Smithsonian
Latino Initiatives
Partnership Program
2004
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2006
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2007
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2008
To
build academic relationships between the NMNH
scientific community and Latino/a students the
NMNH hosts the "Latino Initiatives Partnership
Program" (LIPP). Through this program undergraduate
and beginning level graduate students spend
ten weeks working with an NMNH scientists. Latino/a
students join in the full curriculum of our
prestigious summer Research Training Program.
RTP
Class of '08
Smithsonian
Latino Initiatives Interns
Phillip
Barden
Phillip
Barden
Smithsonian Latino
Initiatives Fund
2008
Phillip
Barden.
2008.
Arizona State University (Biology, 2009). Diversity
of leaf-litter Pheidole in Guyana: DNA
barcoding and Auto-Montage digital images. Dr.
Ted Schultz, Entomology. Smithsonian
Latino Initiatives.
-
-
RTP
Project Summary.
Dear
Smithsonian Latino Initiatives,
As a child, when I would visit the Natural History
Museum, I never imagined that I would one day
be working along side Smithsonian scientists,
uncovering the secrets of the living world.
Even after I discovered that I was selected
to be a part of the Research Training Program,
it didn't fully sink in. It wasn't until I saw
a particular storage unit in the Ornithology
department on the first day that I realized
this summer was going to be a milestone in my
life, the cabinet was labeled in modest handwriting
"Darwin - Audubon - Wallace".
Since that moment, I have seen and heard countless
things that inspire me to do great science,
shaping and cementing my career goals. My mentors
Dr. Schultz and Dr. Mehdiabadi provided invaluable
insight into the research world. The encouragement
and guidance I received from the AntLab serves
as an exemplar in my mind of altruism and collaboration.
I aspire to become a holistic scientist, utilizing
information from multiple fields in order to
attempt to answer questions in novel ways. This
program was ideal for my development in this
way. I not only gained valuable genetic and
taxonomic skills that directly relate to my
interests as an organismal biologist, I was
able to expand my breadth of knowledge in new
fields such as anthropology and geology.
I want to thank you for allowing me to take
part in this amazing program. I can't imagine
a better place for me to have spent my summer,
rather than in Washington, at one of the world's
premier research institutions. I can only hope
that more students will be funded by the Smithsonian
Latino Initiatives in the future, as this was
truly a tremendous opportunity that has had
a major impact on my life.
Sincerely,
Phillip
Barden
Research Training Program
Class of '08
RTP
Class of '07
Smithsonian
Latino Initiatives Interns
Cecily
Marroquin
Cecily
Marroquin
Smithsonian Latino
Initiatives Fund
2007
Cecily
Marroquin
2007.
New Mexico State University. Quantifying Disease
in Societies without Epidemiological Records.
Alain Touwaide. Botany. Smithsonian
Latino Initiatives Fund.-
- RTP
Project Summary.
Dear
Latino Initiatives Fund,
I am writing you this letter first and foremost
to thank you for providing me with the opportunity
to join the Research Training Program (RTP)
at the National Museum of Natural History. This
experience has been nothing less than extraordinary.
With that said, I feel that the most sincere
way to thank you would be to take what I have
been offered and use it to the fullest of my
potential.
Through
living and learning and simply being in the
presence of such an influential place as the
Natural History Museum (not to mention Washington
D.C. as a whole) I learned of the necessities
required to succeed, not only as a scientific
researcher, but also as a young woman on the
brink of her career. A few months ago when I
sat down with my computer in front of me, just
as I am sitting now, and read the description
of the RTP, I could only imagine the possibility
of ever being rewarded such a life-changing
opportunity. At the time I had little idea of
what I could expect to walk away with.
In
my cover letter I vaguely described my expectations
as an opportunity for "the growth as a
future scientist that I (believed I could) obtain
by participating in this program". Looking
back at the past couple of weeks, I see that
I have gained so much more than that. I have
worked with the most brilliant natural history
scientists of our time in top of the line facilities;
I have seen what seems like all the world's
creatures, plants and peoples within the endless
rows of specimens; lastly, I have worked on
a project that could one day lead to the recovery
of a lost piece of human history: the epidemiology
of the Old World.
As
anyone would say, it was a chance of a lifetime.
Undoubtedly for me, it was the chance that will
shape a lifetime. I sincerely appreciate all
that you have done and all that the experience
(that you made possible) will continue to do
for me and my peers, past, present and future.
Sincerely,
Cecily
Marroquin
Research Training Program
Class of '07
RTP
Class of '06
Smithsonian
Latino Initiatives Interns
Jorge
Alvarez
Jorge
Alvarez
Smithsonian Latino
Initiatives Fund
2006
Jorge
Alvarez.
2006.
University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez. Reconstructing
a Permian Tropical Forest: Vegetational Compositions
and Patterns of Herbivory. Dr. William DiMichele
and Dr. Conrad Labandeira., Paleobiology. Smithsonian
Latino Initiatives Fund.-
- RTP
Project Summary.
