1 August 2008
Ryan Stephens
University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Dear Ambassador and Mrs. Jean Lane,
I want to take a moment to sincerely thank you for the opportunity
to be a part of the Research Training Program (RTP) at the National
Museum of Natural History. It has been an honor to work with some of
the best researchers in their fields and in one of the most well known
organizations in the world. This ten week experience has been life-changing
and will undoubtedly help shape my study for many years to come.
My project focused on two species of Guatemalan shrews, small mammals
in the family Soricidae, which are extremely difficult to distinguish.
I used x-ray technology to obtain digital pictures of the front feet.
These pictures were examined to measure the individual bones and in
turn help distinguish the two species. I then used these measurements
to identify new specimens collected from Guatemala. This information
will be important for understanding more about shrew biology and ecology.
I have been fortunate enough to work with Neal Woodman, who acted
as my advisor throughout the project. With his knowledge and support,
I have gained an understanding of how research is conducted. It has
also been a great opportunity to hone my technical writing skills. This
project will certainly be invaluable in terms of getting me ready for
graduate school and a career in science.
This program has also been also a very broadening experience of my
overall scientific knowledge. Through tours and talks I have learned
about many topics and seen specimens that I never would otherwise have
had access to. Observing what goes on behind the displays and exploring
the vast collections has been a truly humbling experience. Time spent
here with fellow students who are among the best minds from around the
country and abroad has also been an extremely valuable opportunity.
They have given me insight into other disciplines that has expanded
my knowledge and understanding of the natural world.
Thank you again for granting me this wonderful opportunity. I feel
extremely privileged to partake in such a prestigious program at the
National Museum of Natural History.
Sincerely,
Ryan Stephens
Research Training Program
Class of '08
1 August 2008
Ryan Stephens
University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Dear Anonymous Donor,
I would like to express to you my sincere gratitude for the opportunity
to attend the American Society of Mammalogists meeting in Brookings,
South Dakota. This meeting was one of the most exciting engagements
during my summer as an Research Training Program (RTP) intern.
It was the first professional meeting that I have attended, and I hope
to make it back someday as a research presenter.
I have a very strong interest in the field of mammalogy and was able
to learn a lot from this meeting. This trip provided me with the opportunity
to observe the interactions of researchers and to learn about current
research through formal presentations and informal conversation with
professionals. Being able to talk with wildlife biologists and researchers
firsthand about topics that were of interest to me was also a very rewarding
experience and a great learning opportunity. It was nice to see how
my project fit into the bigger picture of research and the field of
mammalogy.
This meeting could not have come at a better time for me as a senior
in college planning on pursuing higher education, since I was able to
talk to graduate students about their research and the process of choosing
and applying to graduate schools. It also gave me the chance to meet
and communicate with future colleges and to make connections with university
staff. Listening to talks and viewing poster presentations was a very
valuable experience as well since I will be giving oral and poster presentations
through the RTP program and later during my education and career.
Thank you once again for providing me with the financial support to
attend this meeting. It was a wonderful experience, and I hope I can
contribute to the scientific community in the future.
Sincerely,
Ryan Stephens
Research Training Program
Class of '08