Undergraduate Research

Lab Lessons

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 20:33:14 +0000

Lab Lessons BBENSON@bridgew.edu Tue, 06/11/2024 - 16:33

Large NSF grant funds undergraduate research and outreach programs

June 13, 2024

Brian Benson, G'23

With a mixture of patience, encouragement and a little hands-on demonstration, Wafic Ellakis, ’25, discovered the ideal formula to guide curious high schoolers in building solar cells.

Under the watchful eyes of Wafic and his Bridgewater peers, the AP environmental science students from Fall River’s Durfee High School constructed the cells during a special visit to �¼��ϲʿ��.

“It gives me a perspective on whether I like teaching,” said Wafic, a chemistry major who appreciates opportunities at �¼��ϲʿ�� to explore careers. “I think it’s great to give back to the community. This is part of the reason why I choose to go to �¼��ϲʿ��.”

Approximately 30 high schoolers assembled cells from scratch using frozen blackberries as a key ingredient. Blackberries have a dark pigment that is good for absorbing sunlight. Students also toured �¼��ϲʿ�� labs and ate lunch on campus.

The event was part of an approximately $350,000, three-year grant that Dr. Sarah Soltau received from the National Science Foundation. The award supports research at predominately undergraduate institutions and helps build the scientists of tomorrow.

“Most of the funding is to pay students to do research,” said Soltau, an associate professor of chemical sciences. Rather than work a job outside of their academic interests, “they can spend that time on something more related to their degree or future goals.”

Using a protein from algae and molecules synthesized in the lab, Soltau and her students study how to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and create products useful in the alternative fuel and plastics industries. They aspire to do this with solar energy to avoid emitting more carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

Jolie Casali, ’25, learned to use a variety of advanced scientific devices, including a fast protein liquid chromatography machine that helps researchers analyze proteins. She enjoys working collaboratively with her peers and taking ownership of sections of the overall project.

“Being in the research lab is something that will prepare me for my future goals,” said Jolie, a chemistry major (biochemistry concentration) who aspires to work in a laboratory. “Bridgewater really does have something for everybody, whether an outreach event or research itself.”

The visiting Durfee students got a taste of those opportunities through the solar cells project, which complements lessons on renewable energy.

“I feel more engaged and more into it,” said Durfee junior Calfeny Moreira, who is considering attending Bridgewater State. “I met new people and got to see how the school actually is. All of the staff are wonderful.”

For Wafic, the day was especially meaningful because he is a Durfee graduate.

“I loved giving back to a school that gave a lot to me,” he said. “It really helps students’ development and love of science. We always need more chemists in the world.”

Do you have a �¼��ϲʿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

Being in the research lab is something that will prepare me for my future goals. Bridgewater really does have something for everybody, whether an outreach event or research itself.

Jolie Casali, ’25

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Undergraduate Research

The Big Discovery

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 13:52:27 +0000

The Big Discovery HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Mon, 10/16/2023 - 09:52

Recent alumna’s ATP research lit a passion that’s led to a great career

October 17, 2023

Heather Harris Michonski

From Brazil to Bridgewater and now onto Harvard, the past five years have been both transitional and exciting for Fernanda Mederios Contini, ’23.

When she first arrived at �¼��ϲʿ��, Contini’s goal was to earn a degree in biology and minor in biochemistry, then move onto medical school.

Instead, she developed a passion for research which led to her current position as a research assistant in Harvard University’s neuroscience post-baccalaureate (PiNBAC) program, where she is studying the sensory mechanisms of the brain.

“The one thing I really appreciate about Bridgewater State is how my research experience led me to where I am right now,” Contini said.

In the summer of 2022, she was awarded funding from �¼��ϲʿ��’s Adrian Tinsley Program for Undergraduate Research and Creative Work Summer Grants. Under the guidance of Professor Joseph Seggio, Contini researched estrogen and the ways in which it influenced the circadian rhythms in young versus middle-aged mice.

“I spent the entire summer doing research and found I really enjoyed it and switched from going to medical school to a more academic route and researched-focused path,” she said.

