Cary's Annual Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Symposium is where students present the results of their summer research projects. Funded by the National Science Foundation, the Cary Institute's REU program attracts students from all over the country.
Working with a mentor, participants craft a project, carry out research, analyze data, and present their findings.
2020
Presenters: Julianna Adler-Colvin, Marist College, The effect of invasive species on natural ecohydrology, Dr. Zion Klos & Dr. Chris Solomon; Michael Moubarak, Hamilton College, A spatially explicit risk assessment of salamander populations to Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans in the US for directing conservation actions, Dr. Ilya Fischhoff, Adrian Castellanos, Dr. Barbara Han; Cassandra Roberts, Elizabethtown College, Thermal layering and variable resistance to changing weather patterns in small aquatic systems, Dr. David Richardson, Dr. Kathleen Weathers; MyKenna Zettle, University of Pittsburgh, The effects of landscape urbanization on mosquito populations, Dr. Shannon LaDeau; Annabelle McCarthy, Cal State University, Turbidity in relation to high flow events in the Hudson River estuary, Dr. Stuart Findlay, Dr. Bella Oleksy; Emma Castiblanco, Haverford College, You wouldn't eat three pounds of salt, so why should our watersheds?, Dr. Peter Groffman; John Nguyen, Columbia University, Nutrient effects on leaf biomass allocation across tropical forest succession, Dr. Sarah Batterman, Dr. Michelle Wong, Wenguang Tang; Carissa Moore, Rider University, Modeling the effects of nitrogen deposition and nitrogen fixation by Robinia pseudoacacia on northeastern US forests, Dr. Sarah Batterman, Dr. Michelle Wong; Sara Herrejon Chavez, Portland State University, Evaluating growth and survivorship of afforestation plots in NY, and potential impacts of climate change, Dr. Elizabeth Cook, Dr. Bianca Lopez, Dr. Timon McPhearson; Abigail Williams, Salem College, Road salt in drinking water wells in southwest Virginia and southeast New York, Vicky Kelly, Dr. Kevin Burgio; Victoria Martinez, Barry University, Exploring the effects of the Clean Air Act on stream invertebrate communities, Dr. Emma Rosi, Audrey Thellman; Elizabeth Jurado, University of Georgia, Cultivating a sense of belonging: The impact of undergraduate research experiences, Dr. Alan Berkowitz, Dr. Kevin Burgio
2018
Part 1
Presenters: Claire Sickinger (Bates College): Causes and effects of pollution 'hot spots' in the Fall Kill Creek. Sabrina Volponi (Bridgewater College): Is all nitrogen created equal? A look at the relationship between nitrogen availability and phytoplankton growth. Melissa Yost-Bido (Bard College): Effects of egg origin, temperature, and nutrient type on longevity of Aedes albopictus. Kari Dawson (Winston Salem State University): Don't forget about the little ones: how ecosystem function differs across a gradient of lake sizes. Spencer Phillips (Murray State University): Largemouth bass size structures correlated with fishing pressure in northern Wisconsin lakes. Rachael Mendoza (Bard College): Differences between human microbial communities.
Part 2
Presenters: Paulina Murray (Siena College): Mature vs. old growth: carbon and nitrogen dynamics in forest soil organic matter. Kerste Milik (Northeastern University): Seasonal diversity and efficiency of the scavenger guild at the Cary Institute. Julia Barron (Smith College): The influence of coarse woody habitat on largemouth bass size structure and catch-per-unit-effort in Northern temperate lakes. Paulina Frutos (University of Connecticut): Estimating wetland restoration success in a Hudson River marsh. Danielle Demateis (The College of New Jersey): Identifying trends in differences between inland lake surface water and surrounding land temperature using a bayesian framework.
2017
Part 1
Presenters: Jonathan Clementi (Marist College): Determinants of Sex Ratio of Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) across Changing Fishery Landscapes in Northern Wisconsin ;Mikayla Domingo (Oregon State University): Effects of Diluted Wastewater Concentration on the Hudson River Estuary; Sophia Skoglund (St. Olaf College): Developing a Higher Resolution Model for Lake Ice Phenology; Deresha Porter (Louisiana State University): Assessing Interest in Science and Science Self-Efficacy Among Youth Living in an Urban Environment; Margot Shrift (Kutztown University of Pennsylania): The Potential of Satellite Imagery to Retrieve Chlorophyll a and Water Clarity Data for the Assessment of Lake Water Quality; Douglas Page (North Carolina A&T State University): Scavengers of the Hudson River Valley; Elena Prado-Ragan (Knox College): The Efficacy of Various Plant Compounds as Larvicides against Aedes
Part 2
Presenters: Abigail Lewis (Pomona College): Nutrient Limitation of Phytoplankton at Varying Depths in a Stratified Lake; Abigail McCrea (Oberlin College): Effects of Leaf Detritus and Nitrogen on Intra- and Interspecific Competition and Survivorship of Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens; Byron Birss (Southern Oregon University): Assessing the Development of Scientific Curiosity and the Effect of Environmental Ethic in Children; Celestina Wright (Oberlin College): Modeling the Temperature- Dependence of Development Rate, Survival, and Adult Size in Culex Mosquitoes; Jennifer Nieves (Montclair State University): Chestnut Oak (Quercus prinus) Response to Browsing Pressure by White-Tailed Deer: Implications for C and N Allocation; Melisa Bohlman (University of Arizona): Relative Stability of Soil Organic Matter in Nitrogen Depending