records, from methods of sample collection to analysis, as well as critical evaluations of these records. I found it particularly rewarding to distill these long hours of work and discussion into readable figures.

SEE PRESENTATION

Shen, Ruoming ’27

PROJECT

Examining Vapor Pressure Deficit Change in High-resolution Climate Model Simulations

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

The Vecchi Research Group, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Gabriel Vecchi, Knox Taylor Professor of Geosciences and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Wenchang Yang, Associate Research Scholar, Geosciences

Minor(s): Statistics and Machine Learning

Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) — the absolute difference between the saturation and actual vapor pressure — is closely correlated with wildfire activity in the southwestern United States. As wildfires increasingly endanger local communities, agriculture and wildlife, understanding VPD variability and change is essential for fire management. Leveraging VPD as an indicator of wildfire behavior has only recently gained traction and thus much regarding VPD has yet to be studied. By analyzing observational data and climate models from the past 150 years, I sought to explore VPD trends and the driving factors behind these trends in the southwestern United States during the summer months of July, August and September. I created Python scripts in Jupyter Notebooks to plot both spatial and temporal VPD data, comparing linear trends on various time scales. In addition, I generated correlation matrices between climate model ensemble members and observational data, uncovering significant variability in model predictions of VPD. This experience exposed me to various statistical methods used in climate studies, which strengthened my data analysis and programming skills. I became more comfortable working with large datasets in high-performance computing environments and I am excited to further explore computing applications in the natural sciences in my future independent work.

Smith, Nora ’26

PROJECT

Reconstructing Archaeocyathid Fossils to Understand the Early Cambrian

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Maloof Research Group, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Adelaide, Australia; Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Adam Maloof, Professor of Geosciences; Julia Wilcots, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Geosciences

Minor(s): History, Statistics and Machine Learning

Early Cambrian reef builders called Archaeocyathids may provide important information about marine environments of the period. Reconstructing their fossils is essential to understanding their morphology and can provide insights into their role as potential havens of biodiversity during the Cambrian explosion. I focused on building tools to reconstruct three-dimensional fossils from stacks of their two-dimensional cross-sections taken through the GIRI imaging pipeline. I prepared and imaged a representative set of slabbed Archaeocyathid wackestones from the Flinders Ranges, South Australia. I then developed a Python-based imaging processing pipeline to color-correct and segment images based on their intensity distributions. This allowed me to identify promising samples for image segmentation and separate fossils from their matrix in each photo. In the coming year, I hope to refine these tools to automate fossil identification and reconstruction, which will allow me to examine their structure within their early Cambrian environment. Through this project, I gained practical lab skills, invaluable computing experience and an appreciation of the beauty of studying the origins of life through close examination of the natural world.

SEE PRESENTATION

Szostak, Stella ’26

PROJECT

Examining Paleoclimatic Influences Underlying Pleistocene-Holocene Mammalian Dietary Ecology and Trophic Positioning in Mainland Southeast Asia

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Higgins Lab, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University; Niespolo Research Group, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

John Higgins, Professor of Geosciences; Elizabeth Niespolo, Assistant Professor of Geosciences; Alliya Akhtar, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Geosciences

Minor(s): Archaeology, Spanish

I assisted in an experiment tracking diagenetic uptake of trace elements in biominerals by soaking modern teeth and eggshells in synthetic soils spiked with various elements of interest. These experiments will allow us to better interpret paleoclimate and paleoecology in fossils. Specifically, I learned how to run the multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) and the TripleQuad laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (LA-ICP-MS). Additionally, I dremeled eggshell samples to prepare for dissolution and measurement of calcium isotopes on the MC-ICP-MS and I measured the lengths of laser tracks using a stereo-microscope for reduction and interpretation of LA-ICPMS data. This work inspired me to design and collect samples for my own multi-day experiment with backyard chickens to track the impact of diet and water on primary eggshell composition. I also assisted with field collection of soil, water and plant samples in Oklahoma, South Dakota and Montana to compare primary signals in modern bison teeth with environmental contexts. By enabling me to learn essential geochemical lab and field skills and teaching me about the applications of stable isotope geochemistry to paleoecology, paleoenvironment and archaeological studies, this internship has set me up to begin my first independent research project.

Tam, Justin ’27

Chemistry

PROJECT

Foraminifera-bound Nitrogen Isotope Measurements From the Arabian Sea Oxygen-deficient Zone Over the Last Glacial-interglacial Cycle

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Sigman Research Laboratory, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Daniel Sigman, Dusenbury Professor of Geological and Geophysical Sciences, Professor of Geosciences; Udara Amarathunga, Harry H. Hess Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Geosciences

Minor(s): Sustainable Energy
Certificate(s): Quantitative and Computational Biology

I used nitrogen isotope measurements in planktonic foraminifera — surface-dwelling, unicellular protists — to examine the Arabian Sea oxygen-deficient zone (ODZ) and gain insights into global climate. The Arabian Sea ODZ accounts for one-third of global marine denitrification, where fixed nitrogen is lost to the atmosphere by bacterial conversion into nitrogen gas. These bacteria preferentially consume the lighter nitrogen isotope, causing heavier isotope enrichment in the remaining nitrogen pool, and the resultant isotope ratio is reflected in the organic matter within foraminifera shells. Research suggests that denitrification rates and ODZ extents have remained consistent despite climate changes between glacial and interglacial periods. I performed the preliminary steps of analysis for core samples from two sites in the Arabian Sea by removing smaller sediments via sieving and separating two species of foraminifera from the rest of the material under a microscope. One species bears a symbiont, which alters the isotope ratio in the organic matter relative to the symbiont-barren species. Observing this opened my eyes to the complexities and interconnections between climate science, biology and geochemistry. The experience has motivated me to continue exploring multidisciplinary connections in order to contextualize phenomena such as global climate variability over short and long time scales.

SEE PRESENTATION

Torres, Danny ’27

Neuroscience

PROJECT

Foraminifera-bound Nitrogen Isotope Measurements From the Arabian Sea Oxygen-deficient Zone Over the Last Glacial-interglacial Cycle

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Sigman Research Laboratory, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Daniel Sigman, Dusenbury Professor of Geological and Geophysical Sciences, Professor of Geosciences; Udara Amarathunga, Harry H. Hess Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Geosciences

Minor(s): Climate Science, Cognitive Science

I prepared samples for the analysis of nitrogen isotopic composition of organic matter trapped within planktonic (surface-dwelling) foraminifera calcite shells. This project was focused on the Arabian Sea oxygen-deficient zone (ODZ), where one-third of global marine denitrification occurs. Water column denitrification in such oxygen-starved environments is driven by bacterial respiration of nitrate, a process resulting in a preferential loss of the lighter nitrogen-14 isotope (14N), which results in higher levels of the heavier nitrogen-15 isotope (15N) in subsurface sea water. This fluctuating isotopic signature is imprinted in newly formed organic matter and is trapped within the foraminifera shells during their formation. When they die, these foraminifera shells sink to the deep ocean, where their isotopic signatures are preserved in seafloor sediments. We meticulously sorted and cleaned two species of foraminifera, some dating back 30,000 years, to prepare these ancient samples for chemical analysis and mass spectrometry, which will shed light on subtle isotopic variations tied to past ocean conditions across glacial-interglacial cycles. This experience enhanced my microscopy and laboratory techniques and deepened my appreciation for paleoceanographic research and the complex processes that govern Earth’s climate history.

SEE PRESENTATION

Wen, Kaitlyn ’26

PROJECT

Quantifying Spread in Radiative Feedbacks Due to Differences in Kernels

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

The Vecchi Research Group, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Gabriel Vecchi, Knox Taylor Professor of Geosciences and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Ivan Mitevski, Harry H. Hess Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Geosciences

Minor(s): Cognitive Science, Quantitative Economics

Equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS), which describes how much the Earth will warm if atmospheric CO₂ concentrations double from levels in the year 1850, is one of the most important metrics in climate science. Estimates of ECS have a wide uncertainty range that is commonly attributed to individual radiative feedbacks. Scientists typically compute feedbacks with the help of climate models using the radiative “kernel” technique. These “kernels” are pre-calculated quantities commonly shared among research groups. However, the existing literature focuses on the spread of feedbacks across different models and the potential impact of kernel choice remains to be explored. I examined the influence of 11 different radiative kernels on the spread across feedback estimates from a set of 49 climate models. With the help of the Python package ClimKern, I performed feedback calculations for each model using different kernels and compared the cross-kernel and cross-model spread of estimates. I found that up to 50% of the intermodel spread across globally averaged individual feedbacks can be reproduced by using different kernels. Working on this project was incredibly enjoyable; it allowed me to explore the positive impacts of coding in a new context, which reinforced my passion for studying computer science.

Environment, Society and Urban Sustainability

Arnaout, Farah ’26

PROJECT

Archival Ecologies, Carried by Water

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Blue Lab, Effron Center for the Study of America, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey; Amsterdam, Netherlands

MENTOR(S)

Allison Carruth, Professor of American Studies and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Jayme Collins, Postdoctoral Research Associate, High Meadows Environmental; Mario Soriano Jr., Postdoctoral Research Associate, High Meadows Environmental Institute

Certificate(s): Urban Studies

I worked on three different projects in the Blue Lab related to the impact of water on people. In the first project, Carried by Water: Season 2, I assisted in background research, site visits and interviews with field professionals regarding rising water levels in coastal New Jersey. In the second project, Archival Ecologies, I helped create a visual record, consisting of maps and drawings, regarding stories and artifacts found in ice patches, ice cores and glaciers in North America, Northern Europe and the Antarctic. Finally, the third project involved traveling to Amsterdam to study how people are managing to live with rising sea levels. There, we used interviews, research and site visits as well as photographic and audio recording methods to collect data for the project. These projects gave me the opportunity to advance my skills in research, mapping and conducting formal and recorded interviews with experts in different fields. I was mostly impacted by my visit to Amsterdam as I was fascinated to learn about the growth of cities that started as industrial hubs. In future, I hope to further study different cities with similar histories.

SEE PRESENTATION

Bao, Christopher ’27

Undeclared

PROJECT

Mining for the Climate

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Blue Lab, Effron Center for the Study of America, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey; Reno and Thacker Pass, Nevada

MENTOR(S)

Allison Carruth, Professor of American Studies and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Jessica Ng, Postdoctoral Research Associate, High Meadows Environmental Institute; Nate Otjen, Postdoctoral Research Associate, High Meadows Environmental Institute

As the climate crisis worsens, green energy is increasingly seen as the path to a better future. However, producing “clean” infrastructure requires significant mining of minerals like lithium. This process can negatively affect local communities but is frequently portrayed as a necessary sacrifice for the greater good. I researched questions that challenge this dominant discourse around the United States’ energy transition, focusing on Thacker Pass, Nevada. My project investigated how extraction impacts those closest to mines and explored what is threatened when a mine is built and how we can imagine environmental futures that instead protect cultural heritage and ecological diversity. Over nine days of fieldwork, I contributed to discussions with over a dozen researchers, conservationists and tribal members, and gained experience with interviewing, audio recording and photography. This collaborative research experience culminated in a draft of the second season of an audio series exploring mining narratives, building upon last year’s research in North Carolina. I wrote two of the four episodes and identifyied key quotes and themes to highlight. This internship has inspired me to continue studying environmental humanities and journalism, and enabled me to develop a deeper appreciation of the complexities of addressing the climate crisis.

