Academy marks 10th anniversary of summer science college internship program

PHILADELPHIA — Summer for some college students means waitressing at the beach or caddying at the local golf course. But for eight lucky undergraduate students at The Academy of Natural Sciences this summer, it means examining the guts of fish for PCBs, studying Devonian fossils to understand ancient life histories, and developing an Internet-accessible identification guide to help homeowners identify insect pests in lawns from those that are merely a nuisance. And that is to name only a few projects.

These students are participating in the Academy’s 10-week Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) internship program (http://www.ansp.org/research/opportunities/reu.php), funded by the National Science Foundation. The Academy is celebrating its 10th anniversary of participation with a record number of applicants (more than 150) from 100 colleges and universities in 32 states. Seven of the eight students chosen in the highly competitive process are women. Two hail from Pennsylvania and two from New Jersey.

“Although we have had more women than men selected for the program over these 10 years, women tend to be less represented in the science field after graduate school for a variety of reasons,” said Entomology Associate Curator Jon Gelhaus, a director of the Academy’s program. “Hopefully their experiences at the Academy this summer will inspire these students to pursue their dreams and give them the skills to accomplish them.”

“We make every effort to recruit minorities who are underrepresented in science,” said Paleontologist Ted Daeschler, also a director of the program.

The internships are especially valuable to students planning graduate study and careers in systematic and evolutionary biology, aquatic ecology and collection conservation. They can take advantage of the Academy’s scientific collections, laboratories and staff expertise in these areas

After a summer of intensive field and laboratory research, supplemented by field trips and seminars, each student will present the results of their research on Friday, Aug. 10, at the Academy. A number of former students have worked with their mentors even after the program’s end to prepare their research for final publication in scientific journals.

Here are the students, grade level as of fall and project. Project details at http://www.ansp.org/research/opportunities/reu_projects_2007.php

Clair Addis of Missoula, Mont., junior at Luther College, Iowa. Researching the molecular systematics of a group of plants with Postdoctoral Associate Dr. Ben Torke.

Katharine Criswell of Huntingdon, Pa., senior at Shippensburg University, Pa. Researching newly collected placoderm fish that lived in the Devonian Period, with Dr. Ted Daeschler and Postdoctoral Associate Dr. Jason Downs.

Kelly Hondula of Bridgewater, N.J., junior at University of Virginia. Studying aquatic ecology and freshwater diatom algae with Dr. Don Charles.

Kristian Jones of Raleigh, N.C., senior at Salem College, N.C. Researching herbarium collection with Collection Manager Alina Friere-Fierro.

Tiffany Hsin-Yu Liu of Indian Harbour Beach, Fla., sophomore at Princeton University, N.J. Studying aquatic ecology of microscopic freshwater invertebrates (rotifers) with Gallagher Fellow Dr. Scott Mills.

Cassandra Erin Ornell of North Andover, Mass., junior at Colby College, Maine. Studying the ecology of freshwater eels with Dr. Richard Horwitz.

Marcell Vasquez of Camden, N.J., senior at Philadelphia University, Pa. Conducting fish feeding studies with Dr. David Velinsky and Research Associate Dr. Jeff Ashley.

Paul Rhine of Blooming Grove, Pa., senior at Temple University, Pa. Studying pest insect taxonomy and developing a web-based identification guide with Dr. Jon Gelhaus.

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The Academy of Natural Sciences is Philadelphia’s natural history museum and a world leader in biodiversity and environmental research. The mission of the Academy is to create the basis for a healthy and sustainable planet through exploration, research and education.

The Academy is located at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway and is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and weekends until 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for children ages 3-12, students with college I.D. and military personnel, $8.25 for seniors, and free for children under 3.