The
traditional RTP application deadline of February
1st was extend to February 15th to compensate
for the late
release (2 Dec 05) of paper-based application
materials, that had to be designed last minute
because on-line line systems remained unavailable.
There
were 167 applications
received for consideration by the application
deadline of Wednesday, 15 February 2006, of
which 154 were complete enough to effectively
review. Some applications received after the
deadline and some applications received for
general
NMNH internship placement were also considered.
A total of 172 applications were considered
for placement in the 2006 session of the Research
Training Program.
A
two
phase process was conducted to identify
finalists. Semi-finalists were not selected
this year. Three
evaluators (Lynn Copes, Chris Hardy, and Elisa
Maldonado), all former RTP participants and
therefore uniquely familiar with the program,
were selected from outside the institution (Arizona,
California, and Pennsylvania) to conduct a pre-screening
of the entire application set and nominate top
candidates for consideration as finalists. In
collaboration with this effort an on-site RTP
panel of judges also conducted a pre-evaluation
of all applications received. This panel of
judges reviewed applications from within their
discipline and nominated appropriate candidates
for the finalist set. The Entomology judge defered
applications to the Invertebrate Zoology judge.
There were 46 finalists.
The
six judges then reviewed application documents
from all 46 finalists by carefully reading and
evaluating application folders including completing
a 100 point score sheet to quantify their marks.
Review
of finalists began Tuesday, 21 Feb 06 at 1:00
p.m. Judges had until noon, Monday 27 Feb 06
to complete their evaluation and submit final
scores and ranks. The review deadline was extended
to noon on Tuesday, 28 Feb 06 to provide judges
adequate time to effectively evaluate all folders.
One judge (Anthropology) did not complete the
review and therefore their contribution to the
evaluation could not be included in the final
ranking.
Reviewers
typically score differently with some generally
awarding higher scores and others awarding lower
scores. To adjust for these differences, finalist
scores were normalized based on applicant rank.
The judges met Thursday, 2 March 2006 beginning
at 9:00 a.m. to discuss final rankings, nominate
the target of 10 candidates for participation
and identify complementary research advisors
to host students. Two judges were out of town
(Mineral Science and Vertebrate Zoology) and
contributed comments but couldn't attend for
the discussion. Another judge (Anthropology)
didn't complete the review and had a conflicting
appointment and therefore didn't participate
in the discussion, final selection, or placements.
The meeting concluded at 11:30 a.m. resulting
in 13 nominees for participation and 7 alternates.
At
the time of announcement (7 March 2006), one
position remained undeclared, pending discussion
with potential advisors and proposed projects.
Adjustments
in budget allocations and identification of
additional available research advisors increased
the program slots available from 10 to 15, and
then further adjustments were done resulting
in even more positions available, from 15 to
18. During the alternate consideration phase
(15 - 24 March 2006) new funding opportunities
became available, specifically from the Latino
Initiative Fund and Max Berry donation, making
possible the placement of even more students
culminating in a total of 20 RTP positions for
2006.
