Author: Heidi Jeter

The 2024 Research in the Rotunda featured 16 Freshwater Collaborative-funded research projects. Students shared more about their experience.

Student: Sarah Baughman
University: UW-Green Bay
Major: Biology with emphasis on Conversation and Ecology
Expected graduation date: May 2025
Mentor: Erin Giese

Summarize the research and your role.

My research focused on coastal bird use of small to medium-sized stream mouths along the western Lake Michigan shoreline. The findings of this project are intended to inform restoration projects and contribute to research on lesser known and understudied creeks and streams around the Great Lakes. I took part in all phases of this project, so I was able to gain experience with proposal development, volunteer outreach and coordinating, site scouting, surveying, data collection and analysis, report writing, and presentation of results. 

What skills did you learn? 

As an undergraduate student, I’ve had the privilege of holding a variety of roles in this project and I learned something with each phase. I gained experience with writing a proposal, communicating with advisors and volunteers, and protocol development. I gained self-confidence as I navigated communicating the goals of this project to others and asking for access to private lands. My bird identification skills have increased, and I have felt capable of joining other bird-related research projects. In presenting at Research in the Rotunda, I was able to break through anxieties about public speaking, and I am now a more confident and thorough communicator. All of this to say: I have learned so much.

What has been your favorite part about this experience?

Seeing my personal evolution from the start of this project to the present and encouraging other students to embrace similar opportunities.

What are some of the opportunities you’ve had because of this research?

Bird researcher for the Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program; student research presenter at multiple symposia and conferences including the Chancellor’s Open House in 2023; Audubon Fly-In in Washington, DC; Cat Island Piping Plover Conservation Team Member.

What kind of career do you hope to go into after graduation? 

Wildlife biologist; volunteer outreach; researcher and field team leader

How will this experience help you attain your career goals?

This experience has strengthened my confidence and communication skills; a foundation I can build future career choices on. I am a more competitive undergraduate student than I would have been without this experience.

The 2024 Research in the Rotunda featured 16 Freshwater Collaborative-funded research projects. Students shared more about their experience.

Student: Casie Kopischke
University: UW-Stout
Major: Environmental Science
Expected graduation date: May 2025
Mentors: Nicole Hayes, Keith Gilland and Julia Chapman

Summarize the research and your role.

I researched how restoration year effects the community dynamics in Gilbert Creek, as a part of monitoring the Red Cedar watershed. Gilbert Creek was restored along several areas mor than 18 years for the trout population. Last summer, we collected insects that the trout eat, as they are a good indicator of water quality. After doing so, I ran calculations and found that the areas that have been restored along the stream are better for the insects and trout than the parts of the stream that are not restored. It’s impressive that we are still seeing effects from restoration almost 20 years after.

What skills did you learn? 

I had the opportunity to sample sites along four streams and collect data on nutrients, macroinvertebrates, and other stream qualities. I have learned more about different water quality measures and the importance of each measurement, and I also improved my data entry and analysis skills. My favorite part about this research was going into the field with my peers, collecting data and finding unique flora and fauna.

What are some of the opportunities you’ve had because of this research?

Some opportunities I have had because of this include going to Research in the Rotunda and presenting my research to Wisconsin legislators, as well as at Research Day at UW-Stout.

How will this experience help you attain your career goals?

After graduating, I hope to continue being able to do water quality focused jobs, or to branch into land conservation. Doing this research has expanded my skills in the environmental science field and will benefit my career aspirations post-graduation.

The 2024 Research in the Rotunda featured 16 Freshwater Collaborative-funded research projects. Students shared more about their experience.

University: UW-Whitewater
Mentor: Matthew Winden
Students:
Alaina Jacobs
Major: Entrepreneurship
Expected graduation date: May 2026

Clare O’Donnell
Major: Environmental Science
Expected graduation date: May 2024

Summarize the research and your role.

Jacobs: This research consisted of estimating the economic value of Lake Michigan and the Bay of Green Bay. We conducted multiple surveys for anglers to gain more information on their expenditures.

O’Donnell: I was involved in writing sections of the literature review and referencing other surveys sent out about commercial/ recreational/ charter boat fisheries. I then created the section of the survey that collects data about commercial fisheries (this is ongoing) and helped review the survey in its entirety. I also helped customize and create the poster that we presented at Research in the Rotunda.

What skills did you learn? 

Jacobs: I learned how to use Qualtrics and how to create a literature review on Excel. 