Throughout her �¼��ϲʿ�� experience, she also received support from the school’s International Student and Scholar Services.

Not only did Contini start her �¼��ϲʿ�� journey coming from another country, but it was also during the height of the COVID crisis.

“There was not a lot of in-person interaction, but the international team really checked in to make sure I was okay,” she said. “They were always there to offer support. It was nice to know that someone cared about how things were going.”

Now at Harvard, she’s getting hands-on training through the PiNBAC program, which will help her in applying to PhD programs in the neurosciences.

“Harvard has been a great experience,” she said. “At first it was intimidating, not on a personal level, but on a knowledge level. But I’m learning the ins and outs and finding my footing.”

If she hadn’t stepped outside her comfort zone, taken a chance, and tried something new, this pathway might not have been revealed.

“I think it’s important to be open to all opportunities, if you have things available, just do it,” she said. “Take a class, try something different, don’t be afraid to try.”

“I already miss Bridgewater, I really liked my experience there,” she said. “The environment was good, the involvement with international students was good, the students were nice, and having mentors and professors who are interested in getting you where you want to go, the overall experience is supportive.”

Do you have a �¼��ϲʿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

The one thing I really appreciate about Bridgewater State is how my research experience led me to where I am right now.

Fernanda Mederios Contini, '23

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Alumni Profile

Undergraduate Research

Summer of Rock

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 18:08:30 +0000

Summer of Rock BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 08/16/2023 - 14:08

Student-researchers travel to Montana to study Earth’s surface

August 17, 2023

Brian Benson, G'23

Julia Lee, ’25, headed to Montana in search of rock formations called dikes in the Ruby Mountains. But she faced one monumental problem: she couldn’t find the dikes that were listed on her geologic map.

Disheartened but not defeated, Julia’s fortunes turned when she stumbled upon a rare rock with large crystals. Called peridotite, these dense igneous rocks appear as a result of a piece of the Earth’s mantle thrusting upward.

“I’m so excited because this is 100 times cooler,” said Julia, a geology major and GIS minor from Walpole. “We knew the rock existed, but we didn’t expect to find it there.”

These highs and lows of research came during a trip to Southwestern Montana with fellow geology major Olivia Ranck, ’24, Professor Michael Krol and Laboratory Staff Assistant Jessica Campbell, ’08. Olivia and Julia received funding from the Adrian Tinsley Program for Undergraduate Research and Creative Work and the Richard Enright Field Scholarship. Their research involves gathering samples in the field and analyzing their geochemistry on campus.

Julia hopes to understand why peridotite exists where she found it, while Olivia is studying a type of basalt also found in the area. Olivia aims to determine if the basalt came from a hot spot (which causes molten rock to rise to the Earth’s surface) that created volcanic eruptions in what is today Yellowstone National Park.

“Hot spots are still not really understood,” said Olivia, who is from Wilbraham. “Doing research like this can help us better understand geological history and processes.”

The detective work could prove the basalt's origins or lead to further questions, but Olivia is certain of one thing: the trip was an incredible educational experience.

“It helped me and helped Julia learn and get hands-on practice in the field of our interest that we want to use when we get into our careers,” she said. “I’m so grateful.”

Krol, who has taken Bridgewater students to the area for about 20 years, saw in Olivia and Julia strong, independent thinkers with the dedication to carry out field research.

“It’s about giving them the opportunity to challenge themselves and let them explore their passion,” he said. “A lot of undergraduates don’t know what it’s like in the field. … It really pushes them physically and mentally. They did an incredible job this summer. I give them kudos.”

Olivia and Julia praised Krol’s support, leadership, and commitment to helping them grow.

“I was very anxious when I first got out there,” said Julia, who hadn’t previously traveled beyond the East Coast. “Everyone made it such a comfortable and kind and safe environment.”

Julia aims for a career in environmental science, potentially cleaning up hazardous materials spills. She appreciates receiving a well-rounded science education that stretches beyond geology to include chemistry, biology, and physics.

Olivia hopes to study geology in graduate school, ideally in New Zealand. Even if her studies lead her across the world, she’ll rely on the strong foundation built at �¼��ϲʿ�� and in the hills of Montana.