SEE PRESENTATION

Caireta Camps, Miguel ’25

Philosophy

PROJECT

Human-Animal Encounters and Conservation in the Urbanizing Amazon

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

High Meadows Environmental Institute; Fuentes Research Group - Iquitos, Peru

MENTOR(S)

Agustín Fuentes, Professor of Anthropology; Christian Rivera, Postdoctoral Research Associate, High Meadows Environmental Institute

Minor(s): Computer Science, Latin American Studies

Located within the Peruvian Amazon, Iquitos is the largest city in the world with no road access. Teeming with biological and cultural diversity, the city has become a center of commerce, human migration, research and wildlife consumption and trade, making it a site of crucial conservation potential. This project was focused on examining how the growing tourism industry in the region relates to human-wildlife interactions and conservation. Together with two other interns, I documented human-wildlife encounters and interactions at touristic sites, including rescue centers, zoos and open-air markets. We complemented this observational research by administering over 370 surveys to tourists in the Centro de Rescate Amazónico. Through these surveys and YouTube media analysis carried out by the other interns, we collected quantitative data on tourists’ behaviors such as purchasing animals or consuming wild meat. I then carried out statistical analyses on both data sets, identifying significant correlations between specific tourist demographics (e.g., nationality) and participation in activities of conservation interest (e.g., holding or purchasing animals). While the experience certainly exposed me to the harsh realities of wildlife vulnerability in the region, the research that we carried out promises crucial insights into paths forward for responsible tourism and wildlife conservation.

Kim, Grace ’26

PROJECT

Machine Learning Applications to Identify Building Typologies in Minneapolis and New York City

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Urban Nexus Lab, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Anu Ramaswami, Sanjay Swani ’87 Professor of India Studies, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Rishabh Chauhan, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Minor(s): Statistics and Machine Learning
Certificate(s): Optimization and Quantitative Decision Science

My project addressed the challenge of estimating large-scale embodied carbon emissions in the buildings and construction sector, which is responsible for over one-third of global carbon emissions. A building’s embodied carbon emissions, occurring during all lifecycle stages when the building is not in use, depend heavily on building type, but the lack of comprehensive data on these aspects has made it difficult to accurately estimation these embodied emissions. This project aims to contribute to more effective carbon reduction strategies by improving the accuracy of embodied carbon emission estimates. To tackle this, I developed scalable Deep Learning models using Convolutional Neural Networks to detect and validate building features critical for estimating building typology. Using Minneapolis Tax Parcel Data as the ground truth dataset, I trained the models on Google Street View images to predict these features and then assessed the models’ accuracy in predicting building features in Minneapolis. My models’ estimates were highly accurate: 88.7% for basement detection, 78.7% for differentiating between single-story and multi-story, 79.5% for detecting garage and 86.9% for predicting frame type. Finally, I evaluated the model’s scalability for application in New York City.

Le, Brandon ’26

PROJECT

The Meadowlands: a National Climate Park

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Gandelsonas Research Group, School of Architecture, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Mario Gandelsonas, Class of 1913 Lecturer in Architecture, Professor of Architecture

Minor(s): Japanese Language
Certificate(s): Urban Studies

The Meadowlands, a wetland area in northeastern New Jersey, serves as a vital habitat for wildlife and provides flood control and water filtration for nearby urban communities. Under the guidance of Professor Mario Gandelsonas and his research team, efforts are underway to transform the Meadowlands into a national “climate park” to mitigate the risks of future flooding due to rising sea levels. I worked to identify and analyze smaller parks in New Jersey that could serve as “gateway” entrances to the larger Meadowlands climate park. Using Adobe Illustrator, QGIS and Rhinoceros, I created detailed maps, models and diagrams of these parks, which I supplemented by on-site visits and photography to capture data that the digital tools alone could not provide. Through this experience, I enhanced my proficiency in design software and gained a deeper understanding of public infrastructure and its interaction with urban communities. This project has sparked a strong curiosity in me regarding green infrastructure and the intersection of our natural environment with architecture and I hope to continue contributing to it in the future.

* This internship is connected to the HMEI Water Grand Challenges project, “The Meadowlands: a National Climate Park.

SEE PRESENTATION

Lee, Chaeyoung ’26

PROJECT

Urban Tree Mapping in Chennai, India

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Urban Nexus Lab, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University - Chennai, India

MENTOR(S)

Anu Ramaswami, Sanjay Swani ’87 Professor of India Studies, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Neha Agarwal, Ph.D. candidate, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Trees play a big role in the decarbonization of cities by sequestering and storing carbon. However, in order to make accurate estimates of carbon emissions in urban areas and the amount of carbon stored in urban greenery, a comprehensive survey of urban trees is needed. Thus, we developed an open-source geotagged tree dataset in the city of Chennai, India. Our methodology involves taking a random sample of plots in the city, from which GPS and tree physical measurement data are systematically collected. Subsequently, we developed a website to display the geospatial tree data on an interactive map that allows users to explore our collected data as well as submit entries to add to the growing dataset. Developing the automated real-time updating website allowed me to learn full-stack development. This process involved setting up a database to store the tree data, setting up the back-end to allow data submissions and retrieval and designing the front-end to display a visually appealing website with an interactive map and submission form.

Lee, John ’27

School of Public and International Affairs

PROJECT

Urban Tree Mapping in Chennai, India

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Urban Nexus Lab, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University - Chennai, India

MENTOR(S)

Anu Ramaswami, Sanjay Swani ’87 Professor of India Studies, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Neha Agarwal, Ph.D. candidate, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Minor(s): Statistics and Machine Learning

The overarching goal of our research is to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Since trees have the ability to sequester and store carbon in their biomass, measuring their carbon sequestration rate and carbon stocks will help bring us one step closer to reaching net-zero emissions. I worked on a project that aims to be the first metro-wide study that is geotagged and open source, providing accurate tree measurement data. As part of a team, I surveyed trees in Chennai, India, to obtain new data. First, I randomly sampled 150 10x10m plots around Chennai. Then, I went to these plots to measure the coordinates of vertices, coordinates of trees, circumference at 1.5 meter height, species, bole height and full height. We completed around 40 plots. We hope to host the map of the completed plots on the web for other researchers, governments and non-profit organizations to utilize. The project gave me the opportunity to obtain fieldwork and data analysis skills, as well as experience in both machine learning basics and front-end programming. I was truly intrigued by the work and had a wonderful time working with my mentors.

Riggins, Hannah ’27

PROJECT

Climate Stories Incubator

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Blue Lab, Effron Center for the Study of America, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey; Amsterdam, Netherlands

MENTOR(S)

Allison Carruth, Professor of American Studies and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Jayme Collins, Postdoctoral Research Associate, High Meadows Environmental; Mario Soriano Jr., Postdoctoral Research Associate, High Meadows Environmental Institute

Minor(s): Environmental Studies, Sustainable Energy

As a floating intern for the Blue Lab, an environmental media and science communication group, I assisted in the production of three multimedia podcast projects centering on narratives of climate resilience and adaptation. For Carried by Water, I conducted preliminary interviews with experts in academia, policy and industry about New Jersey’s preventive flooding buyout program, Blue Acres. In Archival Ecologies, I optimized sound design using Adobe Audition and produced nuanced literature reviews on the geopolitical, socioeconomic and anthropocentric dimensions of Svalbard’s mining activities. Finally, for Water Futures, I traveled to Amsterdam to conduct discussions with community leaders, advocates, artists and professors on the Netherlands’ water management in response to rising sea levels. Through these experiences, I learned that the environmental humanities are a key bridge to stakeholder understanding and empathy. I am impassioned to continue working with grassroots organizations to amplify the voices of frontline communities by sharing their stories and educating policymakers and climate deniers alike.

Rocker, Ruth ’26

PROJECT

Human-Animal Encounters and Conservation in the Urbanizing Amazon

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

High Meadows Environmental Institute; Fuentes Research Group - Iquitos, Peru

MENTOR(S)

Agustín Fuentes, Professor of Anthropology; Christian Rivera, Postdoctoral Research Associate, High Meadows Environmental Institute

Minor(s): Gender and Sexuality Studies, Global Health and Health Policy

I worked in Iquitos, Peru, the largest city in the world inaccessible by road, to investigate wildlife conservation in the urbanizing Amazon through the scope of tourism. I used both qualitative and quantitative methods, including participant observation, surveys and data analysis, to understand tourist encounters with wildlife. Through this internship, I gained firsthand experience engaging in participant observation, a methodology that is essential to my major of Anthropology. Having the opportunity to apply what I’ve learned through my Anthropology classes in the field greatly enhanced my understanding of participant observation. I hope to continue building on these skills through my independent work.

Rosales, Kevin ’26

PROJECT

The Meadowlands: a National Climate Park

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Gandelsonas Research Group, School of Architecture, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Mario Gandelsonas, Class of 1913 Lecturer in Architecture, Professor of Architecture

My project is a continuation of work done in recent by several other colleagues. My goal was to identity what would be the “gateway parks” to a hypothetical climate park established in the Meadowlands, New Jersey, which neighbors Manhattan. Throughout this project, our team made several maps and plans displaying the locations of the individual parks found around each of the 14 municipalities which make up the Meadowlands. Additionally, we wrote extensively, justifying why certain parks have the potential to become “gateway parks” for the climate park, and made several models to best represent the potential of these parks. To inform our work, we visited these sites while taking notes and photos for an interactive and first person look. This internship taught me primarily how to work in a team, both in splitting up work and sharing creative visions, and how to run commonly used software such as Illustrator and GIS. After completing this project, I feel well prepared to undertake future research projects and I look forward to performing my own independent work as a junior and senior.

* This internship is connected to the HMEI Water Grand Challenges project, “The Meadowlands: a National Climate Park.

SEE PRESENTATION

Sanders, Adam ’25

Religion

PROJECT

Living Legend: Reimagining the Cross Bronx

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Urban Omnibus, The Architectural League of New York - New York, New York

MENTOR(S)

Mariana Mogilevich, Editor-in-Chief, Urban Omnibus; Kevin Ritter, Managing Editor, Urban Omnibus

Minor(s): Humanistic Studies, Journalism

I helped conduct research for the “Living Legend/Cross Bronx” project, an upcoming collaboration between Urban Omnibus and the New York City Department of City Planning. The construction of the Cross Bronx Expressway displaced thousands, cut a gash in the urban fabric of the Bronx and exposed its neighbors to harmful air pollution. Urban Omnibus and NYC DCP are working together to create a series of public space activations in collaboration with local community artists and partners to display the breadth and depth of possibilities for reimagining the Cross Bronx Expressway and the neighborhoods along its corridor. As a project assistant early in the planning process, I worked to understand the choices other cities have made to rehabilitate, remove and/or reimagine their own urban highway systems. This experience allowed me to understand more deeply the bevy of possible solutions to one of the most pressing issues in contemporary urbanism: how do we repair communities torn apart by the freeways of the mid-20th century? Working at Urban Omnibus exposed me to the imaginative, reparative and practical possibilities of urban design, as I was able to explore so many solutions to these issues of disconnection and consider more deeply the possibility for repair.

SEE PRESENTATION

Santacruz, Jose ’27

PROJECT

Mining for the Climate

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Blue Lab, Effron Center for the Study of America, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey; Reno and Thacker Pass, Nevada

MENTOR(S)

Allison Carruth, Professor of American Studies and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Jessica Ng, Postdoctoral Research Associate, High Meadows Environmental Institute; Nate Otjen, Postdoctoral Research Associate, High Meadows Environmental Institute

Certificate(s): Urban Studies

With the climate crisis turning attention towards green energy and sustainable technologies like electric vehicles, the demand for critical minerals like lithium has increased. Unfortunately, mining has many adverse effects on surrounding communities, but this reality is often ignored or portrayed as an unfortunate sacrifice for the greater good. I worked with the Blue Lab’s Mining for the Climate team to challenge these dominant narratives, focusing on Thacker Pass, Nevada and its communities’ voices. I traveled to northern Nevada alongside my team where I took on the roles of interviewer, equipment and data manager and photographer as we interviewed over a dozen community members, academics and activists. After fieldwork, I helped conceptualize and create a multimedia map highlighting the McDermitt Caldera as home. I made a landscape map of the caldera using a collage of my illustrations and photographs taken by the whole team to represent the habitats and relationships between living and nonliving beings. This internship has highlighted the physical environment’s impact on its inhabitants and the importance of respecting that relationship, a lesson I plan to take into architecture. In future, I hope to continue learning to engage with community members in order to design for them.