O’Donnell: I learned how to reference past studies to aid in future research practices. I also learned how to properly write a literature review. I learned how to create surveys in a way that optimizes results while still being easy to navigate for respondents.

What has been your favorite part about this experience?

Jacobs: My favorite part of this experience has been working with the team. Our varying backgrounds and perspectives propelled our research process. 

O’Donnell: My favorite part of this experience has been collecting the data and learning how important having the numbers can be when it comes to future decision-making. I also enjoyed referencing similar studies and seeing what we did differently and how we can improve.

What are some of the opportunities you’ve had because of this research?

Jacobs: I have had the opportunity to connect with local legislators and professors. This research has put me into important spaces. I had the opportunity to work alongside my peers, who also have a passion for the intersection of science and economics. 

O’Donnell: This research has given me more relevant experience for the jobs I am interested in pursuing. It has allowed me to gain more experience in collaborative working and experience in how to properly conduct research.

What kind of career do you hope to go into after graduation? 

Jacobs: I want to go into environmental entrepreneurship. 

O’Donnell: I hope to work in something related to environmental policy, environmental social governance, environmental health and safety or environmental consulting.

How will this experience help you attain your career goals?

Jacobs: This experience has enhanced my ability to convey information effectively. I learned how to use Qualtrics and how to create a literature review in Excel. This high-impact practice strengthened my critical thinking skills, and that is a quality I will need as a business owner. 

O’Donnell: This experience helped me gain relevant experience that can be applicable to many of the jobs I am interested in. I have learned so much through this process, and I am ready to use all the skills I have learned in the workforce. 

The 2024 Research in the Rotunda featured 16 Freshwater Collaborative-funded research projects. Students shared more about their experience.

Student: Olivia Stellpflug
University: UW-Stevens Point
Major: Chemical Engineering with a Waste Resources Minor and Environmental Ethics Certificate
Expected graduation date: May 2025
Mentor: Joe Mondloch

Summarize the research and your role.

I have now been in two different research labs on campus–both studying PFAS adsorption to test methods for removing it from water. My role in both labs has been to prepare samples and record data to gather results on how these methods are performing.

What skills did you learn? 

It has improved my lab skills greatly outside the classroom, including preparing reagents, measuring out samples, and collecting data. Part of this role is also learning about the chemistry we are utilizing and how to interpret results and move forward. The biggest skill I have gained experience with is problem solving and troubleshooting when samples are not behaving the way we expected, and we must alter our approach.

What has been your favorite part about this experience?

My favorite part of this experience is learning from mentors on campus and to be part of a potential solution to an environmental concern. 

What are some of the opportunities you’ve had because of this research?

This research has helped me have background experience to draw on for future roles. I have been able to participate in research presentations and talk to administrators and officials, and it’s helping me secure future positions.

What are your plans after graduation?

My number one priority is environmental issues, and my goal is to work toward solutions to clean our planet. I hope to find a career in engineering solutions and sustainability to protect nature.

How will this experience help you attain your career goals?

My research experience has helped me take the first step toward this goal by developing my lab skills, problem solving, and communication that will allow me to be successful in my career. It has also expanded the range of knowledge I have of environmental issues.

The 2024 Research in the Rotunda featured 16 Freshwater Collaborative-funded research projects. Students shared more about their experience.

Student: Allie Fowle
University: UW-La Crosse
Major: Biology with minors in Chemistry and Nutrition
Expected graduation date: May 2024
Mentor: Tisha King-Heiden

Summarize the research and your role.

My research was conducted to study how an agricultural insecticide, Imidacloprid, effects the innate immune response of larval zebrafish. Imidacloprid is a neonicotinoid, which was originally created to only target insects, claiming there should be no effects on vertebrates. However, research has shown they are not solely targeting insects. Zebrafish are an important animal for research because their DNA is similar to that of wild fish and humans, meaning research results may be translational in these other populations.

By using six increasing concentrations of imidacloprid, I hypothesized with each increasing dose, there would be a decrease in the immune response, or the respiratory burst response. However, it was found there was an activation in the lower doses, followed by a suppression in the highest two doses. Though activation of the innate immune system may sound like a good thing, it can be correlated with oxidative stress, damage to cells, tissues and inflammatory diseases.

My role was through the full research process. I collaborated with my colleague in creating a research question, hypothesis, finding the best procedure, and analyzing the results. I worked about 40 hours per week, collecting eggs, dosing the embryos, creating solutions, running the experiment and analyzing data.