“I’ll be using this experience for the rest of my life,” she said.

Do you have a �¼��ϲʿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

It’s about giving them the opportunity to challenge themselves and let them explore their passion. A lot of undergraduates don’t know what it’s like in the field. … It really pushes them physically and mentally. They did an incredible job this summer. I give them kudos.

Dr. Michael Krol, geological sciences professor

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Undergraduate Research

Diverse Art

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 13:59:24 +0000

Diverse Art HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Tue, 07/25/2023 - 09:59

Education major’s project takes inclusive approach to the past

August 1, 2023

Heather Harris Michonski

It was during class discussions while taking a course at �¼��ϲʿ�� with Dr. Jacquelynne Boivin, that Brienna Notaro, ’24, recognized that despite defining herself as anti-racist, she actually did harbor some biases.

“I’m always working toward bettering myself, so it hurt and, to be honest, was a little embarrassing,” Brienna said.

Dr. Boivin, professor of elementary and early childhood education, assured her there was nothing to be embarrassed about as it was clear Brienna was determined to become more aware, including how art is taught in most classrooms and the glaring lack of diversity.

“I’m studying secondary education and studio arts,” Brienna said. “And we talked a lot about art, and I started to realize that I wasn’t being taught about many artists of color.”

That’s when Dr. Boivin encouraged her to develop a project on the topic and apply for �¼��ϲʿ��’s Adrian Tinsley Program (ATP) for Undergraduate Research and Creative Work Summer Grants.

“I’ve always had a passion for education and social change and wanted to be an advocate for people, so I came up with this project to design an art and art history curriculum for middle and high school students that includes a more diverse groups of artists,” Brienna said.

Her project was greenlit for the ATP program and this summer the rising senior has been researching and creating a website geared toward anti-racist education to help art teachers diversify their classrooms.

The website consists of a homepage that connects to other pages filled with resources. Digital artwork is included, as well as literature, lesson plans, templates, and ideas for museum work.

She also highlights the work of black, LGBTQ+, and disabled artists.

“It is all easily accessible, the language casual. I wanted it to be approachable to make it easy for teachers to feel comfortable integrating this work into their classrooms,” Brienna said.

She hopes her efforts will bring about positive change.

“There are a lot of really interesting artists out there who have never gotten the spotlight, artists we have never learned about and it’s so important that they are recognized as part of our history,” Brienna said.

By participating in the ATP program, Brienna has not only fine-tuned her lesson-planning skills, but also gained insight as to the type of teacher she hopes to be when eventually stepping into the classroom to teach her own students after graduating from �¼��ϲʿ�� next spring.

“I’ve gained information to be a better teacher for students of all backgrounds and am learning to be culturally responsive,” she said. “This has been an awesome opportunity to explore and work on something I’m so passionate about.”

Do you have a �¼��ϲʿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

I’ve always had a passion for education and social change and wanted to be an advocate for people, so I came up with this project to design an art and art history curriculum for middle and high school students that includes a more diverse groups of artists.

Brienna Notaro, '24

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Undergraduate Research

Diversity

Swamped With Research

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 18:04:26 +0000

Swamped With Research BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 07/19/2023 - 14:04

Student-researchers present wetlands findings at symposium

July 20, 2023

Brian Benson, G'23

Kayla Keith’s and Matt Potvin’s time as Bears is marked by many days trekking through streams and swamps to count and observe hundreds of tiny tadpoles, as well as snakes, frogs, turtles, and other species.

It’s sweaty, physically demanding work, but it led to a once unimaginable professional opportunity for the Class of 2023 biology majors: Sharing their research as the only undergraduate presenters at a prestigious symposium.

“I was blown away,” Keith said of presenting at the Society of Wetland Scientists’ recent symposium on wetland restoration. “It was nerve-wracking, but also very exciting. … I feel like I got as much as I could out of my �¼��ϲʿ�� experience. It offered me so much.”

