| Student
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Philia Gau
Class of 2010 |
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I'm currently a junior in CALS, and I'm concentrating in neurobiology and behavior. I'll be studying abroad spring semester in Berlin through the Berlin Consortium for German Studies (BCGS). Some people might think that being a bio major makes it too difficult to study abroad, but I think it is not as hard as you might think. Coming into Cornell, I knew I wanted to study abroad in Germany, so I looked up programs through the Cornell Abroad website, which is where I found my program, and went in to the study abroad office (300 Caldwell). Applying the program was not a process to worry about, and I think most students get in to their program of choice.
My dilemma for studying abroad was about research. I want to apply to grad school, and I needed more extended experience than the summer program I participated in, but I would need a lab to accept training me during fall semester, even though I would leave in the spring. I went in to talk to a professor for advice, and he was amazingly helpful in pointing me in the right direction. Thankfully, I did find a great lab, and worked out a solution.
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Since my program dates are from March to July, I'll be in Ithaca
doing research in the Lin
lab January, February, and beginning August. I'm really excited about
everything! Since I won't have classes, I'll be able to focus on research
and hopefully make progress. My work is on neurodegeneration. Then, I'm actually
arriving in Berlin before university classes start to take a language course,
and every Friday, we'll go on field trips around Germany. I'll take about
three courses from the university, and I can pick just about any course.
I'm also excited because I'll be staying with a host family for a month,
and then find my own apartment. I'll be able to learn about the culture,
and my speaking skills should definitely improve. Of course, I plan to travel,
but I haven't really decided where. Finally, I'll be back in Ithaca, and
doing more research :)
If you have questions about any details, since I've
left out so many, I would be happy to answer them by email at pg85@cornell.edu. |
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Charlotte Thurston
Class of 2011 |
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| This semester I am working with Natural Resources professor
Bernd Blossey in a lab that studies invasive species. This is my second semester
working with Professor Blossey and his graduate students, and it has been
a really interesting and helpful experience. I found this job by looking
through the packets on research in the OUB until I found a few positions
that interested me. When I emailed professor Blossey to express an interest
in his lab, he was extremely enthusiastic and got me immediately excited
about the various projects he was overseeing. I am now working about 10 hours
a week for credit, and a few on the side for work study. I help with grunt
work a lot (like building cold-frames, shoveling soil, and counting seeds)
but I also got to set up my own project and decide what questions about invasive
species I wanted to answer. The lab studies invasive species that are becoming
more and more prevalent in the northeast area of the United States, especially
in the local ecology of New York State. |
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We look at interactions between native and non-native species, the spread of invasion, and the general impact of a pervasive species on the local environment. The project I am involved with at the moment is studying an invasive
species of earthworm, Amynthas, and the impact of their feeding on the leaf
litter of the local forest community. I am interested to find out the rate
of comsumption of leaves and feeding preferences of the worms to understand
how they could affect the hummus layer of native forests, or forest areas that
also have a lot of invasive plants. I find this kind of broad ecological research
really fascinating, and I have learned a great deal about the amount of work
and dedication required for research! Though I have devoted a ton of time to
this project, I am finding it incredibly worthwhile and fun, and I plan on
staying in Ithaca this summer to continue working with my lab!
Contact Charlotte
with questions at clt64@cornell.edu. |
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