With
humble beginnings in 1980, the Research Training
Program was founded as an opportunity for
Smithsonian scholars to share the research,
collections and facilities of the NMNH with
undergraduate students. Since then more than
500 students have spent time with us helping
to shape all that we've become. But what's become
of you? Perhaps you were one of the first program
participants, volunteering your time in Botany?
Perhaps you joined us for a short time during
a winter or spring break? Or, perhaps, you were
recently here enjoying the full benefits of
an established, but ever evolving, curriculum.
Whatever your involvement, we want to hear from
you. Send us your story, maybe a couple photos,
and even web links.
Many
ask: "What happens to RTP participants
after the conclusion of the summer program?"
Our records show that for most, more than 62%,
the answer is graduate school in the natural
history sciences. Many continue to stay in contact
with each other and with colleagues at the NMNH
including the RTP office.
We hope you do too!
- To
look up old friends, check out the DIRECTORY.
- To
learn more about what RTP alumni are doing,
review MESSAGE
CENTER.
- To
see more photos of what other alumni have
been up to, visit our PHOTO
GALLERY.
- To
stay in touch with Smithsonian events, read
ALUMNI
NEWS.
We
think it's important to stay in contact with
each other and enjoy hearing from you! To contact
us send a message to: sangreym@si.edu
CALLING
ALL RTP ALUMNI
How
are You! We hope you're well and have been successful
in your professional endeavors since your summer
at the Smithsonian (and that you've been enjoying
life after the RTP). Although we see your names
and faces often from the pictures you left behind,
we still miss you and often wonder what you're
doing these days.
Unfortunately,
we don't have current information for many of
you, and we would love to know how you have
been doing since your summer here at NMNH!!
A
"hello" reply from you will make our
day, but we'd love to know a little more. We'd
greatly appreciate it if you could answer a
few quick questions:
1.
Did you earn your undergraduate degree, if so
what year and from what college/university?
2.
Did you earn a Masters degree and again, if
so what year and from what college/university?
What was the title of your thesis? If you haven't
earned it yet, where are you currently studying
and when do you anticipate earning your degree?
3.
Did you earn a Ph.D. and, if so what year and
from what college/university? If you haven't
earned it yet, where are you currently studying
and when do you anticipate earning your degree?
4.
Are you employed? What's your position and where
are you working? Do you consider yourself employed
in a natural history career?
5.
Have you received any honors, awards, or fellowships?
6.
Did you publish or present your RTP research
topic? Have you published anything recently?
7.
And, of course, how are you doing? Married,
and kids? Any special stories to tell?
Don't
delay. Take a couple minutes and send that e-mail
NOW. Send
along a photo - we LOVE those!
We
really look forward to hearing from you, and
hope it's soon 'cause just posting this note
really has us wondering how you are and excited
to hear back from you. As always, if you're
in the neighborhood, please stop by to say hello.
All the Best,
The RTP Team
|
|
Kate
Jackson (1993), shown here with an
anaconda she caught in Venezuela, earned
her Masters degree from the University
of Toronto in 1995 and her Ph.D. from
Harvard University in 2001 by continuing
her RTP research topic on the morphology
of snake venom delivery systems.
To
learn more about what Kate has been doing
since her time with the RTP visit the
DIRECTORY
section.
|
|
RTP
alumni gathered at the AIBS/XVI Botanical
Congress held in St. Louis, Missouri (1999)
to catch up on "old times" and new directions.
More
socials are planned at upcoming meetings.
To see what's on the horizon visit ALUMNI
NEWS.
Pictured at right are several from the
RTP Class of 1995: Nicholla Johnson,
Alejandra Jaramillo, and Mac
Alford.
|
|
 |
 |
 |
Following
his RTP summer, Sea McKeon (1997),
conducted field research in South America
and sent us some images from his adventures.
He writes:
"The
first one (above) is me paddling a dugout
canoe around Cocha Cashu, Parque Nacional
Manu - this is how I would get from one
place to another to catch my reptiles
and amphibians.
The
second one (left) is a Spectacled Caiman
that was stuck into my tent one morning
while I was sleeping by one of my "friends"
- enjoy!"
To
see more photos from RTP alumni PHOTO
GALLERY.
|
