Teachers

• 1. Check Requirements
• 2. Select a Research Project
• 3. Prepare an Essay
• 4. Prepare a Resume
• 5. Secure Principal's Reference
• 6. Selection Process

• 1. Prepare and submit a letter of recommendation.

• List of Participants
• Schedule of Events
• Answers to your Questions

Research Experiences for Teachers
Application Procedures
2002

1 July 2002 - 2 August 2002

A total of 7 teachers are anticipated to participate in the '02 session of the Research Experiences for Teachers Program.

DURATION: 5 weeks

DATES: 1 July 2002 to 2 August 2002

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 26 March 2002

POSITIONS AVAILABLE: We are targeting 7 - 10 positions.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Applicants must be currently employed middle school or high school teachers returning next year to a classroom setting as a full-time teacher.
• Applicants selected to join the Smithsonian program must commit to participation in the full 5 week program.

AWARD PACKAGE: Although contingent upon securing funding to support the initiative, we are following the JHU model and therefore anticipate providing teachers selected to participate in the program a stipend of $200 per day covering the 28 days of the session - totaling $5,600.

Please submit the following information to Mary Sangrey before Tuesday, 26 March 2002. We strongly recommend sending documents electronically, specifically as an e-mail attachment.

E-mail application documents to: sangrey.mary@nmnh.si.edu

Documents may also be faxed to: 202-786-2563

1. Submit your Resume or CV that includes at least the following information:

• Your Full Name
• Date of Birth
• Social Security Number
• Current Mailing Address
• Telephone Number, daytime and evening if appropriate
• E-mail Address
• Employment History
• Education
• Extracurricular activities, honors, professional affiliations

Also,

• School where you are currently teaching, and if different, the school where you will be teaching next year.
• Name of the Principal at your current school and their telephone number.
• Identify the ONE research topic you are most interested in. Topics are posted at this web site. We anticipate a total of about 6-10 topics to select from.

2. Submit an Essay.

Essays should be no more than one page in length and should focus on how a research experience at the Smithsonian will benefit your teaching experience and enhance classroom learning. In particular, please address how the particular research topic you selected will help you achieve these goals.

3. Secure a letter of recommendation from your current principal endorsing your participation in this program.

Letters of recommendation should be e-mailed or faxed directly to Mary Sangrey and must be received by 26 March 2002.

E-mail recommendations to: sangrey.mary@nmnh.si.edu

Recommendations may also be faxed to: 202-786-2563

Select the one research topic you are most interested in pursuing as part of your summer at the Smithsonian.

ANTHROPOLOGY

Project Title: Repatriation Research

Research Advisor: Dr. Eric Hollinger
Phone: 202-786-3146
E-mail: hollinger.eric@nmnh.si.edu
Research Team: Research Team: Eric Hollinger, William Billeck, Dorothy Lippert, Steven Ousley, Beth Eubanks, Betsy Bruemmer, and Laurie Burgess.

Project Description: The Repatriation Office conducts research on archaeological, ethnological, and human physical collections in response to requests for repatriation by Native American tribes and Hawaiian organizations. The repatriation process involves multiple lines of inquiry requiring detailed inventories and descriptions of remains and cultural objects, archival research, and analyses of historical and archaeological evidence to assess cultural affiliation of the collections. The research uses multidisciplinary applied archaeological and anthropological approaches to contemporary issues involving museums and native peoples.

Special Skills and/or qualifications needed: Interest in Native American history, archaeology, or cultural anthropology. Good general computer, library, and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to utilize diverse analytical approaches in problem solving. Patience in completing detail oriented tasks.

Project Title: Climatic Controls on the Properties of Archaeological Ceramics: A Global Viewpoint

Research Advisor: Dr. William G. Melson
Phone: 202-357-1947
E-mail: melson.william@nmnh.si.edu
Research Team: Bill Melson, Tim O’Hearn, Gus Van Beek, and Betty Meggers.

Senior Scientist. B.A. (1961) Johns Hopkins University; Ph.D. (1964) Princeton University. Research specialties: igneous and metamorphic petrology; research on rocks of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge; studies of active volcanoes; regional geology - Central America, Montana, Central Appalachians; marine geology - Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Unit affiliation: Department of Mineral Sciences.