In collaboration with mentor Dr. Thilina Surasinghe and classmate Summer Saad, ’23, Keith and Potvin worked at Plymouth’s Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary and Foothills Preserve. The former cranberry bogs have been transformed into natural wetlands. Studying the presence of reptiles and amphibians offers insight on the effects of restorations at different stages, ultimately providing valuable information for government agencies, environmental organizations and landowners.

Their research has already impressed experts, who invited them to present at the symposium after seeing their work at a different conference. The �¼��ϲʿ�� Class of 1954 Undergraduate Research Fund supported their travel to Spokane, Washington.

“It felt like a big deal and something we worked really hard for,” said Potvin, who minored in chemistry.

Potvin and Keith worked with Surasinghe for less than two years, but credit him with recognizing and fostering their desire to further their education beyond coursework.

Though they began the project with no prior research experience, they showed impressive growth. Some symposium attendees even thought they were graduate students, said Surasinghe, an associate professor of biological sciences.

“They were able to really navigate this challenging discipline doing scientific research fairly quickly,” he said. “It’s kind of remarkable going from a ground-zero starting point all the way (to the symposium).”

And Potvin’s days in the field are far from finished. He will build upon his research in graduate school at �¼��ϲʿ�� by studying how the topographical transformation from a flat cranberry bog to the more varied terrain of a natural wetland affects plants, frogs, and micro-invertebrates.

“Undergraduate research gave me a chance to further immerse myself within the Bridgewater community,” said Potvin, who is from Tiverton, Rhode Island. “It gave me a chance to work as a professional in a career in which I want to work.”

While Keith plans to attend veterinary school, she appreciates the valuable lessons in teamwork, communication and the research process gained at �¼��ϲʿ��. It has inspired her to consider veterinary research.

“I do feel very accomplished and grateful for everything I was able to do,” the North Attleboro resident said. “It was very fulfilling and set me up very well for my future.”

Do you have a �¼��ϲʿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

Undergraduate research gave me a chance to further immerse myself within the Bridgewater community. It gave me a chance to work as a professional in a career in which I want to work.

Matt Potvin, '23, G'25

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Undergraduate Research

Remains of the Day

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 19:28:14 +0000

Remains of the Day BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 07/12/2023 - 15:28

Anthropology major's research focuses on rates of decomposition

July 13, 2023

Brian Benson, G'23

Murder investigations on television often wrap up neatly in an hour-long episode. In real life, it’s a lot more complex, as Sarah Calis, ’24, is learning through her undergraduate research.

Sarah, an anthropology major (cultural anthropology concentration) from Fall River, is studying the myriad factors that affect the decomposition rate of bodies. She hopes to collect data that helps investigators better determine when a victim died.

“It’s definitely made my experience here at Bridgewater State more fulfilling,” said Sarah, who aspires to continue the research while studying forensic anthropology in graduate school. “I’ve had first-hand experience in the field, learned a lot, and built a lot of skills as a student and person.”

For her project, which is supported by �¼��ϲʿ��’s Adrian Tinsley Program for Undergraduate Research and Creative Work, Sarah placed crates in the Great Hill woods containing turkey, chicken and pork meat. The crates allow insects to enter and the meat to have contact with the ground but help prevent predators from absconding with a sample. Sarah checks on the crates frequently and captures predators on a camera.

“I’m looking at insect activity, how the weather is, if there are any scavengers,” said Sarah, who is minoring in criminal justice, American studies, and Middle East and North African studies. “I’m taking notes on changes in color and any odor present.”

While she is not using cadavers, the research is applicable to human decomposition. Pigs in particular have flesh and muscle composition similar to humans, said Dr. Ellen Ingmanson, an anthropology professor who is mentoring Sarah.

Much decomposition research takes place in the southern United States, so Sarah hopes to provide useful data from New England’s more variable climate. She is also studying how smoke from recent Canadian wildfires reduced insect activity and affected decomposition.

The project allowed Sarah to improve her public speaking abilities and gain research experience that is an increasingly important differentiator in graduate school admissions.

She embraced every opportunity at �¼��ϲʿ��, including traveling to Morocco and the Arabian Gulf region for study tours. Sarah presented a different research project about students on the autism spectrum at an international education conference in Jordan.

