4 August 2006
Erin
Saupe
St. John's
University
St. John's, Minnesota
Dear Mr. Max Berry,
When I filled out the application form for the Smithsonian's Research
Training Program (RTP), I had little confidence that I would actually
be given a position. When Mary Sangrey, the Program Director, called
me to say a donation had been received that allowed me to join the program,
I could barely contain my excitement. I called everyone I knew and told
them I would be conducing research at the Smithsonian this summer!
I stumbled upon the Research Training Program last fall when I was searching
for possible summer internships. I immediately knew this was the program
for me, partly because I had always wanted to conduct research at the
Smithsonian and partly because the program offered so many different
outlets to discover and learn about natural history.
The research project I worked on utilized Cretaceous-aged foraminifera
from Deep Sea Drilling Projects. If someone would have told me I would
be working on this group of organisms when I entered college, I would
have asked what in the world foraminifera were. Now I can say I have
worked with the leading foraminiferal researchers in the world, and
I have been thoroughly immersed in the wonderful world of micropaleontology.
My project looked at two different species of foraminifera to determine
if one transitioned into the other. In order to do this, I was able
to utilize x-ray imaging and the Scanning Electron Microscope, valuable
practice for any future research I may undertake.
Without your donation, I would never have received that phone call.
Conducting research at the Smithsonian has given me the confidence and
ability to organize and conduct my own research in the future. The program
not only opened doors to the museum's 127 million specimens, but I was
able to meet people who were just as passionate and devoted to scientific
research as I am. I don't think I can ever adequately express how thankful
I am for your donation. This letter will have to suffice, and I leave
you with the knowledge that my experience this summer and your generosity
have inspired another student to become a scientist.
Sincerely,
Erin Saupe
Research Training Program
Class of '06