Summer Institute

Current students

Kishana Williamson was advised by Prof. Jacob Bowman in UD’s Dept. of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology in 2009

Agriculture and natural resources summer institute research experience

The University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) is offering summer research and education experiences to undergraduates (both UD and non-UD students) who are interested in pursuing an advanced degree in the agricultural, natural resources, or life sciences. During the ten-week Summer Institute, students will be paired with CANR researchers on projects that will provide “real-world” experiences in scientific careers. Participants have the opportunity to develop a project, collect and analyze data, and present their results at a campus-wide summer symposium.

Participation in the Summer Institute is awarded through a competitive application process. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are encouraged to apply, particularly those from colleges and universities other than UD. The Summer Institute seeks diversity among its participants and thus particularly encourages students from underrepresented groups in STEM to apply including first-generation college students, students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and underrepresented minorities.

The Summer Institute will be held on the University of Delaware campus in Newark, Delaware from June 3 through August 8. Students will each receive a $4,500 stipend, $500 for research (to be spent with a faculty mentor) and can be reimbursed (up to $500) for round-trip travel to participate in the program. Additionally, housing in University residence halls will be provided, if needed.

302-831-2501

cdfitz@udel.edu

Christy Fitzpatrick
Administrative Assistant
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

2024 Participants

Franchesca “Fran” Austriaco

Affiliated program: CANR Summer Institute

Mentor: Dr. Angelia L. Seyfferth

Major: Crop Science with a concentration in Agroecology (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

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Bio: In the CANR Summer Institute Program, Fran works under Dr. Angelia L. Seyfferth and her graduate students. They are researching how the amount of Biochar in the soil can affect arsenic levels in the soil. Fran and their team hope to look for more sustainable options for soil and fertilizers. Fran found out about the CANR Summer Institute program by searching online for internships that would give them more opportunities to do fieldwork. Working in the Summer Institute Program has allowed Fran to conduct research in a lab and field setting and to learn how certain lab procedures are intertwined. Fran is glad that the program offers them an opportunity to learn about different research projects from each graduate student they interact with. Fran enjoys working in crop and soil sciences because of the field's variety and collaborative nature. Fran also enjoys seeing little bugs.

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Isabella Gesino

Affiliated program: CANR Summer Institute

Mentor: Dr. Aditya Dutta

Major: Pre-Veterinary Medicine (University of Delaware)

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Bio: In the CANR Summer Institute program, Isabella is working with Dr. Aditya Dutta to research ovarian cancer in poultry. They are studying how certain eggs are chosen for reproduction. Isabella’s specific project is geared towards bioinformatics and data analysis. The goal of their research is to understand how ovarian cancer in humans can be caught in its preliminary stages, and they are also investigating sustainable breeding strategies that would allow farmers to buy chickens that produce more eggs, thus decreasing the amount of chicken a farmer would need to buy.

Isabelle was exposed to Dr. Dutta’s research because he was her professor, and he often spoke about his research in class. She was extremely interested in his field of research because it investigated ovarian cancer and how to detect and, therefore, treat cancer in its earlier stages. Additionally, Isabella liked how Dr. Dutta’s research focused on multiple topics. Isabella’s project focuses more on the technical side of research. While challenging, Isabella values the skills she is learning from her experience, and she embraces these challenges to grow as a researcher. Isabella enjoys that her project allows her to have more freedom than a traditional lab setting would. When she is not working on her project, she works on the UD’s Webb Farm.

The CANR Summer Institute program has taught Isabella perseverance and how to adapt to change. She has also improved her note-taking and organization skills. Going forward, Isabella hopes to gain more hands-on lab experience and learn how to work with data analysis systems.

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Mukta Kantak

Affiliated program: CANR Summer Institute

Mentor: Dr. Shreeram Inamdar

Major: Environmental Science (University of Texas at Austin)

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Bio: In the CANR Summer Institute Program, Mukta studies human impact on soil and ecology under Dr. Shereeram Inmadar. Mukta was drawn to Dr. Inmadar’s research because his field of study aligns with her interests in wetland soil ecology in Delaware. Mukta is interested in environmental public policy and human impact on the environment. She plans to use her experiences in Dr. Inmadar’s lab to understand how research about human impacts can better inform environmental legislation and change in society. Mukta has enjoyed working in Dr. Inmadar’s lab, being involved in research, and forming connections with others in her lab. In the future, Mukta hopes to go to law school after completing her undergraduate degree and hopes to inform others about how we can protect the environment.