SEE PRESENTATION

Tomar, Ria ’27

PROJECT

Residential Energy Engagement

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Behavioral Science for Policy Lab, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Elke Weber, Gerhard R. Andlinger Professor in Energy and the Environment, Professor of Psychology and the School of Public and International Affairs; Calvin Spanbauer, Ph.D candidate, School of Public and International Affairs

Minor(s): Cognitive Science, Sustainable Energy

I explored the decision making processes that influence electric vehicle (EV) users’ charging behaviors. My focus was on understanding how decision modes influence EV users’ enrollment and continued participation in residential EV charging programs. These programs, introduced by electric utilities, are designed to manage the growing energy demand from residential EV charging. Residential EV charging programs are relatively new and insights into EV users’ decision modes can help utilities improve communication and engagement strategies. I designed a series of studies to examine the influence of decision modes on EV users’ choices regarding these programs. I developed several survey designs to explore important questions, such as how different decision modes can prime users and enhance their motivation to enroll and participate in these programs. I also helped plan a qualitative study to understand how local residents attending an eCommuter event in the Princeton area would design communications in order to improve outreach for residential EV charging programs. I plan to run these studies this fall. Seeing this project develop from its inception was very fulfilling. Engaging with research at the intersection of behavioral science and energy has piqued my interest in environmental law and policy.

SEE PRESENTATION

Travis, William ’26

Psychology

PROJECT

Human-Animal Encounters and Conservation in the Urbanizing Amazon

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

High Meadows Environmental Institute; Fuentes Research Group - Iquitos, Peru

MENTOR(S)

Agustín Fuentes, Professor of Anthropology; Christian Rivera, Postdoctoral Research Associate, High Meadows Environmental Institute

Minor(s): Global Health and Health Policy, Neuroscience

Our research group employed methods in ethnographic fieldwork and conservation research to investigate human-animal encounters in the Peruvian Amazon. We spent two months living in the city of Iquitos, Peru, the largest urban center in the world that is not accessible by road. Often referred to as the capital of the Peruvian Amazon, Iquitos was an ideal location to research and understand the balance between urbanization processes and the natural world. With a primary focus on tourism, we combined in-depth field site visits, informant interviews, YouTube media analyses and structured surveys to gather a comprehensive dataset that may have significant implications in conservation research and policy. This experience not only taught me valuable skills in ethnographic fieldwork, data manipulation and the research process, but also refined my Spanish language ability, exposed me to new cultures and helped me gain an incredibly unique global perspective. While the focus of this internship did not perfectly align with my professional goals, it has inspired me to pursue further research that employs similar methods. I hope to travel abroad again and use what I have learned this summer in my junior and senior year independent work.

Environmental Policy

Angoy, Janiya ’27

PROJECT

Understanding the Impacts of Increasing Wildfire Smoke on U.S. Surface Air Quality and Public Health

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Mauzerall Group, Center for Policy Research on Energy and the Environment (C-PREE), School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Denise Mauzerall, William S. Tod Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Public and International Affairs; Yuanyu Xie, Associate Research Scholar, School of Public and International Affairs

Minor(s): Climate Science, Cognitive Science

My research project focused on evaluating our ability to address the trend of increasing wildfires in the United States. With this rise in wildfires, there is a growing concern about whether tightening air quality standards account for the rising levels of PM2.5 (tiny, yet harmful, atmospheric particles) pollution from wildfires. My research group is investigating how this trend may impact our ability to meet these new standards, especially since states can now exclude wildfire smoke when assessing compliance to these standards. I conducted extensive literature reviews and used R to create line plots and color coded maps from the Environmental Protection Agency’s pollutant monitoring data. I also identified relevant datasets for further analyses into fire PM2.5’s health impacts. Through this project, I learned that the importance of PM2.5 from wildfires is underestimated compared to sources relating to human activity, such as transportation or industrial processes. The complexity of pollution’s impacts and contributing factors particularly intrigued me. This internship enhanced my skills in data analysis and science communication and has inspired me to develop technology that prioritizes human health and wellbeing by considering how these factors interconnect.

SEE PRESENTATION

Bansal, Shivansh ’27

PROJECT

Air Quality Co-benefits of Power Sector Decarbonization Over India

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Mauzerall Group, Center for Policy Research on Energy and the Environment (C-PREE), School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Denise Mauzerall, William S. Tod Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Public and International Affairs; Mi Zhou, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Minor(s): Statistics and Machine Learning

I contributed to an integrated modeling framework that aims to understand the air quality and health co-benefits of power sector decarbonization in India. By reviewing academic literature, I developed methodologies to create location-specific emission inventories for coal-fired power plants that account for factors like coal composition and pollutant control technologies. I then processed data to calculate emission factors and visualize insights, uncovering inconsistencies that prompted me to revise my approaches. Through this iterative process, I gained valuable skills in efficiently reviewing research, constructing data processing workflows and conducting accuracy checks. My work will feed into the Mauzerall group’s broader effort to explore the synergies and tradeoffs between air quality, health, carbon emissions and system costs under different potential power sector decarbonization pathways for India. As an aspiring engineer with a passion for sustainability, I found this experience particularly rewarding, as it allowed me to apply my technical background to a pressing environmental challenge. This internship has strengthened my interest in pursuing research related to sustainability and the environment.

SEE PRESENTATION

Batsaikhan, Sisi ’26

PROJECT

Mapping the Solar and Wind Power Potential of Mongolia

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Energy Systems Analysis Group, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Eric Larson, Senior Research Engineer, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment; Cecelia Isaac, Associate Professional Specialist, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment

Minor(s): Statistics and Machine Learning, Sustainable Energy

Through my internship with the Energy Systems Analysis Group (ESAG), I participated in the Net Zero America project and developed a personal project using the group’s methodology to investigate the solar and wind power potential of my home country, Mongolia. I contributed to ESAG’s broader research by using ArcGIS to manage data for state-level energy system models, map modeling outputs and summarize my findings. Working on my own miniature Net Zero Mongolia project was extremely rewarding. In this independent project, I explored Mongolia’s pathway to a clean energy future, identified optimal areas for renewable energy development and estimated the costs of implementing these technologies. This unique experience allowed me to expand my knowledge of GIS and geospatial science, gain a deeper understanding of energy systems and tie my cultural background to my research. I also made long-lasting connections with the faculty and my fellow interns at ESAG. The most interesting part of my internship was exploring the behind-the-scenes processes of developing renewable energy, which revealed to me many logistical and technical challenges associated with the global transition toward clean energy. The experience renewed my desire to dedicate my career in environmental engineering toward this effort.

Caesar, AJ ’27

PROJECT

Analysis of Solar Recycling Feasibility Via Constrained Optimization in the Continental United States

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Energy Systems Analysis Group, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Eric Larson, Senior Research Engineer, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment; Cecelia Isaac, Associate Professional Specialist, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment

By 2035 the United States will retire more than 1 million tons of aged photovoltaic solar panels (PVs) annually. These PVs contain precious metals like silver as well as toxic metals like lead that make them dangerous in landfills, but a recycling process called Full Recovery End of Life Photovoltaic (FRELP) recycling enables PVs to be recycled with 90% material recovery rates. PV recycling via FRELP could help create a circular economy, as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory projects that by 2035 retired panels could provide 30% of the silver and aluminum needed to produce new panels in the United States. However, the economic and environmental consequences of industrial PV recycling in the United States are yet to be accurately forecasted. To tackle this challenge, I created a cost-minimizing optimization problem that minimizes the financial cost of transporting PV waste and operating PV recycling facilities. I used geographic information of solar panel installations to forecast hotspots of PV waste and solved the optimization model to determine the ideal number and locations of PV recycling facilities. My analyses showed that PV recycling via FRELP could be financially profitable as well as environmentally beneficial in the United States.

Colby, Ella ’26

PROJECT

The Interface of Hydrology and Machine Learning: Generating Better Information for Decision Makers and Educating the Decision Makers of the Future

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Integrated GroundWater Modeling Center (IGWMC), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Reed Maxwell, William and Edna Macaleer Professor of Engineering and Applied Science, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Lisa Gallagher, Education and Outreach Specialist, IGWMC, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Minor(s): Dance, Finance, Statistics and Machine Learning

Physics-based modeling is an accurate, yet computationally expensive method to predict groundwater conditions. Machine Learning (ML) models have increased in popularity as a hydrological modeling method that can potentially complement or provide an alternative to expensive physics-based models. I worked on measuring the constraints of ML models’ ability to predict groundwater conditions, in particular, water transit time. To do this, I developed programs that would train different ML models based on data from one region and then test the models’ efficacy on a different region. I found that while ML models do not accurately predict water transit time when trained and tested in this manner, combining datasets improved the models’ accuracy. Interestingly, my research also highlighted how permutations and curvatures disproportionately affected ML models’ predictions. This experience allowed me to learn a lot about how research is conducted and how to implement various ML models in Python. I am excited to continue exploring how ML can change the landscape of hydrology and continue working with my incredible mentors in the upcoming semester.

SEE PRESENTATION

Farid, Cameron ’26

PROJECT

Demand-side Energy Modeling for a Net-Zero China

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Energy Systems Analysis Group, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Eric Larson, Senior Research Engineer in the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment; Tubagus Aryandi Gunawan, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment; Hongxi Luo, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment; Andrew Pascale, Research Scholar, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment

Minor(s): Sustainable Energy

The EnergyPATHWAYS model is a Python-based program that projects the energy demand of an entire economy into the future under different user-defined conditions. Although it was used to model future energy demand for both the United States and Australia in past studies at Princeton University, the use of the model itself was contracted out to developers in those studies. My main objective was to lead the development of in-house capabilities for Princeton to use the model in future Net-Zero studies, notably a Net-Zero China project. This consisted of reverse engineering the model and running iterative tests to understand its inputs and functions. I documented my acquired knowledge in a guide to aid future users and presented my findings on a weekly basis to Chinese colleagues at Tsinghua University to guide development of an EnergyPATHWAYS database for China. The Tsinghua team visited us in person during the last week of my internship, which was a very insightful, fulfilling experience. It was fascinating to see how we could collaborate on a project from across the globe. I look forward to continuing this work in the role of technical support specialist during the upcoming semester.

SEE PRESENTATION

Kokkirala, Arnav ’26

Economics

PROJECT

Estimating and Understanding the Costs of Closing a Coal Mine: A Case Study of the Rajmahal OCP

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Energy Systems Analysis Group, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Chris Greig, Theodora D. ’78 & William H. Walton III ’74 Senior Research Scientist, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment; Ganesh Hedge, Postdoctoral Research Associate: Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment; Loïc De Weerdt, Postdoctoral Research Associate: Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment

Minor(s): Finance

I studied the problem of evaluating the cost of closing a coal mine in the context of net-zero transition (NZT) costs in India, which is part of the transition that has been given little consideration despite being an essential part of the just energy transition framework. It is important to estimate these costs more accurately because if they are of significant magnitude in comparison to the existing known estimates for installing renewable energy, then many NZT frameworks must be reworked. By analyzing and synthesizing data from financial documents on Eastern Coalfields Limited, the owner of Rajmahal Opencast Project in India, I created a hypothetical recommendation for an Indian government pursuing premature mine closure which attempted to make this costly process scalable by delegating the necessary expenses. Additionally, I created quantitative estimates of the closure costs to accompany my framework which can be compared to other NZT costs. Using financial analysis to create hypothetical advice for a government has inspired me to explore climate finance or economics consultation. Additionally, discussions with mentors about topics like climate and energy economics introduced me to new academic fields that I will continue to explore.