Project Description:

Climate exerts a fundamental control on the composition of soil clays commonly used in ceramic production. In simplest terms, soil clays developed in wet and dry climates are fundamentally different in ways that lead to distinctly different ceramic working and firing properties.

This project examines this premise using pottery from a Middle East semi-arid site (Tell Jemmeh, collaborator archaeologist Dr. Gus Van Beek) and from the wet sites in the Amazon Basin (various sites, collaborator Dr. Betty Meggers). Arid and semiarid land soils are high in lime from calcic soils whereas tropical soils are low in lime and higher in alumina and ferric iron. Generally the high-lime clays will melt at a lower temperature, are harder, and generally lighter colored (calcium carbonate, termed whiting by ceramists, is the source of this effect) than the high alumina clays. These quite different compositional and mineralogic properties have influenced the technology of ceramic innovations in the two contrasting environments. This project builds on published and unpublished studies by Melson on the soil clays and material sciences at Tell Jemmeh, Israel, and in Costa Rica.

The tests will involve examination of the firing properties of a variety of synthetic clay mixtures, real soil clays, and the refiring properties of pottery sherds selected by Drs. Van Beek and Meggers. The fired samples will be examined macroscopically, with the scanning electron microscope, and with the electron microprobe to determine mineral and glass compositions.

The three week work schedule will involve: (week one) sampling and making synthetic ceramic clay mixes; (week 2) carefully monitored firings as to time and temperatures in an electric furnace of the samples prepared in week one, and (week 3) determination of the properties and compositions of selected samples and preparation of poster presentation.

Tim O’Hearn will assist with the compositional analyses. Because of the limited time, a total of twenty samples from each setting, including the synthetic and archaeological samples will be examined in this pilot study.

Special Qualifications: Knowledge of chemistry would be helpful. Theoretically, we will be exploring reactions and melting in the system CaO-Al2O3-SiO2-Fe2O3, a system that closely approximates the compositional range of ceramics that will be investigated.

In addition, some interest in art and archaeology as well as chemistry and/or physics would be helpful. Training or self-taught skills in potting also would be particularly useful.

Research Advisor: Dr. Michael Wise
Phone: 202-786-2609
E-mail: wise.michael@nmnh.si.edu
Research Team: Mike Wise and Cathe Brown

Geologist. B.A. (1979) University of Virginia; Ph.D. (1987) University of Manitoba. Research specialties: mineralogy, petrology, and geochemistry of pegmatites; petrogenesis and evolution of pegmatites and pegmatite-generating granites; systematic mineralogy; regional distribution of pegmatites in the Appalachians. Unit affiliation: Department of Mineral Sciences.

Project Description: NYF-type pegmatites are characterized by an overall geochemical affinity for niobium, yttrium, and fluorine, as well as, titanium, zirconium, uranium, and rare-earth elements. In the past, the mineralogy of NYF pegmatites was considered to be mundane, yet upon closer investigation, they appear to be more diverse than previously thought. The varied mineralogy within any single NYF-type pegmatite can be used to provide clues to the geochemical evolution of the pegmatite during its crystallization.

The objectives of this project are to examine a suite of minerals from NYF-type pegmatites, determine their relative timing of crystallization and establish the chemical changes which took place during pegmatite genesis.

Special skills and/or qualifications needed: An interest in earth science, especially rocks and minerals.

PALEOBIOLOGY

Project Title: Depth Ecology of Late Cretaceous Planktonic Foraminifer Species of Heterohelix

Research Advisor: Dr. Brian Huber
Phone: 202-786-2658
E-mail: huber.brian@nmnh.si.edu

Research Paleobiologist and Curator of Foraminifera. B.A. (1981) University of Akron; M.S. (1984), Ph.D. (1988) Ohio State University. Research specialties: Study of Cretaceous climate and oceanography; biostratigraphy and paleobiogeography of Cretaceous and Paleogene foraminifera; evolution and extinction dynamics of Late Cretaceous and Paleogene planktonic foraminifera; Cretaceous strontium and light stable isotope isotope stratigraphy. Unit affiliation: Department of Paleobiology.

Project Description: Oxygen and stable isotopic analyses of several species of the biserial planktonic foraminifer genus Heterohelix yield contradictory results with regard to inferences on its depth habitat in the the Late Cretaceous ocean.

