Biology : SURF Program Description

Former SURF Fellows

Student Name: LUKE MUELLER
University and Major: University of New Hampshire, Environmental Engineering with a focus on Sustainability, Class of 2019
Mentor Name: Dr. Theodora Pinou
SURF Year: 2017
Project: “Tracking Triploid Grass Carp in Candlewood Lake, Danbury, CT”
Project Outcomes: Luke presented his work to the WCSU community in August 2017
Where is Luke Now? Luke is an Environmental Engineer for Sanborn, Head and Associates in Westford, MA. He is also enrolled in the Master of Science in Sustainable Building Program at Northeastern University
Student Name: JASMINE GREY
University and Major: Western Connecticut State University, Biology, Class of 2020
Mentor Name: Dr. Hannah Reynolds
SURF Year: 2018
Project: “Developing LAMP (Loop-Amplification Mediated PCR) to be specific and sensitive for the detection of Pseudogymnoascus destructans”
Project Outcomes:
1) Presented work to the WCSU Community in December 2018
2) Poster presentation at the Northeast Regional Sigma Xi Student Research Conference in April 2019 at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT
3) Won the Library Research Award at Western Research Day in 2019
4) Presented research findings at the Mycological Society of America meeting in 2020 (virtually)
Where is Jasmine now? Jasmine is currently enrolled in the PhD program in Biochemistry, Cellular, and Molecular Biology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Jasmine was awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship to support her thesis work on germline stem cell survival in Drosophila. 

 

Student Name: KAYLA DEGUZMAN
University and Major: Western Connecticut State University, Biology, Class of 2019
Mentor Name: Dr. Theodora Pinou
SURF Year: 2018
Project: “An interspecific behavior analysis of post-rehabilitated Long Island Sound juvenile sea turtles”
Project Outcomes:
1) Presented work to the WCSU Community in December 2018
2) Poster presentation at the 2019 International Sea Turtle Symposium in Charleston, South Carolina
3) Poster presentation at the 2019 Long Island Sound Research Conference in Port Jefferson, New York
4) Publication: Robinson N., Deguzman K., Bonacci-Sullivan L., DiGiovanni R., Pinou T. 2020. Do rehabilitated sea turtles resume typical migratory behaviors? Satellite tracking juvenile
loggerhead, green, and Kemp’s ridley turtles in the northeastern USA. Endangered Species Research 43: 133-143, DOI.org/10.3354/esr01065.
Where is Kayla now? After completing her Master of Science in Integrated Biological Diversity at Western Connecticut State University, Kayla is now an Associate Scientist at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. .
.

 

Student Name: JACOB BETHIN
University and Major: Western Connecticut State University, Biology – Ecological Sciences, Class of 2021
Mentor Name: Dr. Neeta Pardanani Connally
SURF Year: 2019
Project: “Investigating the role of songbirds as hosts for the exotic Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, in the eastern US.”  The project was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Holly Gaff at Old Dominion University in Virginia) and Dr. Chad Seewagen at Great Hollow Nature Preserve (Connecticut).
Project Outcomes:
1) Presented at the Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting [virtual] in 2020
2) Imaged a female Asian longhorned tick, which was featured in the following publication: Schappach B.L., Krell R.K., Hornbostel V.L., Connally N. P. 2020. Exotic Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) in the United States: Biology, Ecology, and Strategies for Management. Journal of Integrated Pest Management. 11: 1-11. DOI.org/10.1093/jipm/pmaa019
Where is Jacob now? After graduating from Western Connecticut State University Jacob will be starting a M.S. In Entomology at the University of Florida in Fall 2022. Jacob’s program will be fully funded through his work as a Graduate Research Assistant at the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity at the Florida Museum of Natural History.  .
   
Hoegler Student Name: EMILY HOEGLER
University and Major:
Western Connecticut State University, Biology – Class of 2021
Mentor Name:
Dr. Joshua Cordeira
SURF Year:
2020 (re-scheduled to 2021) 
Project: “
Investigating the interrelationship between food, exercise, and dopamine.”
Project Outcomes: (Virtual) poster presentation at Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting 2021 
Where is Emily now?
Emily is a law student at Regent University Law School
 
Hannon Student Name: JAMES D. HANNON
University and Major:
Western Connecticut State University, Biology, Class of 2022
Mentor Name:
Dr. Michelle Monette
SURF Year:
2021
Project: “
Investigating the impact of warm temperature on the osmoregulatory flexibility of Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus).”
Project Outcomes: 1) Presented work to the University community in December 2021, 2) Received an Undergraduate Research Fellowship ($5,000) from Connecticut Sea Grant, 3) Received a Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research ($1,000)
Where is James now?
James plans to pursue a career in Conservation Biology and Biodiversity
 
Student Name: JOCELYN VILLACRESES
University and Major:
Western Connecticut State University, Biology, Class of 2024
Mentor Name:
Dr. Michelle Monette
SURF Year:
2022
Project: “
The role of osmotic stress transcription factor in seawater acclimation in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)”
Project Outcomes: Jocelyn plans to present her work at Western Research Day in May 2023
Where is Jocelyn now? 
Jocelyn plans to continue her research project with Dr. Monette in the Spring of 2023 as part of BIO490 Advanced Senior Research.

Program Description

 

Eligibility

 

Application

 

Former SURF Fellows  

Faculty Mentors