SEE PRESENTATION

Li, Evan ’27

PROJECT

Justice40: Federal Climate Policy Meets Environmental Justice

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Behavioral Science for Policy Lab, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Elke Weber, Gerhard R. Andlinger Professor in Energy and the Environment, Professor of Psychology and the School of Public and International Affairs; Melissa O. Tier, Ph.D. candidate, School of Public and International Affairs

I analyzed the relationship between current federal climate policy and environmental justice. In early 2021, the White House released new guidance on climate change in the form of an initiative called Justice40, which aims to ease historical environmental injustices through climate infrastructure spending. The program directed federal agencies with climate programs to provide 40% of the program benefits to “disadvantaged communities.” I conducted primary research into how federal agencies and programs reacted to the new Justice40 guidance and developed a paradigm for comparing the compliance of different federal agencies. This culminated in an interview framework designed to be used by grant program administrators with the goal of compiling more information on each program and agency’s transition under Justice40. Our hope is to use these interviews as a starting point for developing policy briefs for grant applicants and policy-makers alike. Through this project, I learned much about the process of collecting and organizing qualitative data and gained experience creating and receiving formal feedback on an interview protocol. This experience has already inspired me to look into more research opportunities throughout my undergraduate years and potentially beyond.

SEE PRESENTATION

Mitsuhashi, Ryo ’27

PROJECT

The Use of Traffic Simulators in Energy Systems Modeling

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Energy Systems Analysis Group, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Eric Larson, Senior Research Engineer, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment; Loïc De Weerdt, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment

Minor(s): Applied and Computational Mathematics, Humanistic Studies

To achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy is essential. However, this energy transition faces several bottlenecks which can be complex for the general public to understand. My project aimed to simplify these bottlenecks for those unfamiliar with the energy transition by using a concept everyone can relate to: traffic and congestion. I developed a website featuring a traffic simulator, adapted from an open-source traffic simulation tool, to illustrate the energy transition and how it relates to traffic congestion. I focused on three key bottlenecks in the deployment of clean energy projects: the approval and funding process, social opposition and geopolitical tension. In the approval and funding scenario, roadblocks symbolize obstacles like interconnection permitting time, or land disputes that cause delays. Social opposition is represented by a lower speed limit, which is analagous to longer project completion times and increased use of off-ramps, which represent more project failures. Geopolitical tension is depicted by fewer lanes, analagous to supply chain disruptions and a reduced maximum speed for trucks, similar to longer completion times for large projects. Through this internship, I gained a deeper understanding of the energy transition and valuable experience in independently building websites.

SEE PRESENTATION

Nguyen, Chien ’25

PROJECT

Co-benefits for Air Quality and Health of Power Sector Decarbonization: Linking Air Quality and Power System Models

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Mauzerall Group, Center for Policy Research on Energy and the Environment (C-PREE), School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Denise Mauzerall, William S. Tod Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Public and International Affairs; Yuanyu Xie, Associate Research Scholar, School of Public and International Affairs; Mi Zhou, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Minor(s): Applied and Computational Mathematics, Statistics and Machine Learning

This project aims to understand how the decarbonization of the power sector in India could lead to benefits in air quality and human health. I was mainly tasked with technical work involving data. My three most important tasks were mining data that will be used for future research and measuring data quality throughout the years, visualizing available data and building machine learning models that predict future air pollutant concentration based on meteorological inputs. This project has given me the opportunity to familiarize myself with scraping websites for data and experience in building machine learning models for practical purposes outside of the classroom. The experience has further reinforced my interest in technical work with substantial coding components and has inspired me to seek future employment opportunities in this field.

SEE PRESENTATION

Poonawalla, Humnah ’27

PROJECT

Electric Vehicle Charging Programs and Artificial Intelligence in Norms Surfacing

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Behavioral Science for Policy Lab, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Elke Weber, Gerhard R. Andlinger Professor in Energy and the Environment, Professor of Psychology and the School of Public and International Affairs; Jordana Composto, Ph.D. candidate, Psychology; Kris Nichols, Ph.D. candidate, Psychology; Calvin Spanbauer, Ph.D. candidate, School of Public and International Affairs

Minor(s): Sustainable Energy

I worked across two dynamic projects to explore the role of artificial intelligence and energy systems in shaping a more sustainable future. My first research project involved developing a program model to optimize the stability and efficient allocation of energy within contained geographical areas, primarily through electric vehicle charging programs. I helped conduct a typological theory analysis to determine which variables are most significant in the process of creating, implementing and adopting such programs, thus laying the groundwork for a potential nation-wide, unified model. My second research project investigated the feasibility of using Artificial Intelligence as a tool to accurately identify and track normative language. To do this, I coded descriptive and injunctive normative statements from U.S. television news recordings and fed these statements into large language models including ChatGPT. Then, I created detailed graphical representations mapping ChatGPT’s accuracy and reliability. These discoveries provided insights into the strengths and limitations of using advanced language models to interpret complex human behaviors and societal expectations. This experience has inspired me to pursue a career where I can continue to innovate at the intersection of technology and societal good, contributing to a future that is both sustainable and achievable.

Porwal, Siddhant ’27

PROJECT

The Interface of Hydrology and Machine Learning: Generating Better Information for Decision Makers and Educating the Decision Makers of the Future

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Integrated GroundWater Modeling Center (IGWMC), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Reed Maxwell, William and Edna Macaleer Professor of Engineering and Applied Science, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Lisa Gallagher, Education and Outreach Specialist, IGWMC, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Minor(s): Sustainable Energy

I constructed two unique neural networks, named Conventional Model and HydroModel, to predict wildfire susceptibility in over 119,668 regions in the United States. I’ve always been intrigued by hydrology and this was the perfect environment for me to explore whether it has a link to predicting wildfires, which are growing in frequency and urgency and reach a continental scale. In my research, I found that HydroModel, which included subsurface hydrological data such as water table depth, improved wildfire prediction by 11% compared to the Conventional Model, highlighting a novel role of groundwater in wildfire prediction. Using HydroModel, I predicted the Lower Colorado-Lake Mead, Little Colorado and Pend Oreille basins as regions that are critically prone watersheds to future wildfires and estimated key threshold conditions that these watersheds should monitor for future wildfire prevention. Through this experience I gained enriching insights into the interface between deep learning and hydrology and I also learned how to communicate the joy of hydrology to a diverse audience through outreach at the Watershed Institute. I’m most happy that my mentors encouraged me to publish my work to the American Geophysical Union 2024 conference and I’m excited to continue this research in the upcoming academic year.

SEE PRESENTATION

Xiong, Annie ’25

German

PROJECT

Norm Surfacing in Television News and LLMs

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Behavioral Science for Policy Lab, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Elke Weber, Gerhard R. Andlinger Professor in Energy and the Environment, Professor of Psychology and the School of Public and International Affairs; Jordana Composto, Ph.D. candidate, Psychology; Kris Nichols, Ph.D. candidate, Psychology

Minor(s): Environmental Studies, History

I investigated the prevalence of normative language in the television news and the ability for the large language model ChatGPT to identify normative language. Alongside a team of expert coders, I worked to code normative statements in news transcripts from CNN, MSNBC and Fox News and these same transcripts were coded by ChatGPT. Throughout the internship, I received training on social norms to become an expert coder and sorted through over 3,000 news segments. Comparing our expert coding to ChatGPT’s results, I found that ChatGPT has an over 50% accuracy when identifying norms, meaning that it could be a relatively good tool for screening out non-normative text. ChatGPT also had the best accuracy for identifying descriptive norms, which are norms that describe social behaviors and beliefs. Future research topics could include looking at different features of norms, such as text length or topic, to identify other predictors of ChatGPT accuracy.

Innovation and a New Energy Future

Bangalore, Sheetal ’25

PROJECT

Building MACRO-Biomass: Optimizing Bioenergy Generation Within Existing Energy Sectors

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Energy Systems Analysis Group, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Eric Larson, Senior Research Engineer, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment

Minor(s): French

With society’s increasing focus on sustainable energy alternatives, optimization tools are becoming more critical in the process. Optimizing cost and CO₂ emissions across various energy sectors, the MACRO model — developed by the Princeton University ZERO Lab, the MIT Energy Initiative and NYU Tandon — contributes to a sustainable future. My work from May to July 2024 focused on the development of a new component of the MACRO model which incorporates bioenergy — an energy source that produces net-zero emissions. However, when combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS), bioenergy results in negative emissions. Technologies that couple these two are vital in reducing climate change and are known as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technologies. MACRO-Biomass allows the co-optimization of bioenergy generation, both with and without carbon capture, in conjunction with the other energy sectors that are already coded into MACRO. To build and test the MACRO-Biomass model, I analyzed the Billion-Ton Report by cleaning the data of biomass availability, generating cost-supply curves, applying stoichiometry conversions and using optimization programming. Efforts to integrate bioenergy into models such as MACRO are essential for developing ideal emissions policies. I hope to continue working on this impactful project in the upcoming year.

SEE PRESENTATION

Burry, James ’26

Physics

PROJECT

The Effect of Quadrupole Magnetic Fields on Fast Electrons in Magnetic Mirror Machines

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Samuel Cohen, Director, Program in Plasma Science and Technology, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

Minor(s): History

The Princeton Field Reversed Configuration (PFRC) is a fusion concept that offers safe, clean energy in a much smaller footprint than Tokamak designs. By using Deuterium and Helium-3 fuel, the PFRC avoids neutron emissions, which reduces machine degradation and radiation by 1000x per unit of power produced compared to traditional reactors. Its smaller size and simpler engineering allow for faster development and for the exploration of niche applications, though the physics involved becomes more complex as a result. One key aspect that remains to be better understood is the electron energy distribution within the confined plasma. Using an X-ray spectrometer, I worked alongside fellow interns and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) researchers to collect data on the effect of changing the magnetic field shape on high energy electron populations. I then used conversion software to translate this X-ray data into energy profiles and further processed the data for comparative purposes using MATLAB tools. Working on the PFRC was incredibly rewarding precisely because so little is understood about it. I plan to continue this study through my junior independent work and perhaps in the future as a researcher at a national laboratory like PPPL or elsewhere in the fusion ecosystem.

SEE PRESENTATION

Carroll, Braeden ’26

PROJECT

Climate Adaptable Multifunctional Bridge-barrier

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Creative and Resilient Urban Engineering (CRUE) and Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) Research Groups, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Maria Garlock, Daniel Tsui Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Branko Glisic, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

I worked alongside colleagues from the Civil and Environmental Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Architecture departments to begin what will be a two-year project to design and develop a Climate Adaptable Multifunctional Bridge-Barrier, a structure that can serve as both a bridge and flood barrier. I focused my work on learning how to create 3D models and renderings of these structures. My greatest contribution to the group was creating and updating these models each week, as we learned new information from finite element analysis and generated new ideas at our meetings. Gaining experience with 3D modeling is something I am very glad to have done, as I can now communicate the thoughts in my head to teams and audiences in a simple, visual way. Going forward, I hope to continue working on this project during my junior and senior years and I am considering pursuing an independent research project to build off of this experience.

SEE PRESENTATION

DouglasRosenthal, Ezekiel ’27

Mathematics

PROJECT

Small Clean Fusion Reactors — Studying the Effects of Quadrupole Fields on Fast Electron Generation in Magnetic Mirrors

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Samuel Cohen, Director, Program in Plasma Science and Technology, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

I contributed to the Small Clean Fusion Reactors research program at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. The long term goal of this program is to create a working method for plasma fusion in a small alternative concept for a fusion reactor known as an Field Reversed Configuration, a design that could be deployable in various places, such as disaster recovery or in harsh environments. I primarily worked on improving and using the X-ray diagnostics on the machine that help measure electron temperature, a key measurement for understanding the plasma that we are working with. This gave me a lot of theoretical knowledge about X-ray emission and detection, as well as a broad spectrum of handson skills, from collecting data and determining effective volumes to writing analysis code. This project has made me realize my deep desire to contribute to research and enabled me to develop very useful skills in literature review and data analysis.