In some cases species of this genus yield some of the most negative oxygen isotope values and most positive carbon isotope values relative to co-occurring planktonic foraminifer species, suggesting that it lived in the upper surface mixed layer, but the stable isotopic signatures are switched at other intervals or at other localities, suggesting that they lived at deeper levels.

The goal of this project is to investigate temporal and geographic variation in stable isotopic signatures of species of Heterohelix relative to co-occurring planktonic foraminifer species to determine (1) if there are discernable stratigraphic or geographic patterns in these apparent depth habitat shifts and (2) if these patterns can be related to paleoceanographic and/or paleoclimate changes.

The resulting data will also contribute to an understanding of the taxonomic relationships between these numerically abundant and geographically ubiquitous microscopic fossils.

VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY - BIRDS

Project Title: A survey of the variation in microscopic feather characters of North American Gulls (Laridae) that are involved in birdstrikes.

Research Advisor: Dr. Carla Dove
Phone: 202-357-2334
E-mail: dove.carla@nmnh.si.edu
Research Team: Carla Dove and Marcy Heacker-Skeans.

Project Description:

Examine and describe the variation in microscopic feather characters of North American gulls (Laridae) to aid in the identification of unknown feather samples recovered from bird-aircraft collisions (birdstrikes).

The project may involve use of light microscopes, scanning electron microscopes and statistical software packages to quantify the micro-morphological differences in diagnostic feather characters among species of gulls.

The results of this study will aid researchers in the identification of fragmentary feather evidence recovered from damaging birdstrikes. Ultimately, species identification data is used by engineers, airfield managers, and pilots to avoid damaging birdstrikes and improve aviation safety.

Special skills needed: general knowledge of light microscope operation; ability to spend hours of detailed microscopic observation and measurement, general computer skills.

VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY - FISHES

Project Title: How Many Species is Ophioblennius atlanticus?

Research Advisor: Carole C. Baldwin
Phone Number: 202-633-9179
E-Mail: baldwin.carole@nmnh.si.edu
Research Team: Carole Baldwin, Victor Springer, Amie Hankins.

Curator of Fishes. B.S. (1981) James Madison University; M.S. (1986) College of Charleston; Ph.D. (1992) College of William and Mary. Research specialties: systematics, phylogeny, morphology, early life history, and biogeography of tropical marine and deep-sea fishes. Unit affiliation: Department of Systematic Biology, Vertebrate Zoology Unit, Fishes Division.

Research Description:

A single species of the blenniid shorefish genus Ophioblennius traditionally has been recognized throughout the tropical Atlantic. A recent molecular study (Muss et al., 2001) of Ophioblennius populations from the eastern Pacific and Atlantic suggests six Atlantic lineages characterized by genetic divergences equal or greater to those typically observed between species. Information from an anatomical study of specimens from localities analyzed in the molecular study will be combined with information from Springer's (1962) study of Ophioblennius to determine if genetic divergences discovered in the molecular study are correlated with morphological differences.

One or more new species may be identified; if so, speciation in Atlantic Ophioblennius will be compared with that of other Atlantic shorefish genera in which several species recently have been determined to be masquerading under a single name.

The ultimate goals of the study will be to provide a taxonomic revision of Atlantic Ophioblennius and to contribute information to a more long-term study of patterns of morphological divergence and speciation in tropical Atlantic and eastern Pacific shorefishes.

The project may include travel to the annual American Society of Ichthyologists and herpetologists meeting in Kansas City (July 3-8) where the teacher will be able to meet some of the scientists involved in the molecular study of Ophioblennius.

Special skills and/or qualifications needed: Experience with studying specimens with dissecting microscopes would be helpful, as would basic knowledge of fish anatomy.

VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY - MAMMALS

Project Title: Comparative foot structures of shrews using x-rays.

Research Advisor: Dr. Neal Woodman
Phone: 202-786-2483
E-mail: woodman.neal@nmnh.si.edu

Research Zoologist and Curator of Mammals. B.A. (1980) Earlham College; M.S. (1982) University of Iowa; M.Phil. (1986), Ph.D. (1992) University of Kansas. Research specialties: taxonomy, systematics, biogeography, and phylogenetics of mammals; Soricidae (shrews); tropical mammal communities. Unit affiliation: Department of Systematic Biology, Vertebrate Zoology Unit, Mammals Division.