Dear
Latino Initiatives Fund,
It
is with utmost sincerity that I give my thanks
for providing the funds that have enabled me
to partake in a most enriching and interesting
experience; the Research Training Program (RTP)
at Smithsonian Institution's National Museum
of Natural History. This permitted me to be
part of this Institution and to work alongside
some of the top scientists in my field of interest,
as well as meet some of the other experts doing
the latest research in their respective field.
It has been a unique chance to experience first-hand
the work that goes on "behind the scenes"
of a museum, something that many others might
never realize.
Through
the RTP I have been given access to invaluable
resources that would otherwise be out of my
reach. I have worked with, and held in my hands,
invaluable specimens that give us insights into
our planet's past, plus the necessary equipment
to analyze these. This program that I have been
a part of has lived up to its name, giving me
a real feel for what scientific research consists
of, as well as giving me an excellent start
for what I plan in my future career. It has
also helped me in deciding what I would really
like to focus on for my graduate studies, if
not simply given me many more options.
I
sincerely believe that the Latino Initiatives
Fund is truly making a difference for our community.
I understand that, like me, many others in the
Latino community are interested in the natural
sciences, but they do not have the resources
to take their interest much further, or in the
worst of cases, are simply disregarded as valuable
assets to the scientific community. It is thanks
to programs like yours that address this issue
that a difference can be made, and like me,
many others are sure to be immensely grateful
for this.
Thanks
for a wonderful and unique experience that has
taught me much for my future benefit; one that
I will forever remember.
Sincerely,
Jorge
Alvarez
Research Training Program
Class of '06
Smithsonian
Latino Initiatives Fund
2004
Since
it's founding in 1980 the NMNH Research Training
Program has provide quality internships for
students to engage in the natural history
science of the Smithsonian. Much more that
just a general internship, in addition to
conducting a research project, students become
part of the NMNH community and through a diverse
curriculum of lectures, discussions, workshops,
demonstrations, tours and field trips gain
an unbarrelled view of our Museum and the
science we support.
The RTP has launched the graduate education,
and career, of many student who are now professionals
in the natural history sciences. Including
international student participants has always
been an important component of the program.
Not only does this provide an opportunity
for US students to learn about other countries
and cultures, they also establish important
colleague relationships that carry through
the years, including joint field work and
interesting publication collaborations. The
opportunity for international students to
come to the NMNH, utilize our collections
and facilities, and gain personal friendships
with our staff not only furthers their education,
it also helps maintain international relationships
and partnerships. They bring their culture
to our program, and Museum, and in doing so
influence our public products and productions
thereby encouraging other students and professionals
from their culture to be attracted to, and
share in, our offerings.
A total of 213 applications were received
for consideration in the '04 Research Training
Program. The applicant pool included 145 US
citizens and 45 applications from international
students, representing 28 different countries
including: Argentina (2), Brazil (4), Colombia
(1), Cuba (1), Ecuador (5), Guatemala (1),
Mexico (3), Paraguay (2), Peru (1), and Uruguay
(1).
Of these 21 applicants, many are very strong
candidates for placement in an internship
at NMNH, including participation in the '04
RTP.
To bring Hispanic science and culture to our
'04 RTP we would like select from the 21 Latino/a
RTP applicants, 4 international, Hispanic
students for participation in our summer program.
Students will be provided a stipend, housing,
travel to/from Washington, DC, and a research
support budget. The cost per participant is
$7,500.
The
2004 Latino Initiatives Interns
Miguel
Pinto, Xavier Haro, Mauricio Torres, Joaquin
Aldabe
Joaquin
Aldabe.
2004.
Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay. A study
of the morphological adaptations and the feeding
habits of the Scimitar-Billed Woodcreeper
(Drymornis bridgesii). - - Virtual
Poster. Dr.
Carla Dove, Vertebrate Zoology - Birds. Smithsonian
Latino Initiatives Fund..
- - RTP
Project Summary.
Xavier
Haro.
2004.
Catholic
University of Ecuador. A key of the genus
Cryptionopsis Ecuador, South America
(Vernonieae: Asteraceae).
- - Virtual
Poster. Dr.
Harold Robinson, Botany.
Smithsonian
Latino Initiatives Fund.
- - RTP
Project Summary.
Christian
Miguel Pinto.
2004.
Pontificia
Universidad Catolica, Ecuador. Identity of
an unusual bear from Alaska: the first documented
wild hybrid bear (Ursus americanus X
Ursus arctos)?
- - Virtual
Poster. Dr.
Al Gardner, Vertebrate Zoology - Mammals.
Smithsonian
Latino Initiatives Fund.
- - RTP
Project Summary.
Rafael
Mauricio Torres Mejia.
2004.
Universidad
Industrial de Santander, Colombia. Description
of a new Creagrutus species (TELEOSTEI:
CHARACIFORMS: CHARACIDAE) from the Rio Magdalena
basin, Colombia.
- - Virtual
Poster. Dr.
Richard Vari, Vertebrate Zoology - Fishes.
Smithsonian
Latino Initiatives Fund.
- - RTP
Project Summary.