The
RTP '06 panel:
-
Laurie Burgess: representing Anthropology
(previously served on several RTP selecting
panels)
- Gene Hunt: representing Paleobiology
(former RTP intern and new curatorial hire)
- Tim McCoy: representing Mineral Sciences
(served on many RTP selection panels, hosted
many RTP students)
- Ted Schultz: representing Entomology
(hosted several RTP and other interns and representing
Dept. Chairsas well as information link to NMNH
administration)
- Ashleigh Smythe: representing Invertebrate
Zoology. (current Post Doctoral fellow and link
to our fellows and graduate students community)
- Jun Wen: representing Botany (former
post dococtoral fellow and new curatorial hire)
- Neal Woodman: representing Vertebrate
Zoology (affiliated agency representative, hosted
several RTP and other interns, served on RTP
scoring panels, also information link to Senate
of Scientists)
Research
Training Program
Participants - 2006
|
Class
of 2006
|
| |
Last
Name
|
First
Name
|
Home
University |
Year
in School |
Citizenship |
Research
Advisor |
|
|
Alvarez |
Jorge |
University
of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez |
Sophomore |
US |
Conrad
Labandeira & Bill DiMichele |
|
|
Armgardt |
Emily |
Seattle
University |
Junior |
US |
Ellen
Strong |
|
|
Barkley |
Madison |
Mount
Holyoke College |
Junior |
US |
Mike
Wise |
|
|
Brown |
Julia |
Vanderbilt
University |
Junior |
US |
Gene
Hunt |
|
|
Cockrell |
Bryan |
Princeton
University |
Sophomore |
US |
Ed
Vicenzi |
|
|
Ennis |
Megan |
Morehead
State University |
Non-graduating
Senior |
US |
Tim
McCoy |
|
|
Faust |
Katherine |
Louisiana
State University |
Sophomore |
US |
Terry
Chesser |
|
|
Hamilton |
Paige |
University
of Notre Dame |
Junior |
US |
Dave
Hunt |
 |
Job |
Jayme |
Minnesota
State University, Moorhead |
Junior |
US |
Eric
Hollinger |
|
|
Ketchum |
Sheena |
University
of Notre Dame |
Junior |
US |
Betty
Meggers & Paulina Ledergerber |
|
|
Marsteller |
Sara |
Cornell
College |
Junior |
US |
Don
Ortner |
|
|
Martinez |
Juan
Andres |
University
of the Republic of Uruguay |
Graduating
Senior |
Uruguay |
Don
Wilson |
|
|
McMahan |
Caleb |
Erskine
College |
Junior |
US |
George
Zug |
|
|
Moses |
Sylvia |
University
of California, Berkeley |
Junior |
US |
Ed
Vicenzi |
|
|
O'Connor |
Alisa |
University
of Notre Dame |
Junior |
US |
Eric
Hollinger |
|
|
Oreska |
Matthew |
College
of William and Mary |
Junior |
US |
Matt
Carrano |
|
|
Rasmussen |
Nick |
Oklahoma
State University |
Graduating
Senior |
US |
Dick
Thorington |
|
|
Saupe |
Erin |
St.
John's University |
Junior |
US |
Brian
Huber |
|
|
Strahl |
Maya |
Berry
College |
Non-graduating
Senior |
US |
Vicki
Funk |
|
|
Vann |
Kimberly |
University
of Mary Washington |
Junior |
US |
John
Brown |
|
Alternates
|
| Philips |
Jennifer |
Lewis
and Clark College |
Junior |
US |
Zoology |
|
Declined
|
| Arguello |
Alexander |
St.
Mary's College of Maryland |
Sophomore |
US |
DECLINED |
| Barton |
Melissa |
Colorado
College |
Graduating
Senior |
US |
DECLINED |
| Kelley |
Emily |
University
of Notre Dame |
Junior |
US |
DECLINED |
Research
Training Program
Participant Summaries
2006
Students
selected to join the RTP Class of '06 had until
Wednesday 15 March 2006 to notify the
RTP office if they accepted or declined participation
in the summer program. One student selected
to participate in the RTP '06 summer received
and accepted an offer from another site prior
to RTP notification and therefore immediately
declined (Kelley). The position was refilled
with an alternate (Hamilton). On the notification
date (15 Mar 06) another student declined participation
(Barton). Alternates for whom we were able to
find funding and placement were contacted Friday,
17 March 2006. One alternate (Arguello) had
already accepted an offer from another site
and therefore had to decline further consideration.
Alternates offered a position in the program
had until Friday 24 March 2006 to notify the
RTP office of their intentions and had to formally
accept or decline by Friday, 31 March 2006.
RTP
Class of '06
Jorge
Alvarez |
Emily
Alrmgardt |
Madison
Barkley |
Julia
Brown
Bryan Cockrell |
Megan
Ennis |
Katie
Faust |
Paige
Hamilton
Jayme Job |
Shenna
Katchum |
Sara
Marsteller |
Juan
Andrea Martinez
Caleb McMahan |
Sylvia
Moses |
Alisa
O'Connor |
Matthew
Oreska
Nick Rasmussen
|
Erin
Saupe |
Maya
Strahl |
Kimberly
Vann
|
- Gender:
Male
- Ethnicity/Race:
- Institution:
University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez
- Status:
Sophomore
- Major:
Geology
Career
Goals:
Sponsor:
Latino Initiatives Fund
|
Jorge
Alvarez
I am from Hatillo, Puerto Rico. I am a sophomore
at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus,
majoring in Geology. After graduating I plan
on attending graduate school in the US, pursuing
a degree in paleontology. Lately, I've been
looking into ichnology, the study of trace fossils,
but I am interested in anything related to paleontology.