Project Description: Preliminary analyses of the structure of the foot in shrews has shown that this structure can provide valuable characters for understanding their evolutionary relationships, and it may assist in understanding the natural history and behavior of these small mammals. Unfortunately, few postcranial skeletons of shrews exist in systematic collections and most lack skeletons of the feet. Standard preparation of a dried skin of a small mammal preserves the bones of the feet within the skin.

The purpose of this study is to used x-ray photography to document the structure of the feet of a number of species of shrews from dried skins.

Different taxa will be compared to determine how bones of the foot vary in size and shape among taxa.

Project Title: Survey of baculum size and injury in the walrus (Odobenus rosmarus).

Research Advisor: Dr. Neal Woodman
Phone: 202-786-2483
E-mail: woodman.neal@nmnh.si.edu

Research Zoologist and Curator of Mammals. B.A. (1980) Earlham College; M.S. (1982) University of Iowa; M.Phil. (1986), Ph.D. (1992) University of Kansas. Research specialties: taxonomy, systematics, biogeography, and phylogenetics of mammals; Soricidae (shrews); tropical mammal communities. Unit affiliation: Department of Systematic Biology, Vertebrate Zoology Unit, Mammals Division.

Project Description: Male walrus, like other members of the Mammalian Order Carnivora, possess a simple bony structure, known as the baculum, that provides support for the male organ during mating.

Two recent reports, coupled with popular anecdotal accounts, suggest that breakage and rehealing of the baculum may be relatively common in the walrus.

This project will survey the holdings of walrus skeletal material in the National Museum of Natural History to determine the number of injuries among the sample of baculae in the collection. All baculae will be measured (width and depth at 3 locations, length) to determine (a) whether a correlation exists between bacular size and male body size; (b) if certain sizes of baculae are more prone to breakage than others; (c) to determine whether breakage is limited to certain points of the baculum. Documenting the incidence of such injuries will provide the basis for understanding its cause.

Special skills and/or qualifications needed: Patience and a willingness to work with numbers.

Project Title: Speciation (?) among the tricolored squirrels of Southeast Asia.

Research Advisor: Dr. Richard W. Thorington, Jr.
Phone: 202-357-2150
E-mail: Thorington.Richard@NMNH.si.edu
Research Team: Chad Schennum.

Curator of Mammals. B.A. (1959) Princeton University; M.A. (1963), Ph.D. (1964) Harvard University. Research specialties: systematics, ecology, and anatomy of squirrels and New World monkeys; studies of form and function; allometry and morphometrics. Unit affiliation: Department of Systematic Biology, Vertebrate Zoology Unit, Mammals Division.

Project Description: In Southeast Asia, there are three large islands (Borneo, Sumatra, and Java), a large number of smaller islands, and the long Malaysian Peninsula. These all lie on the Sunda shelf and were connected by dry land when sea level was low. When sea level rose with the melting of the glaciers, the mammals living on the Sunda shelf became isolated from one another on the different islands. One such species is the tricolored squirrel, Callosciurus prevostii. It is now considered to be a single species, but it exhibits dramatic geographic variation in body size, coat pattern, and coat colors. Deforestation on the Sunda shelf threatens a number of populations of this beautiful tree squirrel. In fact, some populations are probably already extinct. If current taxonomy conceals several species under a single name, it is important to reveal this and determine if the species are threatened with extinction.

This project will initiate an examination of this problem, focusing on four hypotheses: 1. There is only one species of tricolored squirrel, Callosciurus prevostii. 2. There are several species in this complex. 3. Geographic patterns of coat color provide clues to the genetic differences between populations. 4. Cranial morphological differences parallel differences in coat color and pattern and suggest that inter-population differences exceed those expected in a single species.

The study will be based on the extraordinary collections made by Dr. Abbott in the early 1900s. We will examine the skins of Callosciurus prevostii, the literature on tricolored squirrels, and the literature on island biogeography, and then we will select populations for study. We will compare the skulls, using external measurements, x-rays, and possibly CT scans. The data will be analyzed using a variety of multivariate procedures.

Smithsonian scientists interested in hosting a teacher will review the application documents from teachers who selected their project.

Although they are not obligated to do so, scientists have the option to request a telephone interview with finalist candidates or even request an on-site, in person interview before making their final selection.

Scientists will select the one teacher they are most interested in working with.