2025 Internship Project Overview

As interns at The Watershed Institute, we were responsible for processing water samples taken from throughout the Stonybrook watershed and beyond to make accurate assessments regarding local water quality and safety. To do this, we performed nutrient, turbidity and E. coli tests on 50 to 80 local samples weekly, as well as six samples spanning Camden and Philadelphia, and published publicly viewable recommendations regarding water use. Alongside this, we analyzed our results as well as survey responses to scan for the presence of harmful algal blooms. If the possibility of a bloom was detected, we would travel to the site for further testing. We also monitored The Watershed’s onsite pond, Wargo Pond. We collected and processed biweekly samples to ensure safety for the campus’s many visitors and campers. In addition, each of us undertook an individual project that contributed deliverables that can be used by the watershed long term.

 

ORGANIZATION/RESEARCH GROUP

The Watershed Institute

LOCATION

Pennington, New Jersey

 

Interns

Lillian Raphael ’28
Major: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
"I learned about the impact of environmental changes on fresh water, methods to determine water quality, lab and field work, and data analysis. I came to recognize the connection between human development, freshwater quality, and environmental and human health."
Riley Samples ’28
Major: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Minor(s): Visual Arts
"I learned how to perform lab work, fieldwork, and data management. The most interesting part was seeing tasks through from sample collection to the data analysis."
Fiona Wolter ’28
Major: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Minor(s): Environmental Studies, Global Health and Health Policy
"This was an invaluable introduction to the multifaceted work of environmental scientists. I gained hands-on experience in wet-lab processing, field work, and data analysis while learning about the quality of streams and lakes near Princeton. This internship deepened my appreciation for environmental monitoring and made me eager to continue developing my skills in biological research."

Click to view the end-of-project presentation

 

Erin Stretz
Assistant Director of Science, The Watershed Institute

Mentors

  • Jian Smith, StreamWatch Program Coordinator, The Watershed Institute
  • Steve Tuorto, Director of Science & Stewardship, The Watershed Institute