SEE PRESENTATION

Epstein, Caroline ’27

PROJECT

Design and Fabrication of On-chip Environmental Sensors Using Frequency Combs

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Gmachl Research Group, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Claire Gmachl, Eugene Higgins Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Radhika Bhuckory, Ph.D. candidate, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Minor(s): Finance

My project aimed to measure quantum cascade lasers, specifically ring lasers’ ability to emit coherent frequency combs which has applications in environmental sensing, such as for detecting air pollution. I designed and installed a Light-Current-Voltage setup to measure the light intensity, current and voltage of the lasers fabricated by graduate students in the lab. The setup consisted of a detector for the light to pass through and be detected. This detector was connected by wires to equipment that enabled us to measure the amount of light emitted when we concurrently pulsed a voltage through the laser to emit light. There were many obstacles in designing this setup, which required us to adapt the setup or fix the lasers. We collected data manually and also worked to develop and debug a Python program to computerize measurements. These data can be built upon in future as they will allow characterization of the lasers’ spectrums which could then be used in optical spectroscopy. This internship has motivated me to take classes in environmental studies alongside my engineering requirements and to futher explore these environmental applications.

SEE PRESENTATION

Frankel, David ’26

PROJECT

Design and Development of an Optogenetically Controlled Biosensor

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Avalos Research Group, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

José Avalos, Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Bioengineering; Sergio Garcia Echauri, Associate Research Scholar, Chemical and Biological Engineering

Minor(s): Engineering Biology

I worked to design and develop a novel type of biosensor that can be used to detect the rates of change of substances in different environments. My responsibility within the broader project was to clone and test the DNA circuits used in the biosensor, namely the Gal4-GFP and Gal1-BFP constructs. To accomplish this goal, I performed a myriad of laboratory techniques including restriction digestions, DNA purifications, colony PCRs and Gibson assemblies. In completing these tasks, I gained significant knowledge about microbiology lab processes and simultaneously built upon the soft skills I had going into the summer, for example how to trobleshoot roadblocks when experiments give unexpected results, by using meticulous attention to detail and critical problem-solving skills. I derived the most value from my improvement in these areas.

Henry, Makailee ’27

PROJECT

The Study of Mid-infrared Lasers

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Gmachl Research Group, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Claire Gmachl, Eugene Higgins Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Radhika Bhuckory, Ph.D. candidate, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Optical spectroscopy, which measures how substances interact with light, has applications in environmental and chemical sensing, for example in the detection of pollutants. I worked to design and operate a setup to measure the light, current and voltage of quantum cascade lasers that were fabricated by the lab’s graduate students. To ensure the strongest readings, this process involved precisely aligning the lasing device with the lenses through which the beam of light travels as well as the detector. Moreover, various lab instruments had to be properly connected together for signals to be sent and received, and the sample had to be displayed on a lab device called an oscilloscope. Through this process, I determined which of the lasers were fabricated correctly and working as intended. After gathering these data manually, I also helped program an interface to automate the setup. These data will be used to characterize the working lasers’ spectrums, temporal performances and long-term properties, which will enable the devices to be used in optical spectroscopy in the future if needed. This research has prompted me to consider including an environmental angle in any future research I pursue, including for my senior thesis.

SEE PRESENTATION

Hikkaduwa Gamage, Tharuka ’26

Mathematics

PROJECT

Ion heating in FRCs by Non-standard RF Antenna Shapes: Single-particle Hamiltonian-code Simulations

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Samuel Cohen, Director, Program in Plasma Science and Technology, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

Minor(s): Italian Language and Culture

I investigated the orbital dynamics of ions within a Field-Reversed Configuration (FRC) using a single-particle Rotating Magnetic Field (RMF) simulation code. The primary aim of this project was to contribute to the design of small fusion reactors that could be deployed in remote locations or disaster sites. Specifically, I focused on new antenna designs for ion heating in FRC plasma, as fusion requires hot ions and there is a need for more maintainable and easily installable antennas. I tested two main designs: the current linear polarization antenna and the magnetic pumping antenna. To optimize running simulations on the RMF and data analysis, I created batch codes using Python. We defined “good heating” as when an ion was both confined for a minimum amount of time and reached a certain level of energy. My investigation demonstrated that while the current antenna design provides good heating, the magnetic pumping antenna also shows potential for great performance. I concluded the internship by suggesting further research into a new design aimed at improving particle confinement with stronger coils at the ends of the FRC.

SEE PRESENTATION

Jacobson, Cynthia ’26

PROJECT

Negative Emissions from Bioenergy with CO₂ Capture, Transport and Storage (BECCS) Hubs

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Energy Systems Analysis Group, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Eric Larson, Senior Research Engineer, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment; Tubagus Aryandi Gunawan, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment; Hongxi Luo, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment

Minor(s): Sustainable Energy, Theater & Music Theater

As the United States transitions from fossil fuels to sustainable energy, the use of optimization models becomes essential. Princeton’s ZERO Lab, the MIT Energy Initiative and NYU Tandon are collaborating to develop a multi-sector energy planning model called MACRO, which aims to optimize costs and apply CO₂ emissions constraints across multiple energy sectors. I worked with the Energy Systems Analysis Group to help created MACRO-Biomass, a bioenergy generation sector of the MACRO model. Bioenergy alone produces net-zero emissions, but when coupled with carbon capture and storage (CCS), it produces negative emissions. As a result, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is critical for future climate change mitigation scenarios. Building MACRO-Biomass enables the co-optimization of bioenergy generation, either with or without, alongside existing energy sectors in the United States. To develop MACRO-Biomass, I researched input data for 41 bioenergy conversion pathways and used cost analysis techniques, stoichiometry conversions and programming in Julia to create input files for MACRO. Equipping MACRO with a bioenergy sector will be critical for formulating cost-effective, energy-efficient and net-zero emissions policies. I look forward to continuing work on this project in the fall.

SEE PRESENTATION

Nguyen, Nathan ’27

PROJECT

Purifying Industrial Amylase

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Avalos Research Group, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

José Avalos, Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Bioengineering; Max Elikan, Ph.D. candidate, Chemistry

Minor(s): Sustainable Energy

Amylase, particularly in its industrial form Termamyl, plays a crucial role in various industries including the food and beverage, detergent, textile, paper, fuel and pharmaceutical industries due to its ability to break down starch into sugars. Common practices in purifying Termamyl such as filtration, centrifugation and precipitation are unsustainable as they have high energy demands, employ hazardous chemicals such as ammonium sulphate, and generate a significant amount of solid and liquid waste, thereby exacerbating greenhouse gas emissions as well as soil and water pollution. I worked on expressing and purifying Termamyl as a target for light-controlled affinity chromatography using OptoMonobodies, a class of synthetic binding proteins controllable by blue light. This method, when scaled up, could provide a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly way to purify Termamyl on an industrial scale. I am very grateful to have met Max, Professor Avalos, as well as other members of the Avalos Lab who guided me through this project and encouraged me to learn and grow over the course of my internship.

Spain, Ethan ’26

PROJECT

Climate Adaptable Multifunctional Bridge-barrier

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Creative and Resilient Urban Engineering (CRUE) and Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) Research Groups, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Maria Garlock, Daniel Tsui Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Branko Glisic, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Minor(s): Computer Science

The Climate Adaptable Multifunctional Bridge-Barrier is a response to pressing issues arising across the world from climate change. This project intends to combine a bridge and flood barrier into a single, cohesive structure that can be built within the waterways of coastal cities. In this current stage of the project, we are conducting a case study of a site on the Aji River in Osaka, Japan. I helped finalize the structure for the Osaka test site and performed some initial optimizations. Additionally, I conducted initial structural and fluid analyses using hand calculations as well as finite element analysis. In the future, we plan to develop a sustainable actuation method that allows the barrier to be deployed without significant use of fossil fuel energy. Through this experience, I gained a deeper understanding of the intricacies of interdisciplinary research projects and honed my abilities using familiar software. Although the project presented me with significant challenges, it reaffirmed my interest in sustainable energy projects that are designed to safeguard the future.

SEE PRESENTATION

Sugandi, Stephanie ’27

PROJECT

Design and Development of a Solar Value Tool

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Climate Central - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Jennifer Brady, Senior Data Analyst and Research Manager, Climate Central; Eric Larson, Senior Research Engineer, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University

Minor(s): Statistics and Machine Learning

The primary objective of this internship was to develop a tool that calculates and contextualizes the potential rooftop solar photovoltaic electricity generation for any user-selected area. To achieve this, I learned to use Google’s Solar API and developed a program to automate the collection and retrieval of large datasets. I then utilized these datasets to create and automate a methodology using native functions in Quantum Geographic Information Systems (QGIS). Through this experience, I gained substantial technical expertise in QGIS and deep insights into the research process. Additionally, I learned how to apply textbook knowledge to real-world issues and explored applied computing. This internship has reinforced my desire to pursue a career in engineering, where I can tackle global challenges and drive positive change through innovative solutions.

Yzellari, Endri ’26

PROJECT

Optimizing Chemical Production in E. coli through Optogenetics

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Avalos Research Group, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

José Avalos, Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Bioengineering; Jaewan Jang, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Chemical and Biological Engineering

I investigated the role of optogenetics — a method that uses light to control gene expression — in controlling bacterial growth to produce chemicals. In prior work, researchers found that chemical commodities, such as eugenol or phenol, could be produced in microbial consortia, which contains multiple, different bacterial groups with various gene knockouts and overexpressions. Specific bacterial ratios are optimal for producing the most chemical product and optogenetics may enable us to better control these ratios. By giving each E. coli species a different optogenetic circuit, we can engineer different species to grow only under specific wavelengths of light. Utilizing this method, our overall goal was to achieve exact bacterial ratios in microbial consortia to optimize production of highly sought after chemical commodities. I conducted bacterial transformations to insert the photosensitive plasmids necessary to produce photosensitive proteins for light control and designed and ran experiments under various light conditions. This project enabled me to acquire laboratory skills and hands-on microbiology experience. Ultimately, I plan to continue work in this field in my junior independent work, senior thesis and graduate studies.

Oceans and the Environment

Cho, Rebecca ’26

PROJECT

Developing Analytical Method for Biomineral-bound Organic Matter Isotopic Composition With nanoEA

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Sigman Research Laboratory, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Daniel Sigman, Dusenbury Professor of Geological and Geophysical Sciences, Professor of Geosciences; Crystal Rao, Ph.D. candidate, Geosciences; Mason Scher, Ph.D. candidate, Geosciences

Minor(s): Environmental Studies

Metabolic rate is critical to the survival, reproduction and environmental interactions of marine organisms. Recent literature has proposed the application of the carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) of fish ear stone (“otolith”) calcium carbonate to infer its metabolic rate. The preservation of fish otoliths additionally enables the study of the diets and life history of both extant and extinct fishes. However, inorganic carbonate, although a major form of carbon in otoliths, is affected by both environmental seawater and metabolism — the latter of which generates great uncertainty in existing δ13C measurements. My project aims to use δ13C of organic matter in the fish otoliths that is derived from diet alone to reconstruct the fish’s metabolism. I focused on developing the methods for organic matter δ13C analysis with a novel instrument, “nanoEA”, laying the foundation for future applications with fish otoliths. I prepared organic and biomineral standards for experiments alongside the instrumental modifications, learned to use nanoEA for analysis and ran several tests to develop protocols for biomineral analysis. This experience gave me the opportunity to explore my interests across anatomy, physiology and marine biogeochemistry while cultivating research skills for my junior independent work.