“She has been enthusiastic from the beginning,” Ingmanson said. “She has the curiosity to ask questions and go deeper, to read outside of the (course) requirements and explore further.”

Sarah appreciates Ingmanson’s support and willingness to troubleshoot problems and brainstorm ideas – especially because Sarah’s family gets grossed out hearing about her research.

“It’s been wonderful having her as a mentor,” she said. “She’s always there to guide me in the right way.”

Do you have a �¼��ϲʿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

(Undergraduate research) definitely made my experience here at Bridgewater State more fulfilling. I’ve had first-hand experience in the field, learned a lot, and built a lot of skills as a student and person.

Sarah Calis, ’24

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Undergraduate Research

Painting His Way

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 15:11:17 +0000

Painting His Way HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Fri, 07/07/2023 - 11:11

Junior hopes to turn his passion into a life

July 11, 2023

Heather Harris Michonski

Like many during the pandemic, Mason Terra, ’24, experienced a myriad of emotions.

To help manage these feelings he turned to painting.

“I began to realize how quickly life can be taken away. I lost family members at that time and my cat…there was a lot of stuff going on, but it also wasn’t all bad, some of it was good,” he said. “I discovered and started thinking about the ying and yang between good and bad and explored this through painting.”

With a paintbrush in hand, Terra started out on smaller canvases purchased from a craft store. He quickly found he enjoyed using oil paints and because of this, began to rethink his life and ultimately his major at �¼��ϲʿ��.

“I was initially an anthropology major, my entire life I wanted to be a paleontologist,” Terra said. “But during the pandemic, as I kept painting, I realized I wanted to do something I love for the rest of my life and switched from anthropology to fine arts.”

Since making that decision, Terra has found his calling and this summer was accepted into �¼��ϲʿ��’s signature Adrian Tinsley Program (ATP) for Undergraduate Research and Creative Work Summer Grants.

Recipients receive $4,500 plus funding for supplies and other expenses to conduct in-depth research or creative work for ten weeks in the summer.

Terra learned of the ATP program when he was seeking out scholarship opportunities and his professor Rob Lorenson suggested ATP.

“We looked it up and realized that the application was due the next day,” Terra said.

Determined, Terra stayed up all night to write out his project idea and managed to fill out the application and submit it on time and to his surprise was accepted.

“I knew what I wanted to do for the project as I had already started painting things in the theme of grief and loss. I was able to form a project around my style and take my message and theme,” he said.

Professor and Chairperson of Art and Art History Collin Asmus is mentoring Terra on the project, which involves not only painting large-scale, four feet by three feet pieces, but Terra also stretches his own canvases.

He creates all his artwork in the art center at �¼��ϲʿ��.

“This project also helps me expand my portfolio, so I can get into a good graduate school,” Terra said. “It allows me to really practice my skills and hone in on them, work on my color theory, figure shapes...it’s not a project I have to abide by in a class, I get to create my own prompts, it’s personal.”

It is also helping him to prepare for his scheduled semester abroad this fall at Florence, Italy’s Santa Reparta International School of Art.

“I’ll be studying printmaking and drawing as well as other classes. It’s a great place to study art, there are a ton of museums. It’s going to be a great place to immerse myself in artwork and learn as much as I can,” Terra said.

His ultimate goal is to be able to continue to paint for a living and hopefully land an artists’ residency where a company provides the artist with the opportunity to create and display their works as well as a place to live and a studio.

“I’d love to sell my paintings to companies, collectors, have my work shown in galleries,” he said.

And in this technology-driven world, it’s important to remember art has a place in society, Terra added.

“Art can offer different perspectives; it can initiate conversations. Art can bring about new inventions or just a different opinion,” he said. “Sharing ideas is important for growth and expression and now more than ever, we need to be able to better communicate as a society, as a country.”

Do you have a �¼��ϲʿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

Art can offer different perspectives; it can initiate conversations. Art can bring about new inventions or just a different opinion. Sharing ideas is important for growth and expression and now more than ever, we need to be able to better communicate as a society, as a country.

