Brittany Meagher
University of California Riverside
Riverside, California
Dear Members of the National Science Foundation,
I am writing to thank you for the financial support that you gave me for the Research Training Program at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. It is a very big honor to me to have been selected for this wonderful program that gives undergraduates a chance to do research at a very distinguished institution.
I am entering my junior year at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), as a geology major. Upon coming to the Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, I have been able to learn a lot about my field. My research advisor, Dr. Jim Luhr, helped me out a lot by showing me how to use the different instruments needed to complete my project. The instruments I have learned to use while here are the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Electron Microprobe, and the Mitutoyo digital micrometer. Gaining experience with these methods has been a highly beneficial experience to me, especially since these instruments are not available at my school. I have also learned the fundamentals of writing research papers, making presentations, and preparing scientific posters. I will use these skills often in my career as a geologist.
Not only did I learn techniques related to my field, but I also had the opportunity to interact with many world-renowned scientists in the Mineral Sciences Department. This allowed me to interact with professionals in my field, and provided me mentors to talk to about my career. The staff in the Mineral Sciences Department expanded my knowledge of the different aspects of geology, and explained the different fields you can go into with a geology degree. Also Dr. Sorena Sorensen, a geologist in the department, took myself and the other two RTP interns, both who are also female, under her wing as if we were family. She would often come in and provide guidance about Washington DC, as well as tell us where the best sushi restaurants are located.
I was unsure at first if I really wanted to spend my whole summer vacation doing research. I was worried that I might not succeed in this endeavor, but as my project moved on I gained confidence in my abilities. Looking back on my experience I am extremely grateful that I was given this chance and glad that I tool advantage of it.
Sincerely,
Brittany Meagher
Research Training Program, 2003
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