SEE PRESENTATION

Cutignola, Alexis ’27

PROJECT

Tracking Ocean Circulation Patterns in the Late Cretaceous Southern Ocean

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

The Zhang Research Laboratory, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Xinning Zhang, Assistant Professor of Geosciences and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Shannon Haynes, Associate Professional Specialist, Geosciences

I worked within the Zhang Research Laboratory to better understand ocean circulation during the Late Cretaceous, the time period right before the dinosaurs became extinct. This period was characterized by extreme warmth and the separation of the Australian and Antarctic continents; my project involved analyzing sediment core samples that were collected from Australia’s southern coast on a 2017 drilling expedition through the Integrated Ocean Discover Program. My daily tasks involved breaking down sedimentary samples that spanned 94-87 million years ago. Combining laboratory and research work, I examined the disaggregated sample components under a microscope and worked on collecting fish debris that could later be used to measure its neodymium (Nd) isotopic composition. As a rare earth element and a water mass tracer, Nd isotopes in the fossilized fish debris reflect the region in which the water mass originated and the isotopic signal is carried with the seawater as it circulates throughout the ocean. Although the Nd analysis step falls outside of my internship timeline, I have already gained an interest in geoscience applications and I look forward to seeing how I can reflect this new curiosity onto my further studies at Princeton.

SEE PRESENTATION

Guest, Tacy ’26

PROJECT

Nitrogen Nutrition of Corals

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

The Ward Lab, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, St. Georges, Bermuda; Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Bess Ward, William J. Sinclair Professor of Geosciences and The High Meadows Environmental Institute, Princeton University; Moriah Kunes, Ph.D. candidate, Geosciences, Princeton University; Yvonne Sawall, Assistant Scientist, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences

Minor(s): Climate Science, Creative Writing, Environmental Studies

I worked at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) to study nitrogen nutrition in corals. Corals share a symbiotic relationship with single-celled photosynthetic algae called zooxanthellae that provide coral with an energy source in the form of fixed carbon. However, little is known about the role of nitrogen within this partnership and understanding the importance of nitrogen is essential for coral reef preservation efforts. To better understand this relationship, we conducted two experiments to test the uptake and translocation of nitrogen within coral and their symbionts under both high and ambient temperature and nutrient conditions. I contributed to this study by filtering seawater, collecting coral and water samples, cutting coral and gluing them onto plexiglass with labels and changing water during the coral acclimation period. I most enjoyed the fieldwork aspect of this project, as I was able to snorkel and gain hands-on experience working with live coral. I was also able to help with other experiments at the BIOS field station, which expanded my knowledge of marine science research. This internship has confirmed my desire to work in marine science and I’m excited to continue working with the Ward lab through my junior and senior year.

SEE PRESENTATION

Gunda, Supraj ’27

PROJECT

A Comparative Analysis of Oceanographic Variables as Predictors of Coral Bleaching Using Machine Learning

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Deutsch Research Group, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Curtis Deutsch, Professor of Geosciences and the High Meadows Environmental Institute

Minor(s): Quantitative and Computational Biology, Statistics and Machine Learning

The contemporary understanding of coral bleaching is that corals expel their symbiotic algae mainly due to rising ocean temperatures, which eventually leads to their death. However, studies like those produced by the Deutsch research group propose that corals may be facing an oxygen deficit (hypoxia) that is just as concerning as rising temperature. My project aims to elucidate the puzzling mechanisms behind coral bleaching by determining which oceanographic variables, such as chlorophyll-a, sea surface temperature and salinity levels, most accurately predict coral bleaching severity. My first objective was to synthesize and process oceanographic data from satellite datasets based on timestamps and severity indices from insitu coral bleaching observations. In the second part of my project, I passed combinations of the data to various machine learning models, including Random Forest Classifiers, RNNs and Transformers. On top of diving deep into the major threat of coral bleaching, this experience has taught me to work with big data that spans oceans and decades. Most of all, this project has bolstered my continued interest in the interdisciplinary applications of computer science, by showing how my local Python script can impact the understanding of coral reefs the world over.

* This internship is connected to the HMEI Biodiversity Grand Challenges project, “Assessing the Costs of Biodiversity Loss in Hypoxic Coral Reef Ecosystems.”

Murphy-Braunstein, Celia ’25

PROJECT

Nitrogen Cycling in the Ocean

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

The Ward Lab, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Bess Ward, William J. Sinclair Professor of Geosciences and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Samantha Fortin, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Geosciences; Jenna Lee, Ph.D. candidate, Geosciences; Weiyi Tang, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Geosciences

Minor(s): Chinese Language

I studied the production and consumption of nitrous oxide (N₂O), a potent greenhouse gas that depletes ozone in the atmosphere, using stable isotope tracer experiments. Nitrous oxide is a looming threat due to agricultural and industrial production and is also produced in the ocean as a result of microbial pathways within the nitrogen cycle. I analyzed seawater samples collected and used in nitrogen isotope tracers incubation experiments on previous research cruises to an Oxygen Minimum Zone in the Eastern Tropical South Pacific and the Chesapeake Bay. I performed chemical analyses on the samples to measure various nitrogen compounds including nitrite and urea concentrations. I also investigated nitrogen cycling by measuring nitrate isotopes using the denitrifier method and measured ammonium isotopes through a series of reactions of bromide oxidation and via a reaction with sodium azide. We hope to construct depth distributions of nitrogen cycling rates at the sample sites to better understand environmental controls on the rates of microbial nitrogen cycling processes, for example the effect of oxygen concentrations). This internship taught me new lab techniques, deepened my understanding of marine biogeochemistry and sparked my interest in pursuing further studies in this field.

SEE PRESENTATION

Mykhantso, Sasha ’27

PROJECT

Molecular Biology and Chemistry of the Nitrogen Cycle

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

The Ward Lab, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Bess Ward, William J. Sinclair Professor of Geosciences and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Samantha Fortin, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Geosciences; Amal Jayakumar, Senior Professional Specialist, Geosciences; Jenna Lee, Ph.D. candidate, Geosciences

Minor(s): Bioengineering

I spent nine weeks analyzing water samples from a recent cruise in the Eastern Tropical South Pacific Ocean. The expedition’s primary objective was to study nitrogen cycling in regions where oxygen levels are minimal, which enables anaerobic processes like denitrification to occur. I investigated the chemistry of ocean water samples and the genomes of microbes. I extracted, purified and quantified DNA and RNA from more than a hundred samples of particulate material captured on filters. Furthermore, I optimized and performed vast numbers of colorimetric and fluorometric assays on the water samples in order to measure the concentration of three major nitrogen nutrients: nitrite, urea and ammonium. The data I produced resulted in nutrient profiles for locations in the ocean with varying conductivity, temperature, depth and oxygen concentrations. Such profiles are essential for learning about the denitrification process performed by the special enzymes produced by the microbes in this region. This invaluable experience working full-time as a researcher has allowed me to solidify my interest in lab work while combining my passions for biochemistry and environmental studies.

SEE PRESENTATION

Owens, Lauren ’27

PROJECT

Environmental Data Analysis to Characterize Coral Reef Hypoxia

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Deutsch Research Group, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Curtis Deutsch, Professor of Geosciences and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Noelle Lucey, Associate Research Scholar, High Meadows Environmental Institute

Coral reefs comprise a vital ecosystem and also play an important socioeconomic role by supplying billions of jobs and boosting the wealth of tropical countries. Hypoxia, an overlooked cause of marine distress, threatens the wellbeing of corals, aquatic species and humans everywhere. I collected information to augment a database of marine oxygen measurements by combining many sources into one master tabulation for easier data location and pattern identification. Additionally, I helped establish indicators of coral reefs’ relationship to socioeconomic health. I used this compiled data to begin defining three indicators: the percentage of annual fishery income relative to the total GDP; the percentage of the population engaged in aquaculture and marine capture employment; and the expenditure of reef-associated tourism versus total tourism. Using R, I made simple maps to visually estimate each category’s impact on countries with coral reefs. In future, others can build on these databases to examine connections between oxygen measurements, coral health and the socioeconomic impacts of this marine crisis. We are not only losing extraordinary ecosystems but eliminating jobs and harming countries’ economies. This internship honed my research skills and turned my ecological interests toward oceanic life.

* This internship is connected to the HMEI Biodiversity Grand Challenges project, “Assessing the Costs of Biodiversity Loss in Hypoxic Coral Reef Ecosystems.”

Razin, Azhar ’26

PROJECT

Open Ocean Seaweed Mariculture

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Sigman Research Laboratory, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University; Ren Research Laboratory, National Taiwan University; Climate Foundation - Princeton, New Jersey; Cebu, Philippines

MENTOR(S)

Daniel Sigman, Dusenbury Professor of Geological and Geophysical Sciences, Professor of Geosciences; Lingkun Guo, Ph.D. candidate, Geosciences; Yeongjun Ryu, Ph.D. candidate, Geosciences

The biological carbon pump, which is primarily controlled by phytoplankton productivity in the surface ocean, plays an important role in storing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the ocean interior. In recent years, seaweed mariculture has gained attention as a mechanism to increase the ocean’s capability for carbon sequestration due to seaweed’s high carbon-to-nutrient ratio content. Depth cycling, a process where seaweed can photosynthesize near the surface during the day and are lowered to nutrient-rich deep waters at night, may enable seaweed to grow more rapidly and capture more carbon as a result. Collaborating with the Ren Research Lab from National Taiwan University, I spent a week at Climate Foundation’s seaweed farm in Cebu, Philippines with two Princeton graduate students. There, I collected and filtered seawater samples from various depths for nutrient analysis to better understand the seaweed platforms’ nutrient cycle and its potential for carbon capture. Additionally, I had the opportunity to snorkel in the farm and harvest seaweed specimens. This hands-on experience deepened my understanding of marine ecosystems and marine permaculture’s potential as a climate mitigation strategy. I hope to incorporate the fieldwork and collaborative skills I gained this summer to pursue further research in climate mitigation.

* This internship is connected to the HMEI Climate and Energy Grand Challenges project, “Deep Water-Fertilized, Open Ocean Seaweed Mariculture: A Field Study.”

SEE PRESENTATION

Sirik, Kirill ’27

PROJECT

The δ88Sr Composition of Marine Carbonates

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Higgins Lab, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

John Higgins, Professor of Geosciences; Matthew Nadeau, Ph.D. candidate, Geosciences

Minor(s): Applied and Computational Mathematics, Computer Science, Quantitative Economics

Records of the strontium isotopic composition of seawater may reveal insights into how continental weathering, hydro-thermal activity and carbonate deposition changed throughout the geological past. Carbonates can serve as an archive of the stable strontium isotopic composition of ancient seawater, but interpreting the isotopic signals is complicated by the effects of local environmental phenomena. I investigated the stable strontium isotope (δ88Sr) composition of more than 200 marine carbonates to enhance our understanding of the modern strontium isotope budget. This project is situated within a broader research agenda focused on reconstructing ancient seawater chemistry and understanding the influences of local environmental factors, such as precipitation rates, on the isotopic composition of carbonates. My project aims to reveal patterns in δ88Sr values across different environments, ultimately providing insights into the spatial variability of δ88Sr and its implications for both modern and ancient marine Sr isotope systems.

SEE PRESENTATION

Veliz, Yolanda ’27

PROJECT

Tracking Ocean Circulation Patterns in the Late Cretaceous Southern Ocean

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

The Zhang Research Laboratory, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Xinning Zhang, Assistant Professor of Geosciences and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Shannon Haynes, Associate Professional Specialist, Geosciences

Minor(s): Materials Science and Engineering

Neodymium (Nd) isotope values can be used as a proxy for ocean circulation because neodynium isotopic signatures are imprinted into a water mass at its source and then carried throughout the ocean. Ancient neodynium signatures are recorded in fossilized fish debris found in deep sea sediments, so studying these sediments can provide insights into ocean circulation throughout geological history and help us understand how changing climates influenced ocean circulation patterns. I analyzed some previously collected deep sea sediments that were deposited on Agulhas Plateau near the coast of South Africa during a period of cooling in the Late Cretaceous. Lab work included breaking down sediments and separating fish debris under a microscope. The fish debris was then acidified in a clean lab to measure rare earth element concentration on an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) to determine if enough neodynium was present for isotopic analysis. Through this research experience I learned versatile lab skills relating to acidifying samples, pipetting and using an ICP-MS. I also learned about different proxies that can be used to better understand natural processes such as ocean circulation, which has helped solidify my interest in lab-related research and my desire to pursue graduate school.