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Chanelle Rahbany

Affiliated program: CANR Summer Institute

Mentor: Dr. Deb Jaisi; PI: Dr. Keshav Kishor

Major: Biology and Psychology Major (University of Florida)

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Bio: In the CANR Summer Institute Program, Chanelle is studying Biogeochemistry under Dr. Deb Jaisi. She is researching the effect of phosphorus in the soil, and exploring potential sustainable fertilizers with biochar. As a biology major, Chanelle is fascinated by how interactions between the physical, and environmental world translate to the medical world. She has utilized her experience from the CANR Summer Insitute as a bridge between the biology and agricultural world. Chanelle embraces and enjoys the challenges that have arisen during her research; these challenges allow her to broaden her horizons and to think outside the box. What Chanelle enjoys the most about researching in the CANR Summer Insitute is her research team. Her team is extremely welcoming and feels more like a community in which they help each other and welcome curiosity and openness.

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Meyer Scholl

Affiliated program: CANR Summer Institute

Mentor: Dr. Harsh Bais

Major: Chemistry and Plant Sciences (double major) (University of Delaware)

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Bio: Meyer is studying microbiology in the CANR Summer Institute Program under Dr. Harsh Bais. They are investigating the effect of the bacteria streptomyces-coelicolor on different fungi.

Meyer has worked in Dr. Bais’s lab since January 2024 and used the Summer Institute as an opportunity to continue working in Dr. Bais’s lab. Meyer is working closely with two graduate students who are conducting similar research. They have worked with these graduate students before, therefore working with them in the CANR Summer Institute Program is easy and makes assistance more accessible should they need it.

Meyer enjoys seeing new developments in their research daily and setting processes in motion to investigate what will happen. They value how structured and self-guided their lab is. Furthermore, Meyer’s lab environment is extremely friendly and welcoming, which makes working a smoother process.

After completing their undergraduate degree, Meyer would like to work in a lab setting, traverse different sectors of microbiology research, and work toward commercial applications of research results. Meyer is looking forward to gaining continued lab experience through the Summer Institute program and having results for their project.

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2021 Participants

Liam Smith was advised by Dr. Behnam Abasht in UD's department of animal and food sciences.
School: University of Massachusetts Amherst
Project: A fresh look at transcriptomic data from Wooden Breast affected and unaffected chickens

Adelle Shealy was advised by Dr. Changqing Wu in UD's department of animal and food sciences.
School: UD / Major: Food Science
Project: The impacts of S/G ratios on antioxidant activities of lignin depolymerization products

Julianna Cox was advised by Dr. Hong Li in UD's department of animal and food sciences.
School: Mississippi Valley State University / Major: Chemistry
Project: Persistence and Transfer of E. coli TVS 355: A Study for Produce Safety.

Carmen Smith was advised by Dr. Kali Kniel in UD's department of animal and food sciences.
School: California Polytechnic State University / Major: Food Science
Project: Persistence and Transfer of E. coli TVS 355: A Study for Produce Safety.

Nicole Henry was advised by Dr. Stacey Chirnside in UD's department of entomology and wildlife ecology.
School: Millersville University of Pennsylvania / Major: Biology/Chemistry
Project: Monitoring Fungal Enzyme Activity during Mycoremediation of Bacteria in Animal Waste Streams.

2019 Participants

Justine Berina was advised by Dr. Shreeram Inamdar in UD's department of plant and soil science.
School: The College of Wooster / Major: Geology
Project: Unlisted.

Patrick Carney was advised by Dr. Doug Tallamy in UD's department of entomology and wildlife ecology.
School: UD / Major: Entomology and Wildlife Ecology
Project: Quantifying the Impact of Reforestation Strategies on Biodiversity.

Amy Demeter was advised by Dr. Amy Biddle in UD's department of animal and food sciences.
School: UD / Major: Animal and Food Sciences
Project: Optimization of a method for collecting colonocytes from equine fecal samples as a noninvasive host sampling method.

Rashantai Miller was advised by Dr. Randy Wisser in UD's department of plant and soil sciences.
School: Saint Augustine's University / Major: Biology
Project: Untitled

Florence Fields was advised by Dr. Angelia Seyfferth in UD's department of plant and soil sciences.
School: Saint Augustine's University / Major: Biology
Project: Impacts of Si on Chlorophyll Content of Rice Tissues

2018 Participants

Students who participated in the 2018 Summer Institute were Nikhil Chari (University of California – Berkeley), Victoria Dortenzio (University of Delaware), Gisselle Garcia (University of Delaware), Susannah Halligan (University of Delaware), and Tynasia Milfort (St. Augustine’s University).