What skills did you learn? 

Some skills I have learned were improvements in my dilution math, micropipetting, statistics, using a cell plate reader, understanding chemical interactions, microscopy, photo microscopy, creating a poster presentation, presenting at conferences, and maybe most importantly, how to combat failure.

What has been your favorite part about this experience?

My favorite part of this experience is being able to connect with others through my work. I have met students and faculty who study various parts of my research. We made connections through our work and could see from a new perspective. Not only that but I’ve been able to speak to the general public about complex scientific ideas. This is ultimately my career goal. Science is such a wonderful world, but it can be intimidating. Making science more accessible is my favorite experience.

What are some of the opportunities you’ve had because of this research?

I have talked to hundreds of people about my work. I have attended four conferences, making professional and social relationships along the way. In addition, I have had the opportunity to join the McNair Scholars Program, which has funded me to attend these conferences and travel to Portland and Louisville, which is an opportunity I would not have had without learning about undergraduate research. Additionally, this research has led to me being able to go to graduate school. My experience doing research along with the McNair Scholars Program has taught me so much about how I can obtain the future I have dreamed about.

What are your plans after graduation?

I plan to attend graduate school studying Food Science with the hopes of making food safer by not only researching various aspects of food firsthand, but also making connections with food industry scientists and the general public. I strive to make science accessible for all who are as curious as I am. My career will be in food science and safety research.

How will this experience help you attain your career goals?

I was uniquely able to study the effects of insecticides from a different perspective than a food scientist may. By understanding the unforeseen implications of these chemicals, I can keep that in mind as I study a different aspect of food. Not only will that help me throughout my career, but also having a strong research background will significantly help in my transition to grad school. I feel as though I have a comprehensive understanding of the scientific process. I know how strongly I enjoy being a researcher, which I feel lucky to have confirmed so early in my career.

The 2024 Research in the Rotunda featured 16 Freshwater Collaborative-funded research projects. Students shared more about their experience.

Student: Kal Breeden
University: UW-Stout
Major: Environmental Science with a concentration in Natural Resource Conservation and minors in Plant Science and GIS
Expected graduation date: May 2025
Mentors: Keith Gilland and Nicole Hayes

Summarize the research and your role.

This research project was focused on monitoring the water quality of streams and lakes in the Red Cedar River watershed throughout Dunn County. My role as a student researcher was to work with my peers on sampling or research and report back to our professors/supervisors about our progress.

We conducted work in the field and the lab during the summer and continued working on research projects during the school year. During the summer, we sampled over 120 different stream sites repeatedly and went out on Lake Menomin or Lake Tainter on a weekly basis. Last summer, we added sediment samplers to our urban stream, Galloway Creek, which became an important part of my research, which focused on how restoration impacts sediment loading and other factors in urban streams. My research in 2023 was about how restoration projects impact trout streams over time.

What skills did you learn? 

I learned many new skills related to limnology, laboratory work, and especially fieldwork. I learned how to use different pieces of equipment and collect different types of water quality data in the field or through experimentation. I also learned about equipment management and organization and how to set yourself up to be efficient when out in the field.

What has been your favorite part about this experience?

I really enjoyed spending so much time outside and visiting new places, and I had a lot of fun with my coworkers. I found that I love fieldwork and how it helps you form a meaningful connection with a location and the data you’re collecting there. A few of my favorite memories would be catching a giant water bug, catching a lamprey for the first time, stumbling upon deer fawns hidden in the grass, seeing a lot of ghost pipe plants, and finding a coyote skull.

What are some of the opportunities you’ve had because of this research?

Thanks to this experience, I was chosen to present research at Research in the Rotunda twice, the National Conference on Undergraduate Research twice, and at other events such as UW-Stout’s Research Day and the Board of Regents Student Showcase. In addition, thanks to the fieldwork experience I’ve gained, I was offered and accepted a job with the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks this summer working as a Wildlife Habitat Plant Technician, which I am very excited about.

What do you plan to do after graduation? 

I hope to continue a career in environmental conservation and monitoring. I’m very interested in all kinds of plants, animals, and water resources and could see myself working with any of those. I’m very excited to do more fieldwork and learn more about the environment, wherever I end up.

How will this experience help you attain your career goals?

This experience has already helped me attain my career goals by giving me valuable fieldwork and laboratory experience that employers look for in a job candidate. Working on a project like this for two years has been such a valuable experience, and I am so glad to have been involved.