Mason Terra, '24

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Undergraduate Research

Photo by MacKenzie Rubitschung, '21

Proud Research

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 13:29:04 +0000

Proud Research HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Wed, 06/28/2023 - 09:29

Student spends break aiming to reduce LGBTQ+ bullying

June 29, 2023

Heather Harris Michonski

Members of the LGBTQ+ community often find themselves targets of bullying, particularly in high school and middle school. Sara Barry, ’24, is spending her summer trying to find ways to help.

“I want to learn what interventions are out there, how we can help students and make sure they are effective in order to move forward in a positive direction when it comes to supporting the LGBTQ+ community,” Barry said.

She’s doing this through an Adrian Tinsley Program (ATP) for Undergraduate Research and Creative Work Summer Grants research project, “A Qualitative Study of In-School Support for LGBTQ+ students.”

The social work major heard about the ATP program through her academic advisor, Dr. Leslie Sattler.

“During one of our advising sessions, she told me to think about a topic I might be interested in researching. I had never done research before,” Barry said.

Despite feeling nervous about her lack of experience, Barry decided to apply.

“I knew I wanted to do something with kids in schools,” she said, and after learning about the higher numbers of LGBTQ+ students who are bullied, focused on that group.

Barry is conducting a qualitative study and reaching out to adjustment counselors and school social workers to interview about bullying.

“Once I complete the interviews, I use a coding process to see what different themes emerge and how they overlap,” she said. “It’s a lot of digging and analyzing.”

The goal is to use the data to find ways to create stronger support systems.

“My research is geared toward intervention,” Barry said. “I’m hoping to discover ways to improve school climates for LGBTQ+ students.”

Barry will present her work at the ATP symposium this fall. She hopes to also submit her project to social work-related conferences.

Participating in the project has boosted her confidence, not only as a researcher, but also in terms of pursuing her master’s degree in social work.

“I’d like to eventually work with a public agency, where I can work with children or in a school setting,” Barry said. “The things I have learned from being at �¼��ϲʿ�� and the ATP program have shown me that there are many things you can do in the social work field and now I feel more open to trying anything."

Do you have a �¼��ϲʿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

The things I have learned from being at �¼��ϲʿ�� and the ATP program have shown me that there are many things you can do in the social work field and now I feel more open to trying anything.

Sara Barry, '24

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Undergraduate Research

Language Research

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Fri, 26 May 2023 16:43:42 +0000

Language Research BBENSON@bridgew.edu Fri, 05/26/2023 - 12:43

Recent graduate's thesis helps him teach Spanish to high schoolers

May 30, 2023

Brian Benson, G'23

It didn’t take long for Jake Murray, ’23, to recognize the professional relevance of his undergraduate research. In fact, he had yet to even cross the commencement stage.

The �¼��ϲʿ�� Spanish and secondary education major studied two distinct ways of describing past actions in Spanish that are challenging for students to grasp.

“I literally taught the difference in a Spanish class,” he said, recounting an experience student-teaching at Taunton High School. “What the research told me, I could see in front of me.”

That research on the preterit and imperfect verb tenses, which was part of his honors thesis, represents a passion for the Spanish language that he developed as a student. Jake started learning Spanish in eighth grade and initially disliked it. As his language skills advanced, he became enthralled by Spanish literature, music, and art.

For his thesis, Jake relied on sources in English and Spanish. He studied the historical Latin roots of the two verb tenses, linguistic differences, cultural impacts in the Spanish speaking world and strategies for teaching students.

The project’s interdisciplinary nature impressed Dr. José Lara, an assistant professor of Spanish who co-mentored Jake.

“This was a thesis that was research based and also applicable to the classroom,” Lara said. “He argued for a more wholistic understanding of these tenses and the importance of understanding them for students and educators alike.”

Lara and Dr. Melissa Tobey LaBelle, an assistant professor of secondary education and educational leadership, recommended sources and even commented as Jake drafted his thesis.

“They were crucial to my success,” he said. “We were discovering this knowledge together.”

Research was rewarding in itself because of the freedom it offered, Jake said.

