Jamie Melichar Hodgkins
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO
Dear National Science Foundation,
I would like to offer my sincere gratitude for the support that you have offered me and other students who have participated in the Research Training Program (RTP) at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC. Allowing undergraduates, such as myself, the opportunity to be educated by experts in our field of interest is a critical step in ensuring that future scientist will have the qualifications necessary to conduct quality research; as Isaac Newton stated “It is only by standing on the shoulders of giants” that we can make further scientific advancements.
The Research Training Program is unique in its ability to expose students to many different fields of study, while still allowing students the opportunity to become deeply involved in their individual areas of interest. This unique aspect of the RTP gives undergraduates the opportunity to have a well-rounded education and encourages undergraduates to continue to develop intellectually with an open mind. The RTP is also exceptional in requiring students to present their scientific finding in the forms of an oral presentation and a poster presentation. Providing students the ability to express themselves in these forums will greatly benefit undergraduates as they progress onward to graduate school and later on as professionals.
As I look back over the research that I have conducted over the past ten weeks of my tenure here at the Smithsonian, I realize that in a brief time I have become more confident in my research abilities and more secure in my pursuit of a career as a scientist and an academic. I witnessed the same growth and maturity in my fellow RTP interns. I believe that each of us is leaving the Smithsonian with a greater thirst for knowledge and a superior drive for understanding the natural world. So it is with great pride that I leave the Smithsonian, knowing that I have gained a unique experience that will forever play a role in the decisions that I make as a student and a professional.
Again I thank you for the tremendous investment that you have made in the lives of so many future scientists. I truly believe that by encouraging and supporting students to pursue there academic interests you are helping to make the world a better place.
Sincerely,
Jamie Melichar Hodgkins
Research Training Program, 2002