I
am vice president of the Student Geological
Society of my campus. I do some volunteer work
in the schools geology museum, giving small
talks to children, trying to promote their interest
in geology and paleontology. I greatly enjoy
field experiences, which is provided regularly
by the society and geology class field trips,
where we learn more about Puerto Rico's geology.
Last
year I was part of NASA's LOR (Life On the Rocks)
summer internship at Penn State University.
It was an excellent opportunity, learning much
and meeting new people, which I hope is repeated
(and, I'm sure, improved) this year. It was
during this program that I first visited the
Smithsonian, which although brief, was a great
experience.
On
the personal side: On my free time I enjoy
reading, video games, singing along to music
I like (not a pretty experience, I've been told...)
going to the beach and having fun with my friends,
and watching the Discovery, Science and Animal
Planet channels. I'm a happy guy, always on
a good mood, and trying to cheer people up.
Very excited to meet everyone else!
Research Advisors:
Conrad
Labandeira
Research
Paleobiologist and Curator of Fossil Arthropods.
B.A. (1980) California State University, Fresno;
M.S. (1986) University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee;
Ph.D. (1990) University of Chicago. Research
specialties: interactions between plants and
insects in the fossil record; fossil arthropods,
particularly insects; evolution of mouthparts
of insects; member ETE Program. Science Unit:
Department
of Paleobiology.
Bill
DiMichele
Research
Paleobiologist and Curator of Paleobotany.
B.A. (1974) Drexel University; M.S. (1976),
Ph.D. (1979) University of Illinois. Research
specialties: morphology, systematics, and
paleoecology of late Paleozoic plants, particularly
the structure of late Paleozoic ecosystems
and the relationship between long-term ecological
and evolutionary patterns. Member, ETE
Program. Science Unit: Department
of Paleobiology.
Title: Plant-insect
associations from the Early Permian of north-central
Texas: Early or Delayed Colonization?
Hypothesis:
The level of insect damage is significantly
lower than that of modern flora in environments
similar to those found in north-central Texas
in the Early Permian, because of the much lower
diversity of insects at the time and the narrow
usage of resources by the organisms.
Project
Summary: Millions of years ago a Permian-age
Earth underwent drastic changes in its climate,
afecting the ecosystem worlwide. This was the
last time such event has happenned. This research
focuses on the study of plant-insect interaction
evidence from a flora collection of the same
age, coming from north-central Texas, so as
to better understand the ecosystem's response
to an event like this. The counting and identification
of both flora and insect damage pattern is anticipated
to provide insight into of the roles insects
played in the survival and colonization of land
of said plants.
Project
Description: The flora chosen for this research
comes from part of a series of early Permian
age mudstone beds called redbeds that occur
throughout North Central Texas. At the time
this area was on the western margin of tropical
western equatorial Pangea, and was on the eastern
shelf of the Midland Basin. This area and its
specimens, both plant and vertebrates, are the
classic example of the Early Permian biota.
This flora comes from a warm period, within
a series of cold-warm pulses that were occurring
at the time. The analysis for insect damage
will help us understand the early evolution
of insect herbivory.
Plant
specimens will be organized taxonomically and
assessed quantitatively by species. Several
of the specimens will be chosen for photography.
The images taken will be processed using photo
editing software. All of the specimens will
be examined for insect damage. The different
types of insect feeding patterns will be counted
and the flora compared other studies of insect
damage on floras from this time period.
Materials
and Methods: A hand lenses will be used
for identification of plant specimens and insect
damage spotting.
|
- Gender:
Female
- Ethnicity/Race:
- Institution:
Seattle University
- Status:
Junior
- Major:
Biology
Career
Goals:
Graduate studies in evolution and development
of invertebrates and a career in invertebrate
research.
