Envision

Bio: In the UD Envision Program, Trinity is studying the gut biome of ground beetles to determine if they are slug predators. She works under Dr. Micheal Crossley and his Ph.D. student, Thabu Mugala.

Trinity is enamored with slug sciences. Trinity’s ideal career would be to work in the slug science world in any capacity and to go into Integrated Pest Management to limit the amount of chemicals used in commercial pest control methods.

Trinity has worked with Dr. Crossley before and was encouraged to apply for the UD Envision Program to gain more hands-on lab experience. Working under Dr. Crossley is a breath of fresh air for Trinity because he encourages exploration and research and is always willing to help those who work under him. Trinity values the lab environment because of how kind, welcoming, and helpful everyone in her lab is.

Trinity enjoys working in the UD Envision program because she does not have to worry about homework, and the program allows her to receive hands-on experience with research. Everything she learns is applied to her research, and her research yields results. Furthermore, she likes being able to create her own schedule and structure. Trinity values her research because there has not been an effective and environmentally friendly solution to the slug pest problem. She hopes that her research can be used to help control slugs while also lessening chemical use.

From the UD Envision Program, Trinity hopes to gain more research experience without the pressure of school disrupting her ability to focus on research. Trinity encourages others to not kill all the bugs they see because most of the time, they are nice.

Bio: In the UD Envision program, Haley is working under Dr. Hong Li to investigate two poultry litter treatments and how each treatment will affect ammonia levels and welfare in each litter. They are also studying environmental sustainability in broiler poultry production. While Haley has a background in poultry, she has never worked in a poultry research lab.

Poultry research has captivated her because of how many opportunities are available to study sustainability in poultry production. While Haley is a novice in poultry research, she is learning how to overcome challenges and embrace opportunities to learn new skills. Haley heard about UD Envision through Dr. Li, who was her academic advisor. He encouraged her to apply to gain research experience. Haley enjoys working in a lab setting because it allows her to apply the knowledge she has learned in academic labs to practical tasks, and she feels more in tune with the processes she is conducting.

Working under Dr. Li has also allowed Haley to work in various locations around campus. Haley has gained a lot of experience and connections through the UD Envision program.

She is looking forward to becoming more proficient at data analysis software and presenting her research to the public.

Bio: In the UD Envision program, Isabella is studying the movement of various wildlife species across underpasses in New Jersey using camera trapping. She works under the supervision of Dr. Kyle McCarthy and his graduate student. Isabella discovered the UD Envision program through her Introduction to Soil Sciences class. She entered the program to gain more experience working in wildlife research. Isabella enjoys working in wildlife research; she values the ability to learn about human impact on the world, both good and bad, and how noninvasive yet impactful camera processing is in studying wildlife species. In the future, Isabella would also like to continue wildlife research inside and outside of the United States because being able to experience how culture informs wildlife practices and regulations is a practice she values and would like to continue in the future.

Bio: Lauren is studying soil chemistry in the UD Envision Program under Dr. Deb Jaisi. She is researching alternative fertilizer options to mitigate the harmful environmental effects of current commercial fertilizers. Dr. Jaisi encouraged Lauren to apply to the UD Envision program to get hands-on lab experience. Lauren enjoys working in a research setting despite this being her first time. She is learning more about lab research overall as well as how to use certain lab equipment. Working in a lab has also allowed Lauren to gain more experience and knowledge through the one-on-one time she receives with her mentor and her lab’s P.I. This individual learning time has aided her in gaining a better understanding of the procedures and information she is engaging in.

Bio: In the UD Envsion Program, Makalah studying agriculture under Dr. Alexander Bekele-Yitbarek. They are researching potential vaccinations for influenza found in Chicken eggs. Makalah has vast amounts of experience with the different sectors of the agricultural world, and she enjoyed working in her previous labs, so she applied to the UD Envision program to expand her knowledge and abilities by working in another lab. Makalah enjoys working with Dr. Bekele-Yibarek because is extremely smart and assists her in understanding topics that are hard to grasp. Working under Dr. Bekeleh-Yibarek helps Makalah understand lab procedures and processes through one-on-one training. Being a part of UD Envision has allowed Makalah to form connections with others in her lab and the Envision program. She values the connections she has created with others and hopes to continue to interact with a more diverse group of people.