Top Row (from left to right): Sydney Fuller, Teresa Dorado, Ami Fofana, Josh Thorne / Makayla Marshall, Isaac Klimasmith, Blenna Kiros, Emily Rau, Muhajir Lesure / Juliette Pascual, Jorge Agudelo, Logan Dreher, Brandon Arbuckle, Harbria Gardner, Alec Flores Pina / Whitney Vong, Malik Smith, Maeghen Goode, Gabbie Buendia, Kim Tran / (Bottom right row) Tonyisha Harris, Tiffany Wu, Jessica Riojas Photo Credit: Jaime Muñoz Velazquez
2017 Scholar Cohort Research
Lourdes Abreu Torres, Rutgers University
Research Title: “How does variation in soil impact the potential for character displacement in root traits?”
Research Mentors: Sara Colom and Dr. Gina Baucom (PI)
Internship Host Site: Freshwater Future
Jorge Agudelo, Florida International University
Research Title: “Deductive Reasoning in Wasps: Success of Transitive Inference in Polistes dominula“
Research Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Tibbetts
Internship Host Site: Fair Food Network
Brandon Arbuckle, Wabash College
Research Title: “Tied Hands: Parcelization’s constraints on land management strategies in the Northwoods”
Research Mentor: Dr. Paige Fischer
Internship Host Site: Ecology Center
Gabbie Buendia, Rollins College
Research Title: “Expanding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the Center for Sustainable Systems”
Research Mentors: Helaine Hunscher and Dr. Geoff Lewis
Internship Host Site: Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, Great Lakes Great Communities
Teresa Dorado, Loyola University Chicago
Research Title: “Impact of Nearby Vegetation on the Potential for Character Displacement in Root Traits”
Research Mentors: Sara Colom and Dr. Gina Baucom (PI)
Internship Host Site: Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum
Logan Dreher, Brown University
Research Title: “Adapting to Climate Change in Tribal Communities in the Great Lakes”
Research Mentors: Dr. Frank Marsik, Dr. Jenna Jorns, and Omar Gates
Internship Host Site: Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition
Alec Flores Pina, University of California, Santa Barbara
Research Title: “Prophage Induction in Pseudoalteromonas sp.”
Research Mentors: Dr. Melissa Duhaime and Morgan Lindback
Internship Host Site: City of Ann Arbor, Natural Area Preservation (NAP)
Ami Fofana, The University of Toledo
Research Title: “Quantifying Feedbacks Between Soil Fertility and Legume Nitrogen Fixation on Organic”
Research Mentors: Dr. Jennifer Blesh and Beth VanDusen
Internship Host Site: Legacy Land Conservancy
Sydney Fuller, University of Michigan
Research Title: “Reality of Michigan Cover Crops: Ecosystem Services and Practicality for Farmers”
Research Mentors: Dr. Jennifer Blesh and Beth VanDusen
Internship Host Site: Washtenaw County Health Department
Harbria Gardner, Florida A&M University
Research Title: “How do environmental stressors affect fitness of Daphnis?”
Research Mentor: Dr. Meghan Duffy
Internship Host Site: Michigan League of Conservation Voters
Maeghen Goode, Michigan State University
Research Title: “How Are Soil Chemical and Physical Properties Affected by Deer Browsing?”
Research Mentor: Jacqueline Popma
Internship Host Site: EcoWorks
Tonyisha Harris, Loyola University Chicago
Research Title: “How do phosphorous loads affect water quality and fish production in western Lake Erie?”
Research Mentors: Dr. Hongyan Zhang, Ed Rutherford, and Doran Mason
Internship Host Site: Huron River Watershed Council
Blenna Kiros, Humboldt State University
Research Title: “Daphnia: How Has Body Size Changed?”
Research Mentor: Dr. Meghan Duffy
Internship Host Site: Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office
Isaac Klimasmith, Wesleyan University
Research Title: “Toxic Microcystis Blooms and Viral Replication Strategies in Western Lake Erie”
Research Mentors: Dr. Melissa Duhaime and Rachel Cable
Internship Host Site: National Wildlife Federation – Great Lakes Regional Center
Makayla Marshall, Lake Superior State University
Research Title: “Assessing the relationship between threats and responses to environmental change”
Research Mentor: Dr. Paige Fischer
Internship Host Site: City of Ann Arbor, Natural Area Preservation (NAP)
Juliette Pascual, University of California-Berkeley
Research Title: “Geospatial Analysis of Vacancy Patterns in Detroit, Michigan”
Research Mentor: Professor Joan Nassauer
Internship Host Site: Great Lakes Commission
Emily Rau, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Research Title: “Component Use Patterns for the Michigan Sustainability Case, ‘Dioxane Plume Pollution’”
Research Mentors: Dr. Meghan Wagner and Dr. Rebecca Hardin
Internship Host Site: Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, Great Lakes Great Communities
Jessica Riojas, Lowa State University
Research Title: “Deductive reasoning in paper Wasps: Polistes dominula are capable of transitive inference”
Research Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Tibbetts
Internship Host Site: Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum
Malik Smith, Marshall University
Research Title: “Assessing the Importance of Abiotic and Biotic Drivers on Tree Seedling Recruitment in Temperate Forests”
Research Mentor: Dr. Inés Ibáñez
Internship Host Site: Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office
Josh Thorne, University of Mount Union
Research Title: “Case-based Experiential Learning through Urban Farming in Detroit”
Research Mentors: Dr. Meghan Wagner and Dr. Rebecca Hardin
Internship Host Site: EcoWorks
Kim Tran, Pomona College
Research Title: “Life by the Riverfront: A Review of Residents’ Public Perception of Chicago and Other Legacy Cities”
Research Mentor: Professor Joan Nassauer
Internship Host Site: EcoWorks
Whitney Vong, University of Maryland-College Park
Research Title: “Repurposing Detroit’s Vacant Lots to Provide Pollinator Habitat”
Research Mentor: Professor Joan Nassauer
Internship Host Site: Great Lakes Commission
Tiffany Wu, Colby College
Research Title: “Are deer browsing effects on soil nutrient cycling rates mediated by changes in plant biomass and species composition?”
Research Mentor: Jacqueline Popma
Internship Host Site: Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum