1 August, 2001
Trevor Krabbenhoft
North Dakota State University
Fargo, North Dakota
Dear National Science Foundation:
I would like to express my gratitude for your generosity in funding my project
in the 2001 Research Training Program. This program has provided me an excellent
opportunity to gain experience in the natural sciences. This program is unparalleled
in encompassing all aspects of the life of a scientist. I have learned much
about how to carry out valid scientific research. Due to your generosity,
this summer had the most positive impact of any of my life.
My research involves determining the identity of specimens of cynoglossid
flatfishes collected in the Philippine Archipelago in 1909. These specimens
were reported as the wrong species in the literature on two occasions. I examined
them and compared them to all other species in the same genus and determined
that they were an undescribed species. Next, I wrote the manuscript describing
the species. This will be submitted for publication to Copeia this fall.
This project has allowed me to make valuable progress toward becoming a successful
research scientist. Without your funding, I would have been unable to participate
in this excellent program. Furthermore, in this program I had the opportunity
to give my first scientific lecture, and I will also receive my first publication
as a result of this work. I am most thankful to have been given this opportunity.
Sincerely,
Trevor Krabbenhoft
Research Training Program, 2001