Sponsor:
Alice Eve Kennington Internship Endowment
|
Emily
Armgardt
I
am originally from Sturtevant, Wisconsin but
I usually tell people that I'm from Milwaukee
or even Chicago seeing as no one knows where
Sturtevant is. I am currently a junior at Seattle
University majoring in biology. I hope to pursue
a degree in developemental biology of invertebrates
in graduate school, however I'm still undecided
as to where I will go or what exactly I intend
to do with all this schooling.
I have been a volunteer interpreter at the Seattle
Aquarium for the past year, and I have learned
so much in my short time there. I spend my Saturday
mornings at the Aquarium talking to the public
about the animals in the touch tanks, trying
to communicate my fascination with marine invertebrates.
My absolute favorite thing to do while volunteering
at the aquarium is feeding the giant Pacific
octopuses and talk to the guests about how amazing
these creatures are.
I had the opportunity to take the evolution
and development class at Friday Harbor Labratories
last summer and it proved to be one of the most
challenging and rewarding experiences thus far
in my academic career. During the course of
the class, I observed the musculature of two
marine Harpacticoid copepod species using phalloidin
and flourscent micrsocopy. Because of my research,
I was able to travel to the annual SICB meeting
and present a poster on my findings. I am currently
doing further research on this topic, trying
to investigate two different Harpacticoid species
through confocal microscopy.
On
the personal side: Although I have always
been around water, growing up on the shores
of Lake Michigan, from the first second I saw
the ocean as a 10 year old I knew that I wanted
to be a marine biologist. I was also quite taken
with the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, especially
the mountains around the same time. As a girl
growing up in a small midwestern village (yes,
village) both of these things made me quite
the little oddity, and I hold the distinction
of being the farthest from home of all my high
school friends. When I'm not off galavanting
in Seattle, I like to do pretty normal things:
reading, catching up with friends, sleep, and
things that are not related to school or work.
Research Advisor:
Ellen
Strong
Research
Zoologist, Curator of Mollusks. B.A. (Honors)
(1991) University of California, Berkeley;
Ph.D. (2000) George Washington University.
Research specialties: Phylogeny of caenogastropods
using morphological and molecular data. Science
Unit: Department
of Invertebrate Zoology.
Title: Ontogenetic
Changes in Shell Microstructure of Freshwater
Gastropods
Hypothesis:
Lake Tanganyika gastropods did not evolve
their highly calcified shells solely as a result
of predation by decopod crabs.
Project
Summary: The Lake Tanganyika cerithioid
gastropods are a highly endemic and speciose
species flock. Scanning electron microscopy
will be utilized to examine ontogenetic differences
in the shell microstructure. Similarities and
differences will be integrated with a pre-existing
morphological data matrix and compared with
a current molecular phylogeny. These data will
be used to test hypothesis that assert differences
in shell microstructure are the consequence
of predation by crabs.
Additional
Opportunities: One week of field work at
Smithsonian's
Marine Station in Fort Pierce, Florida to
study ptenoglossan snails, a group of predatory
and parasitic marine gastropods that prey on
echinoderms and cnidarians. Work will include
gastropod identification and field techniques
for the collection and processing of marine
micro-mollusks.
Project
Description: Because of the unique and heavily
calcified and decorated shells of cerithioid
snails found in Lake Tanganyika, scientists
have puzzled over the phylogenetic relationships
(Michel et al, 1992). Many previous studies
have attempted to explain the pattern of speciation
present in the lake through various means, based
on geography and behavior. Resolution within
the phylogeny has been poorly understood for
many years. An earlier study (West and Cohen,
1996) has given predation as the main origin
of the unusual phenotypes exhibited by the different
gastropod groups within Lake Tanganyika. However,
this study looked exclusively at the adult microstructure
of the shells. Examining the ontogenetic sequence
present in shells will provide some evidence
for the evolution of the gastropod groups within
the lake. Additionally, the characters collected
from the shell microstructure will be plotted
against a current molecular phylogeny of the
Lake Tanganyikan gastropods. Previously, the
only method for obtaining shell microstructure
was through crushing the shells and analyzing
the cleanest piece available. Using the diamond
saw, the shells can now be precisely cut to
reveal the microstructure and sequence of ontogeny
more easily. A trip to the Smithsonian's field
station at Fort Pierece, Florida will augment
the lab work by demonstrating collecting techniques
of different snail groups along.
