4 August 2006
Sara
Marsteller
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, Iowa
Dear NMNH Office of the Director,
Please accept my sincere thanks for supporting me in the Research Training
Program (RTP) at the National Museum of Natural History. Your generosity
has allowed me the opportunity to experience my dream internship.
It was important for me to spend this summer gaining experience in
the methods of anthropological research before I begin applying to graduate
programs in the fall. I am interested in research topics related to
the coevolution of diet and disease in prehistory. Through the RTP,
I not only gained experience, but did so from a renowned institution,
while simultaneously learning about current research in other disciplines
of the museum, which are almost all related in some way to my own interests.
Working one-on-one with expert paleopathologist, Dr. Donald Ortner,
I surveyed skeletal remains from two North American archaeological sites
for evidence of vitamin C deficiency. At one site we found 10 probable
cases out of the 65 skeletons examined. We found only a few possible
cases from the other site, which we have concluded is most likely due
to an unrepresentative sample rather than an indication of adequate
vitamin C intake. This research provides information on the diet of
past populations, which is essential in understanding the role of diet
and disease in human adaptation.
As my time at the museum comes to an end, I am saddened to leave behind
the amazing people I've met here, the incredible collections, and the
inspiring atmosphere of discovery. But I will forever treasure the connections
I've made and the things I've learned both about anthropological research
and myself.
Sincerely,
Sara Marsteller
Research Training Program
RTP Class of '06