What are you up to now?

Ernesto I. Rodriguez

REU '07

Mentor: Aaron Ellison

Project: Effects of Deer Population in Ant Density in Black Rock Forest, Quabbin Reservoir, and Simes Tract (abstract)

Hometown: Yuma, AZ

College and major: Northern Arizona University, Environmental Sciences with Biology Emphasis, class of 2009

What you miss most about the REU program:
The food and the tranquility of the forest.

What you miss least about the REU program:
The blood sucking insects.

What about the REU program has stuck with you:
I continue to study ants, as I did in my project. However, I changed the focus of my studies slightly.

Have you stayed in touch with other REU students?:
I have continued relationships with a few my fellow 2007-REU-ers, mainly through the internet.

Whether your REU experience supported or changed your career plans:
The REU completely changed my career plans. Before I entered the program I was a science education major, and once I left, I became an environmental science major.

What you're up to now:
In Summer '09, I will be participating in the first scientific ant survey in Navajo Natio lands. I will be collecting specimens and doing lab work in my molecular genetics project on Brachymyrmex depilis.

Read more about Ernesto's work after his REU program here.

What are you up to now?

Alyssa Hernandez
REU '08

Mentor: Aaron Ellison 
Project: Forest canopy loss affects the competition dynamics of carabid beetles [Carabidae] (abstract)

Hometown: Camarillo, CA
College and Major: Cornell University,
Natural Resources, class of 2010

What you miss most about the REU program:
The fabulous group of REUers, being surrounded by the forest....and my mentor!

What you miss least about the REU program:
Mosquitoes, ticks, and trips to the medical center.

What about the REU program has stuck with you:
I came out of the program with a better understanding of field research and lab work. I learned that I do love fieldwork, even if I am a bit accident prone.

Have you stayed in touch with other REU'ers?:
Of course...some of them I hope to stay in touch with for a very long time.

Whether your REU experience supported or changed your career plans:
Maybe. Now that I've spent my entire summer doing research, it makes me want to explore every aspect of my major. That means looking at the management aspect of things, which is not necessarily science related. I still love ecology though, and will probably continue to do field work for while.

What you're up to now:
I will be spending this summer at the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. I get to spend about 12 weeks learning all aspects of the management process. That means: helping visitors, tagging birds, and doing invasive species work- everything. Who knows what many adventures I will have during my senior year? I am actually considering joining the Peace Corps after college.