Materials
and Methods:
Samples will be prepared either by embedding
the shells in resin and then cut using the diamond
blade saw, or cut with the diamond blade saw
and then embedded in resin. Shells will be cut
along the long axis of the shell to reveal microstructure
throughout ontogeny. The resulting shell will
then be analyzed on the SEM.
The
results of this research are anticipated to
be presented at the SICB meeting in Phoenix,
Arizona 3-7 January 2007.
|
- Gender:
Female
- Ethnicity/Race:
- Institution:
Mount Holyoke College
- Status:
Junior
- Major:
Geology
Career
Goals:
After gradaute school, achieve a career
in geology, focusing on rock forming minerals.
Sponsor:
Smithsonian Women's Committee Endowment
|
Madison
Barkley
Ms. Barkley is from Hague, Virginia. She is
currently a Junior at Mount Holyoke College
in South Hadley, Massachusetts where she is
majoring in Geology with a minor in Astronomy.
She plans to attend graduate school with focused
study in mineralogy and gemology.
On
the personal side: Ms. Barkley's interests
include geomagnetism, the outer solar system
(Uranus, Neptune, Pluto & the Kuiper Belt),
and robotics. She an avid horse enthusiast and
has been riding and competing for over 10 years.
Most recently, she was a member of the Mount
Holyoke College Equestrian Team.
Research Advisor:
Mike
Wise
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. Science
Unit: Department
of Mineral Sciences.
Title: F-OH- substitution
and thermal effects on the crystal structure
of pegmatitic topaz
Hypothesis:
The focus of this project is to examine
the changes in topaz crystal structure caused
by F-OH- substitution and to investigate the
structural changes due to temperature in order
to determine the viability of topaz as a geothermometer
in granitic pegmatites.
Project
Summary: This research examines the changes
of topaz crystal structure with varying temperature
and composition. Topaz is a fluorine-rich mineral
that commonly occurs in pegmatites. The topaz
crystal structure will expand or contract depending
on the ratio of fluorine to hydroxyl (OH-) in
the crystal structure. Temperature may also
affect the dimensions of the crystal structure.
X-ray diffraction will be used to determine
how these variables affect the structure of
topaz.
Project
Description: Pegmatites are intrusive igneous
rocks that are characterized by unusually large
grain sizes (> 20mm). The large grain size
can be attributed in part to relatively rapid
cooling in a water and volatile rich melt. Volatiles,
such as fluorine (F), boron (B), and phosphorous
(P), lower the viscosity as well as the solidus
temperature of the melt and facilitate the crystallization
of large crystals and the development of internal
zoning. There are two geochemical types of granitic
pegmatites. LCT pegmatites are rich in lithium
(Li), cesium (Cs), and tantalum (Ta) and are
usually associated with orogenic and collisional
origins. NYF pegmatites are related to anorogenic
granites and are enriched in niobium (N), yttrium
(Y), and are particularly rich in fluorine (LCT
pegmatites typically have low to moderately
high F contents). In NYF-type pegmatites, the
F rich mineral topaz (Al2SiO4(F,OH)2) is commonly
found, whereas topaz is generally uncommon in
LCT pegmatites.
Topaz
displays a relatively narrow range of bulk compositions;
the most important variation is due to substitution
of OH- for F. As OH- substitutes for F, the
crystal structure of topaz modifies to accommodate
the new element. Hydroxyl has a larger atomic
radius than fluorine and will stretch the structure
of the crystal. Rosenberg (1967) concludes that
as OH- substitutes for F, the b cell dimension
increases. A small change in c and no change
in a were also noted. In high F environments,
such as pegmatites and rhyolites, the b cell
dimension of topaz should be at its smallest
value. However, Rosenberg's work did not take
into account unit cell changes due to temperature
or pressure which are important factors in pegmatite
genesis. The focus of this project is to examine
the changes in topaz crystal structure caused
by F-OH- substitution and to investigate the
structural changes due to temperature in order
to determine the viability of topaz as a geothermometer
in granitic pegmatites.