SEE PRESENTATION

Zha, Marlan ’27

Chemistry

PROJECT

Nitrogen Cycling in the Ocean

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

The Ward Lab, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Bess Ward, William J. Sinclair Professor of Geosciences and The High Meadows Environmental Institute; Samantha Fortin, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Geosciences; Weiyi Tang, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Geosciences

Minor(s): Climate Science, Materials Science and Engineering

Nitrogen-based compounds are essential to the survival of all marine organisms. Thus, understanding nitrogen species availability can provide insight into the types of organisms living at varying depths in the ocean. I contributed towards two main projects with the Ward Lab — analyzing nitrate concentration and the rate of nitrite oxidation in the southern Pacific Ocean. To gather nitrate concentration data, I injected samples into an NOx analyzer which measured the total concentration of nitrite and nitrate in each sample and then subtracted the total concentration and the nitrite concentration to determine nitrate concentration. To measure the rate of nitrite oxidation, I first removed excess nitrite in the samples and adjusted the pH of each sample to neutral. Then, I injected bacteria into the samples that converted the nitrate in the samples to nitrous oxide, which is detectable on our gas chromatography isotoperatio mass spectrometer (GC-IRMS). Finally, I ran the samples on the GC-IRMS to analyze the concentration of nitrate in each sample. I have always been interested in environmental science, and it was eye-opening to learn about the biogeochemical processes that occur in the ocean, which has motivated me to learn even more about the environment.

SEE PRESENTATION

Water and Agriculture

Ahdieh, Na'im ’25

PROJECT

Engineers Without Borders: Irrigation Project in Carnachique, Peru

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton University Chapter, Peru - Carnachique, Peru

MENTOR(S)

Amilcare Porporato, Thomas J. Wu ’94 Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the High Meadows Environmental Institute, Faculty Advisor, EWB, Princeton University Chapter; Scott Gregory, Program Engineer, EWB

Minor(s): Architecture and Engineering

The irrigation system in Carnachique, a hamlet located in northwest Peru, has caused the community difficulty in growing sufficient food during the summer season because the dirt canal absorbs water, which causes insufficient flow rates. This summer, six members of Princeton’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders traveled to Carnachique to continue the program’s partnership with the community there to improve this irrigation system. The team began the implementation phase of their ongoing project to update the community’s agricultural irrigation system, which entailed assembling PVC pipes and concrete boxes that follow the original 1.4km pipeline system. The team worked closely with the community to design and implement the pipeline system, create water access points for each field and collect data for future reservoirs. By emphasizing communication, collaboration and working to ensure that the community members have a clear understanding of the maintenance and functioning of the system, the team hopes that their efforts will enable the community of Carnachique to sustain this project into the future.

SEE PRESENTATION

Beers, Brooke ’25

PROJECT

Understanding Watershed Processes in Complex Terrain: Mountain Hydrology at Snodgrass Hillslope

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Integrated GroundWater Modeling Center, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University - Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, Colorado

MENTOR(S)

Reed Maxwell, William and Edna Macaleer Professor of Engineering and Applied Science, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Harry Stone, Ph.D. candidate, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Minor(s): Sustainable Energy

The western United States has a deep reliance on the Colorado River for water supply and hydropower, which is directly related to snowmelt in the Rocky Mountains. I worked with another intern and a Ph.D. candidate to investigate the dynamics of a headwater system on Snodgrass Mountain near Crested Butte, Colorado. We collected several sources of data, including soil moisture and temperature, climate information and drone flights. This project involved a great amount of physical work on the mountain, precision in maintaining our equipment setup and also gave me the opportunity to do some primary data analysis. Additionally, I gathered independent data about plant species diversity and soil texture/ size, which I plan to develop into a senior thesis. This experience has taught me that I thrive in a setting involving fieldwork, which I hope to incorporate into my future career path.

SEE PRESENTATION

Cruz, Alexis ’27

PROJECT

Engineers Without Borders: Irrigation Project in Carnachique, Peru

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton University Chapter, Peru - Carnachique, Peru

MENTOR(S)

Amilcare Porporato, Thomas J. Wu ’94 Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the High Meadows Environmental Institute, Faculty Advisor, EWB, Princeton University Chapter; Scott Gregory, Program Engineer, EWB

Minor(s): Engineering Physics; Materials Science and Engineering

The irrigation system in Carnachique, a hamlet located in northwest Peru, has caused the community difficulty in growing sufficient food during the summer season because the dirt canal absorbs water, which causes insufficient flow rates. This summer, six members of Princeton’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders traveled to Carnachique to continue the program’s partnership with the community there to improve this irrigation system. The team began the implementation phase of their ongoing project to update the community’s agricultural irrigation system, which entailed assembling PVC pipes and concrete boxes that follow the original 1.4km pipeline system. The team worked closely with the community to design and implement the pipeline system, create water access points for each field and collect data for future reservoirs. By emphasizing communication, collaboration and working to ensure that the community members have a clear understanding of the maintenance and functioning of the system, the team hopes that their efforts will enable the community of Carnachique to sustain this project into the future.

SEE PRESENTATION

Cueva-Becerra, Hector ’26

PROJECT

Engineers Without Borders: Irrigation Project in Carnachique, Peru

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton University Chapter, Peru - Carnachique, Peru

MENTOR(S)

Amilcare Porporato, Thomas J. Wu ’94 Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the High Meadows Environmental Institute, Faculty Advisor, EWB, Princeton University Chapter; Scott Gregory, Program Engineer, EWB

Minor(s): Sustainable Energy

The irrigation system in Carnachique, a hamlet located in northwest Peru, has caused the community difficulty in growing sufficient food during the summer season because the dirt canal absorbs water, which causes insufficient flow rates. This summer, six members of Princeton’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders traveled to Carnachique to continue the program’s partnership with the community there to improve this irrigation system. The team began the implementation phase of their ongoing project to update the community’s agricultural irrigation system, which entailed assembling PVC pipes and concrete boxes that follow the original 1.4km pipeline system. The team worked closely with the community to design and implement the pipeline system, create water access points for each field and collect data for future reservoirs. By emphasizing communication, collaboration and working to ensure that the community members have a clear understanding of the maintenance and functioning of the system, the team hopes that their efforts will enable the community of Carnachique to sustain this project into the future.

SEE PRESENTATION

DeFrates, Ashley ’25

PROJECT

Understanding Watershed Processes in Complex Terrain: Mountain Hydrology at Snodgrass Hillslope

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Integrated GroundWater Modeling Center, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University - Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, Colorado

MENTOR(S)

Reed Maxwell, William and Edna Macaleer Professor of Engineering and Applied Science, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the High Meadows Environmental Institute; Harry Stone, Ph.D. candidate, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Streamflow in the Colorado River has declined in recent years, threatening water availability and hydropower in the Western United States. Because much of the Colorado River’s water originates from mountain snowmelt, an understanding of hydrological processes over complex terrain is crucial in assessing the causes of this streamflow decline. I collected hydrometeorological data to resolve the water balance over a mountainous micro-catchment in the Upper Colorado River Basin. By building and repairing instrumentation such as meteorological towers and streamflow weirs, this internship provided me with hands-on experience conducting field work. I also had the opportunity to conduct independent data collection, which focused on investigating how soil moisture varies with soil depth across an elevation gradient. Analyzing this data alongside measurements of evapotranspiration gave insights into the role of plant water use in downstream surface water decline. I hope to build upon these research questions and data as I develop my senior thesis to continue working towards a better understanding of hydrological processes over complex terrain.

SEE PRESENTATION

Girand, Sophia ’25

PROJECT

StreamWatch Water Quality Monitoring Program

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

The Watershed Institute - Pennington, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Erin Stretz, Assistant Director of Science and Stewardship, The Watershed Institute; Jian Smith, StreamWatch Program Coordinator, The Watershed Institute

For over 30 years, StreamWatch volunteers have collected water quality data from over 50 freshwater sites across the state of New Jersey. I joined scientists at the Watershed Institute in analyzing these samples for E. coli, nutrients, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, pH and conductivity to better inform the quality of a stream, lake, or pond and advise the public of potential hazardous events, such as harmful algal blooms. As the StreamWatch program has expanded over the years, new technologies have been introduced for volunteer-collected data. For my individual project, I collected and analyzed samples with different technologies, including chemical kits, various meters and a Gallery Discrete Analyzer, in order to understand how the collection methods differ. To enable StreamWarch data collected via different methods to be analyzed and compared simultaneously, I applied a transformation to the 30-year StreamWatch data. I’m grateful for my experience working at the Watershed and I’m excited to continue pursuing research in the future.

SEE PRESENTATION

Habib, Rose ’27

PROJECT

Exploring Natural Variation of Seed Oil Content in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) for Climate Resilient Agriculture

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Conway Lab, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Jonathan Conway, Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Samuel Eastman, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Chemical and Biological Engineering; Chao Liao, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Chemical and Biological Engineering

Minor(s): Archaeology, Visual Arts

My research focused on evaluating okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) as a viable alternative oil source. Our group is using various laboratory procedures including DNA extraction, NMR spectroscopy, genetic engineering and advanced data analysis to identify plant lines with the highest seed oil content, with the aim of enhancing future production. My work was mainly in the field at the Princeton Seed Farm, where I performed controlled pollination and phenotypic selection while tending to the okra plants. I also delved into the literature on key topics in biology and biochemistry, particularly through the study of model plants like Arabidopsis thaliana that we processed for single insertion events. This literature review encompassed topics include genotyping, selective breeding for homozygosity, bacterial transformation and plating. My work also extended to exploring the intersection of technology and engineering, where I investigated microbial interactions by developing highthroughput 3D-printed microplanters designed to host various media and environments, potentially leading to more efficient automated data collection. Most importantly, I had the opportunity to expand my network by collaborating with faculty and fellow students at Princeton who share my academic and research interests.

SEE PRESENTATION

Kim, Jeremy ’27

PROJECT

Exploring Natural Variation of Seed Oil Content in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) for Climate Resilient Agriculture

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Conway Lab, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Jonathan Conway, Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Samuel Eastman, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Chemical and Biological Engineering; Chao Liao, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Chemical and Biological Engineering

Okra, a multi-purpose crop that has shown tolerance to abiotic stress conditions, has risen as a solution to the increasing threats of global warming. As an oilseed crop, okra is also considered a vital food commodity. This project aims to make the production of okra oil more economical by identifying genetic markers for high seed oil content. I extracted DNA from a vast array of okra samples from which reference genomes were produced. From these reference genomes, it will be possible to identify genes associated with higher oil content, as well as changes within genes across generations. In addition, I worked on optimizing the DNA extraction procedure to produce purer and more consistent data, since okra contains a significant amount of saccharides that can negatively impact the procedure. Outside the lab, I worked on the Seed Farm to care for the okra plants and collect samples. I plan to continue working on this project during the semester and the implications behind the genetic markers for high seed oil content make me curious about other ways in which breeding can lead to improved crop characteristics.

SEE PRESENTATION

Kotta, Sriya ’26

PROJECT

Engineers Without Borders: Irrigation Project in Carnachique, Peru

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton University Chapter, Peru - Carnachique, Peru

MENTOR(S)

Amilcare Porporato, Thomas J. Wu ’94 Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the High Meadows Environmental Institute, Faculty Advisor, EWB, Princeton University Chapter; Scott Gregory, Program Engineer, EWB

Minor(s): Computer Science, Sustainable Energy

The irrigation system in Carnachique, a hamlet located in northwest Peru, has caused the community difficulty in growing sufficient food during the summer season because the dirt canal absorbs water, which causes insufficient flow rates. This summer, six members of Princeton’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders traveled to Carnachique to continue the program’s partnership with the community there to improve this irrigation system. The team began the implementation phase of their ongoing project to update the community’s agricultural irrigation system, which entailed assembling PVC pipes and concrete boxes that follow the original 1.4km pipeline system. The team worked closely with the community to design and implement the pipeline system, create water access points for each field and collect data for future reservoirs. By emphasizing communication, collaboration and working to ensure that the community members have a clear understanding of the maintenance and functioning of the system, the team hopes that their efforts will enable the community of Carnachique to sustain this project into the future.