“It is your idea, your interests, what you want to know more about,” he said. “This was the first time in my college career that professors were like, ‘It’s up to you.’ Though overwhelming at first, it was really empowering.”

Now Jake is preparing to continue studying Spanish in graduate school at Universidad de Alcalá in Spain. He will also teach English while abroad.

He then plans to return to the U.S. to teach Spanish – a career that he knows he is prepared for thanks to his �¼��ϲʿ�� research and education.

“I have this great privilege,” he said of becoming a Spanish educator who is not a native speaker. “I can not only share my passion with students but put myself in their shoes.”

Do you have a �¼��ϲʿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

It is your idea, your interests, what you want to know more about. This was the first time in my college career that professors were like, ‘It’s up to you.’ Though overwhelming at first, it was really empowering.

Jake Murray, ’23, on participating in undergraduate research

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Undergraduate Research

Honors Program

Shared Lessons

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 18:00:21 +0000

Shared Lessons BBENSON@bridgew.edu Fri, 04/21/2023 - 14:00

Alumna and current undergraduate collaborate on salamander project

April 27, 2023

Brian Benson, G'23

United by a love of salamanders and a passion for teaching, student Grace Leopold, ’24, and science teacher Julia Whalen, ’20, G’24, are teaming up to study the tiny amphibians and their predators.

Grace, a biology and secondary education major, created clay salamanders she placed in the Great Hill woods on �¼��ϲʿ��’s campus. She hopes predators will seek out the “claymanders” and leave their bite marks in the clay. Cameras will also record what happens.

Julia, who teaches at Carver Middle High School, is leading the same project with her students.

“It lets them see school is something more than reading from a book and doing worksheets,” said Julia, who studied the same fields as Grace as a �¼��ϲʿ�� undergraduate and is now pursuing a master’s degree in physical science.

Grace and Julia praised Dr. Caitlin Fisher-Reid, an associate professor of biological sciences, for encouraging them to participate in undergraduate research. Fisher-Reid’s lab studies eastern red-backed salamanders through the Salamander Population and Adaptation Research Collaboration Network (SPARCnet), which includes researchers from as far away as Indiana and Virginia who aim to understand how environmental changes affect salamanders.

In addition to Grace’s project with claymanders, �¼��ϲʿ�� and Carver students track and measure living salamanders to better understand a species whose presence indicates a healthy forest.

A salamander made of clay

“I enjoy science I can look at and see with my eyes,” said Grace, who joined the lab after Julia graduated. “I love the people in the research lab. We’re always hanging out outside of the lab. And Caitlin is such a good mentor. I feel like I just hit the jackpot.”

Julia can relate. She said a mix of lab experience and education classes helped her excel as a teacher.

While she didn’t plan to continue salamander research after college, Julia realized it is a perfect topic for students enrolled in Carver’s environmental and agricultural sciences pathway.

“They really enjoy getting outside and working with the salamanders,” said Julia, who received the 2022 Joann Blum Inspiration in Environmental Education Award from the Massachusetts Association of Science Teachers.

The woods next to her school are an ideal classroom. That habitat features mostly pine trees, which differs from the mixed forest on �¼��ϲʿ��’s campus and mostly deciduous trees at other Massachusetts SPARCnet sites, Fisher-Reid said.

“It’s awesome,” she said of Julia incorporating the research into her teaching. “I didn’t really think any of my students would do that. I’m happy when they get jobs. To have a student take an entire project and say, ‘I can do it with younger students,’ is a teacher’s dream.”

Grace is excited to have data from Carver claymanders because it will help her draw better conclusions for her honors thesis about the salamander predators project. She even visited Julia’s classroom and worked with her students.

“The most rewarding thing is being able to collaborate with Julia,” Grace said. “To learn from someone who has gone through exactly what I’m going through is super helpful.”

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I enjoy science I can look at and see with my eyes. I love the people in the research lab. We’re always hanging out outside of the lab. And Caitlin is such a good mentor. I feel like I just hit the jackpot.

Grace Leopold, ’24

Tags

Undergraduate Research

Honors Program