Materials
and Methods: X-Ray Diffraction will be the
main tool in examining the specimens. Sample
localities wwill be chosen that represent pegmatites
from both LCT and NYF geochemical classes. Topaz
samples will be ground into a power and mounted
onto glass fibers. For some samples, additional
material will be collected in order to perform
a temperature study. The additional material
will be heated in a furnace to temperatures
between 500o-1000o C before being powdered.
All samples (heated & unheated) will be
X-rayed using the Rigaku micro-diffractometer.
A computer program will generate data in the
form of unit cell dimensions for each sample.
These data will be used to evaluate structural
changes due to composition and temperature.
|
- Gender:
Female
- Ethnicity/Race:
- Institution:
Vanderbilt University
- Status:
Junior
- Major:
Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
Career
Goals:
After gradaute school, achieve a career
focusing on understanding human impact
on ecosystems including global warming
and patterns of climate change as related
to environmental policy.
Sponsor:
NMNH Office of the Director and William
A and Nancy F. McMinn Scholarship
|
Julia
Brown
I am originally from Bethesda, MD, and am currently
a Junior at Vanderbilt University in Nashville,
Tennessee where I am majoring in Ecology, Evolution,
and Organismal Biology. After college, I hope
to attend graduate school in ecology or a related
field, and perhaps go on to do ecological or
environmental research or have a career in conservation
or science education.
I
have been involved with undergraduate research
in the Biological Sciences Department at Vanderbilt
for several semesters, and have studied various
mutualisms through molecular and ecological
stoichiometry techniques. However, I am looking
forward to broadening my research focuses through
my project in paleobiology this summer! I also
work as a lab T.A. for a section of the Biology
Today class at Vanderbilt.
On
the personal side: I love everything about
biology, and am incredibly excited to be working
at the Smithsonian this summer. I have been
coming to the National Museum of Natural History
on a regular basis since I was in preschool,
when I used to spend my days reciting dinosaur
names to my teachers. Nowadays, I enjoy running,
hiking, eating, visiting museums, traveling
and seeing as many of my friends as possible
all over the country and abroad. I love the
Washington, D.C. area, and can't wait to spend
more time downtown, as well as in the surrounding
natural areas and by the Potomac River.
Research Advisor:
Gene
Hunt
Associate
Curator. B.S. (1995) Duke University; Ph.D.
(2003) University of Chicago. Research specialties:
long-term evolutionary changes; fossil ostracodes.
Science unit: Paleobiology. Science Unit:
Department
of Paleobiology.
Title: Body size
relationships to climate in Ostracodes
Hypothesis:
There will be an increase in ostracode body
size over time as global deep-sea temperature
decreases.
Project
Summary: The project will involve examining
macroevolutionary trends in deep-sea ostracodes,
and will focus on the evolution of ostracode
body size over a period of approximately 40
million years. Correlations between body size
and paleotemperature estimates will be investigated
in order to elucidate the mechanisms underlying
Cope's Rule: the tendency for body size to increase
over time.
Project
Description: A wide variety of organisms
display a phenomenon known as Cope's Rule, which
is a general tendency of body size to increase
over time. At the moment, the mechanisms behind
this evolutionary trend are poorly understood.
Ostracodes are small bivalve crustaceans with
an excellent fossil record that appear to exemplify
Cope's Rule. Preliminary studies have indicated
that changes in body size in the ostracode genus
Poseidonamicus are significantly correlated
with changes in deep-sea temperatures during
the Cenozoic. Ostracodes appear to become larger
as the climate cools. This finding relates Cope's
Rule to the equally notable Bergmann's Rule,
which states that modern organisms in colder
climates will be larger than those in warmer
climates. Cope's Rule, in this scenario, is
then a temporal manifestation of the spatial
Bergmann's Rule. This research follows an initial
study and examine a number of ostracode populations
from a series of sites on the ocean floor in
order to see if the same pattern appears across
additional sites and species. An increase in
ostracode body size as global deep-sea temperatures
decrease over time is expected.
Materials
and Methods: The research project will involve
two main procedures involving deep-sea ostracode
specimens. The samples come from different locations
in the ocean floor where research vessels from