SEE PRESENTATION

Marín, Edalix ’27

PROJECT

Understanding the Effects of “Three Sisters” Crop Mutualisms

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Rubenstein Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Daniel Rubenstein, Class of 1877 Professor of Zoology, Emeritus, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Emeritus; Gina Talt, Project Manager, Food Systems, Office of Sustainability

Although a large part of commercial agriculture involves monocultures, there are potential benefits associated with polyculture farming. To learn more about the possible advantages of polyculture farming, I researched the “three sisters,” which is the term many Indigenous communities use to refer to the method of growing corn, beans and squash together. This method allows each crop to benefit from the others when grown together because of mutualisms between the three plant species. Using this knowledge to design field experiments, we grew the three crops in monoculture (rows) and polyculture (mounds and blocks) designs. This process required learning different planting methods, setting up irrigation systems and employing various techniques of field maintenance. Using sensors that measure NDVI, or plant greenness and health, germination rates and beneficial-to-pest insect ratios, we were able to collect data that would help us analyze the health and productivity of each design. Then, we used JMP software to run statistical analyses of our data and create visualizations to better understand it. Learning more about intercropping, sustainable agriculture and culturally significant foods has been a fascinating experience and has motivated me to learn more about food and agriculture from both scientific and anthropological perspectives.

McNeal-Martinis, Madison ’27

PROJECT

Using Solid-state Fermentation To Create Nutrient-dense Food

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Avalos Research Group, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

José Avalos, Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Bioengineering; Yekaterina Tarasova, Associate Research Scholar, Chemical and Biological Engineering

Minor(s): African American Studies, Bioengineering

Anthropogenic climate change is one of the most important issues of our time. The food system is one of the biggest contributors to the greenhouse gas emissions that accelerate climate change, with animal products accounting for the vast majority of those emissions. Thus, in tackling climate change, it is essential that we consider ways to minimize our reliance on animal products by creating alternative ways to obtain the nutrients usually found in animal products. I worked with Mycsology Foods, a startup hoping to solve this issue through solid-state fermentation by growing microorganisms on a solid substrate to ultimately create nutrient-dense food ingredients. I helped quantify the protein content of several fermented samples using analytical assays and helped optimize a protein extraction method. I also helped develop methods to quantify amino acid content and B vitamin content in these samples using high-performance liquid chromatography. Overall, this internship introduced me to new lab techniques, increased my confidence working in a lab environment and made me excited to continue to pursue biological research as a career.

SEE PRESENTATION

Nguyen, Brian ’27

PROJECT

Management of Geospatial “Groundtruthing” Data for Environmental Water Quality Monitoring Sites

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

The Watershed Institute - Pennington, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Erin Stretz, Assistant Director of Science and Stewardship, The Watershed Institute; Jian Smith, StreamWatch Program Coordinator, The Watershed Institute

Minor(s): Climate Science, Engineering Biology, Sustainable Energy

The Watershed Institute is a non-profit that recruits volunteers to monitor water quality at over 150 sites across Central New Jersey. Many of these monitoring sites are selected using satellite imagery, but unfortunately, satellite imagery cannot provide crucial details about each site. I developed a groundtruthing process to manage these crucial details so that they can be provided to volunteers. First, I developed an on-site assessment form to gather data such as parking locations, walking distances and environmental hazards and used the ArcGIS Fields Mobile App to link accurate GPS coordinate information with my gathered data. Then, I used ArcGIS Online to create a dynamic data management platform that streamlines data entry and organization. I also designed a quality control process to ensure the entry of standardized and accurate data, and created a dynamic viewing platform for volunteers to easily find their sites’ groundtruthing data. In addition to a greater understanding of how important environmental water quality is, the process of designing and implementing a helpful tool has solidified my commitment to civil and environmental engineering. I hope to carry this spirit of design and environmental stewardship into my future endeavors.

SEE PRESENTATION

Patel, Rajan ’27

PROJECT

Analyzing Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana and Developing Autoclavable Mycroplanters

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Conway Lab, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Jonathan Conway, Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Samuel Eastman, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Chemical and Biological Engineering; Chao Liao, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Chemical and Biological Engineering

Minor(s): Computer Science

I worked with transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana to screen 15 different combinations of plant lines and promoters for single insertion events. This involved processing 180 plants to seeds and planting them on kanamycin agar plates. Using Mendelian inheritance and the kanamycin resilience of different plant lines we were able to screen the plant lines for single insertion events. I adapted and developed mycroplanters, a series of planting wells used for the first 15 days of growth. I was responsible for developing the 3D printing process with high-temperature resin that enabled these planters to be autoclaved for sterilization. I also conducted a small experiment looking at how different combinations of bacteria in seed growth medium impacts plant growth using these mycroplanters. These mycroplanters may be used in the future for much larger experiments. I also had the opportunity to work on the Princeton Seed Farm, where I helped collect okra leaf samples and plant soybeans. Overall, this experience pushed me to develop research skills as well as engage in critical conversations, which has inspired me to continue exploring the intersections between biology and mechanical engineering.

SEE PRESENTATION

Savchyn, Diana ’25

PROJECT

Probing Microbial Colonization of Plants During Drought to Enable Microbe-mediated Resilience in Crops

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Conway Lab, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Jonathan Conway, Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Ella Gunady, Ph.D. candidate, Chemical and Biological Engineering; Ting Jiang, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Chemical and Biological Engineering

Intimate associations between microbes and plants can impact plant growth, productivity and resilience to stresses such as drought. This project aims to isolate a complete bacterial collection from two model plants, Arabidopsis and Brachypodium, in order to better understand the genetic makeup of the rhizosphere, the below ground location where plant roots and soil microbes interact. After successful isolation of the microbial collection, the goal is to choose focal microbial strains for genetic engineering to elucidate the genetic mechanisms that positively or negatively affect the host plant. I worked to grow, purify, identify and store a complete collection of isolated microbial strains. I found this project very compelling because I was able to collect roughly 500 microbial isolates over six phyla, which helped me understand the scale of rhizosphere diversity. In addition, I was able to collect data on microbial growth behaviors such as growth time, morphology and media preferences, which will inform future work with the specific strains. For my senior thesis, I plan to focus on a specific microbial genus such as Streptomyces to mechanistically define the essential plant-microbe interactions that occur during drought. These mechanistic understandings will inform efforts to develop new technologies in bio-agriculture industries.

* This internship is connected to the HMEI Water and the Environment Grand Challenges project, “Probing Microbial Colonization of Plants During Drought to Enable Microbiome-Mediated Resilience in Crops.”

SEE PRESENTATION

Smith , Trinity ’27

PROJECT

Understanding the Effects of “Three Sisters” Crop Mutualisms

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Rubenstein Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Daniel Rubenstein, Class of 1877 Professor of Zoology, Emeritus, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Emeritus; Gina Talt, Project Manager, Food Systems, Office of Sustainability

Minor(s): Environmental Studies

How can farmers optimize crop yield amidst growing challenges such as water shortages, pesticide resistance and a warming climate? I explored a Native American planting practice called the “Three Sisters” to answer this question and to better understand how food can be sustainably grown in New Jersey. The “Three Sisters” is a polyculture in which corn, beans and squash are planted closely to create an environment of reciprocity. I evaluated the mutualistic effects of this method across various field designs and used Arable Sensor equipment and field analysis to gather data on soil health, plant health, the ratio of beneficial to pest insect species and crop yield throughout the growing season. I then used JMP software to conduct a preliminary analysis on the differences in crop productivity, germination and insect diversity. Some intriguing aspects of this project were the critical intersections between culture, food sustainability and food sovereignty. The exploration of these intersections has sparked my passion for food systems and agriculture, which I now plan to pursue in future coursework and as a researcher for other Seed Farm projects.

Tafolla, Joanna ’26

PROJECT

Engineers Without Borders: Irrigation Project in Carnachique, Peru

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton University Chapter, Peru - Carnachique, Peru

MENTOR(S)

Amilcare Porporato, Thomas J. Wu ’94 Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the High Meadows Environmental Institute, Faculty Advisor, EWB, Princeton University Chapter; Scott Gregory, Program Engineer, EWB

The irrigation system in Carnachique, a hamlet located in northwest Peru, has caused the community difficulty in growing sufficient food during the summer season because the dirt canal absorbs water, which causes insufficient flow rates. This summer, six members of Princeton’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders traveled to Carnachique to continue the program’s partnership with the community there to improve this irrigation system. The team began the implementation phase of their ongoing project to update the community’s agricultural irrigation system, which entailed assembling PVC pipes and concrete boxes that follow the original 1.4km pipeline system. The team worked closely with the community to design and implement the pipeline system, create water access points for each field and collect data for future reservoirs. By emphasizing communication, collaboration and working to ensure that the community members have a clear understanding of the maintenance and functioning of the system, the team hopes that their efforts will enable the community of Carnachique to sustain this project into the future.

SEE PRESENTATION

Toberman, Ellen ’25

PROJECT

Engineers Without Borders: Irrigation Project in Carnachique, Peru

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton University Chapter, Peru - Carnachique, Peru

MENTOR(S)

Amilcare Porporato, Thomas J. Wu ’94 Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the High Meadows Environmental Institute, Faculty Advisor, EWB, Princeton University Chapter; Scott Gregory, Program Engineer, EWB

Minor(s): Architecture

The irrigation system in Carnachique, a hamlet located in northwest Peru, has caused the community difficulty in growing sufficient food during the summer season because the dirt canal absorbs water, which causes insufficient flow rates. This summer, six members of Princeton’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders traveled to Carnachique to continue the program’s partnership with the community there to improve this irrigation system. The team began the implementation phase of their ongoing project to update the community’s agricultural irrigation system, which entailed assembling PVC pipes and concrete boxes that follow the original 1.4km pipeline system. The team worked closely with the community to design and implement the pipeline system, create water access points for each field and collect data for future reservoirs. By emphasizing communication, collaboration and working to ensure that the community members have a clear understanding of the maintenance and functioning of the system, the team hopes that their efforts will enable the community of Carnachique to sustain this project into the future.

SEE PRESENTATION

Yoo, Justin ’27

PROJECT

Using Solid-state Fermentation to Create Nutrient-dense Food

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Avalos Research Group, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Avalos Research Group, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton UniversityJosé Avalos, Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Bioengineering; Yekaterina Tarasova, Associate Research Scholar, Chemical and Biological Engineering

Our food system is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions and is rapidly accelerating the dangers of climate change. With animal products acting as the main contributor to these CO₂ emissions, alternative foods that can supply similar nutrients must be explored. I worked with Mycsology Foods to use solid-state fermentation, a sustainable, less energy consuming method, to produce nutrient-dense, high protein ingredients from legumes and grains. The goal of my project was to investigate whether an infrared camera could be used to monitor fermentation temperatures in a deep-well format. My experiments focused on testing a widely used MLX90640 IR camera sensor connected to a Raspberry Pi for accuracy and consistency. I compared the temperature measurements between the IR camera and an external thermometer and found that the camera was inaccurate. However, graphing the temperatures of the thermometer versus the IR camera showed a strong linear relationship between the two readings. I then showed that the camera was also able to distinguish temperatures between adjacent and diagonal wells. This internship exposed me to Adafruit hardware and Python and sparked my interest in the intersections between Electrical and Chemical Engineering and Chemical and Biological Engineering.

SEE PRESENTATION

Zhang, Anthea ’25