Nikhil Chari was advised by Dr. Angelia Seyfferth in UD’s Dept. of Plant and Soil Sciences.
School: University of California – Berkeley / Major: chemical biology
Project: Impacts of Silicon on Arsenic Dynamics in Flooded Rice Paddy Soil

Victoria Dortenzio was advised by Dr. Carl Schmidt in UD’s Dept. of Animal and Food Sciences.
School: UD / Major: pre-veterinary animal biosciences
Project: HyLine Layers

Gisselle Garcia was advised by Dr. Amy Biddle in UD’s Dept. of Animal and Food Sciences.
School: UD / Major: pre-veterinary animal biosciences
Project: An In Vitro Analysis of the Effects of Firocoxib on the Equine Gastric Microbiome

Susannah Halligan was advised by Dr. Jeff Buler in UD’s Dept. of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology.
School: UD / Major: wildlife ecology
Project: The Delaware Waterfowl Tracker

Tynasia Milfort was advised by Dr. Mark Parcells in UD’s Dept. of Animal and Food Sciences.
School: St. Augustine’s University / Major: biology
Project: Cloning and Expression of the Chicken LRRFIP1 Homolog and Its Role in Innate Sensing of Marek’s Disease Virus (MDV) Infection

2017 Participants

Students selected for the 2017 program were Mikaela Carty, Alexandra Cole, Darielle Lewis-Sanders, Danielle Mikolajewski, and Briana Young.

The following information pertains to the time of their participation in the Summer Institute.

Mikaela Carty was advised by Dr. Angelia Seyfferth in UD’s Dept. of Plant and Soil Sciences.
School: Wesleyan University / Major: molecular biology and biochemistry
Project: Changes in Si Plant Availability in Rice Paddy Soil Due to Rice Residue Incorporation and Three Years of Rice Growth

Alexandra Cole was advised by Dr. Leah Palm-Forster in UD’s Dept. of Applied Economics and Statistics.
School: Northern Arizona University / Major: environmental science
Project: Civic Agriculture: Finding Marketing Strategies for Community Gardens

Darielle Lewis-Sanders was advised by Dr. Calvin Keeler in UD’s Dept. of Animal and Food Sciences.
School: Spelman College / Major: biology
Project: Cloning and Expression of Avian Genes

Danielle Mikolajewski was advised by Dr. Nicole Donofrio in UD’s Dept. of Plant and Soil Sciences.
School: UD / Major: plant science / environmental soil science
Project: Disruption of the Genome of Rice Blast to Identify Genes Involved in Production of Reactive Oxygen Species

Briana Young was advised by Dr. Kalmia Kniel in UD’s Dept. of Animal and Food Sciences.
School: Central Michigan University / Major: cultural and global studies
Project: Comparative Analysis of Multiple vs. Single Pass Filtration Techniques Using Zero-Valent Iron

Where have they gone since their time at the CANR Summer Institute?

Yaqoob Thurston (2009)	In 5/2010 he was working on a MS in plant molecular genetics at Delaware State Univ.
Shakara Tyler (2009)	In 2/2011 she was working on a MS in ag and resource economics at Michigan State Univ.
Kishana (Williamson) Taylor (2009)	In 2/2013 she was finishing a MS in public health microbiology and emerging infectious disease at George Washington Univ. In 3/2016 she was working on a PhD in interdisciplinary biomedical sciences with a focus in disease ecology.
Rochelle Day (2010)	In 2/2013 she was finishing a DVM at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine.
Kamedra McNeil (2010)	In 5/2012, she completed a BS in molecular biology. In early 2014 she finished a MS degree in computer information with a concentration in forensic sciences. In 11/2014 she was working for the US Dept of Forensic Science as a forensic science technician.
Shurnevia Strickland (2010)	In 5/2011 she was finishing a MS in animal science with UD CANR-ANFS’s Dr. Carl Schmidt.
Stephanie Chew (2011)	By 2/2013 she had done two internships with Dupont that led to her working within Health and Nutrition R&D at Dupont’s Waukesha, WI site. In 9/2015 she started a MS in animal biology at UC-Davis.
Bianca Morales (2011)	In 11/2014 she was working for American Energy Corporation as a commercial and residential energy auditor.
Walker Jones (2012)	In 7/2015 he completed a MS in agricultural and natural resource economics with UD CANR-APEC’s Dr. Kent Messer. In 6/2016 he started working as an agricultural marketing specialist for USDA-GIPSA in Aurora, CO.
Bianca Riddick (2012)	In 5/2016 she completed a MS in plant pathology with UD CANR-PLSC’s Dr. Nicole Donofrio.
Colleen McClatchy (2013)	In 5/2014 she completed her BS in Chemistry then took a job with Agilent Technologies.
Shyanne Miller (2013)	In 5/2017 she completed a MA in sustainable development from SIT (School for International Training) Graduate Institute (Vermont). Her specialization is policy advocacy and analysis. She has also worked with the Rodel Foundation of Delaware as policy fellow.
Michelle Paukett (2014)	In 5/2015 she completed two BS degrees as well as a minor, all from UD CANR, then started a MS at Texas A&M Univ.
Simone Jimenez (2015)	In 9/2017 she was working as a Biological Science Aid for USDA Subtropical Horticulture Research Station, Miami, FL.