1 August 2008
Catherine Sun
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware
Dear Representatives of the Alice Eve Kennington Internship Endowment,
Your endowment has generously provided me the opportunity to join
this year's Smithsonian Museum of Natural History Research Training
Program. I write this letter to express my heartfelt gratitude for your
support: without your dedication, I would have been, undoubtedly, unable
to participate this summer in world-class research at a world-renowned
institute. At the Smithsonian, I have been conducting research on nemerteans,
predatory worms. I am trying to solve a seemingly simple question: Are
two nemerteans, Lineus ruber and Lineus viridis, the same or two different
species? Looking at some characteristics, some research scientists claim
they are the same species, while looking at other criteria, still other
scientists adamantly believe they are two different species. By analyzing
genes in the mitochondria of their cells, I hope to finally elucidate
this puzzle. Answering this question could ultimately lead to understanding
the timeline of current nemertean colonization along the coasts of the
Atlantic Ocean, relative to the last glaciation period, approximately
12,000 years ago.
In addition to providing a priceless research opportunity, your endowment
has enabled me to interact with peers and future colleagues. The Biology
Department at the university I attend does not focus on ecology, and
so I have felt for two years almost deprived of peers with similar interests
and passions. Here, I can discuss with fellow interns about ideas and
concepts, casually yet intellectually converse about wildlife population
dynamics over dinner or on the walk to work in the morning. I am constantly
learning about my own interests as well as others', reading new literatures,
and attending interesting seminars. This summer, I know I have grown
leaps and bounds academically - this has been my real introduction to
biology and the truly interactive scientific community.
This summer here in Washington DC at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural
History has been unquantifiably rewarding. The idea that millions of
organisms and species solve the same dilemma of survival in their own
unique ways has always mystified and awed me. My research here, made
possible through your generosity, has been a natural continuation and
yet also a deeper exploration of my interest in biodiversity. Thank
you.
Sincerely,
Catherine Sun
Research Training Program
Class of '08