1 August, 2001
Michael Holcomb
University of Idaho
Moscow, ID
Dear National Science Foundation:
Thank you for your financial support over the past ten weeks. I was honored
by the award of the NSF supported Research Training Program position at the
National Museum of Natural History. I appreciate your efforts to support those
with an interest in pursuing scientific research, and your help in allowing
those students to further develop their interests through gaining hands on
experience and access to facilities that otherwise would not be available
to them.
Over the past ten weeks at the National Museum of Natural History I have
investigated the potential for several novel morphometric characters to be
used in identifying both modern and fossil members of the Montastraea annularis
species complex (a dominant Carribean reef building coral), attended numerous
presentations by both Smithsonian and non-Smithsonian scientists, and toured
many of the museum's collections.
Needless to say, I have had a busy summer, and I am looking forward to the
chance to apply for another similar position next summer. Thanks again for
your support.
Sincerely,
Michael Holcomb
Research Training Program, 2001