A student takes water samples at UNDERC-East.
The University of Notre Dame Environmental Research Center (UNDERC) has selected 36 undergraduate students from 21 different colleges and universities to participate in their summer program. The students will engage in a 10-week, three credit summer ecology field course where they will conduct independent research projects under the direction of a faculty or graduate student advisor.
“Both UNDERC programs – UNDERC-East located on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and UNDERC-West located in Montana – provide unique field research opportunities for undergraduate students from Notre Dame’s campus and beyond,” said Gary Belovsky, Gillen Director of UNDERC and professor of biological sciences. “Through these programs we have built collaborative relationships with institutions like the University of Puerto Rico and the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, which has allowed us to attract diverse applicants with a variety of perspectives and therefore more holistically shape the experience for students.”
At UNDERC-East, students will have the opportunity to explore a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial habitats and the diverse organisms that live in these environments. Students at UNDERC-West will cover topics including grassland, forest, and Native American ecology. Once students have completed the UNDERC-East program, they become eligible to apply for the UNDERC-West program.
The students who will conduct field ecology research at UNDERC-East are:
- Margrethe Andreasen, sophomore at Notre Dame
- Matthew Aubourg, sophomore at Notre Dame
- Seth Dangle, sophomore at Lock Haven University
- Matthew Donahue, sophomore at Notre Dame
- Mark Ellman, junior at St. John’s University
- Michael Ellman, junior at St. John’s University
- Katherine Franz, sophomore at Notre Dame
- Matthew Gerber, sophomore at Notre Dame
- Margaret Gleason, junior at St. Mary’s College
- Daniel Griffin, sophomore at Notre Dame
- Elizabeth Hargis, junior at Southern Nazarene University
- Jospeh Jaros, junior at the University of Pittsburgh
- Jenna Johnston, sophomore at Valparaiso University
- Ryan Larkin, junior at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Alexandra Lugo-Arroyo, junior at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez
- Sylvie Martin-Eberhardt, sophomore at Indiana University
- Matthew Millado, sophomore at Notre Dame
- Joseph Nowak, sophomore at Notre Dame
- Michelle Nowak, junior at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse
- Alejandra Porras Maturana, senior at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
- Carolina Quiles Bengochea, junior at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras
- Katherine Sestrick, junior at Notre Dame
- Mariana Silva, sophomore at Notre Dame
- Amy Smith, sophomore at Texas State University
- Abigail White, sophomore at Notre Dame
- Harrison Wojitas, junior at Michigan State University
- Hunter Wojitas, junior at the University of Michigan
- Sabrina Woo, sophomore at Arizona State University
The students who will conduct field ecology research at UNDERC-West are:
- Suheily Arce Lugo, senior at the University of Puerto Rico, Humacao
- Adriana Cintron-Santiago, senior at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras
- Ellen Johnson, senior at St. Mary’s College
- Eric Laate, sophomore at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
- Shirley LeClair-Bernal, senior at Haskell Indian Nations University
- Eileen Reeves, senior at Notre Dame
- Madeline VerHey, senior at Notre Dame
- Mary Walther, senior at Bowling Green State University
To learn more about UNDERC’s educational programming, please visit https://underc.nd.edu/education/.
The University of Notre Dame Environmental Research Center (UNDERC) aims to promote environmental research and education. The center strives to gain a better understanding of natural and human-altered environments that translate into better management and policy for the environment. To learn more about UNDERC, please visit underc.nd.edu.
Contact:
Sherry DePoy / Administrative Assistant
University of Notre Dame Environmental Research Center / University of Notre Dame
sdepoy@nd.edu / 574.631.7186
underc.nd.edu / @NDFieldEcology
About Notre Dame Research:
The University of Notre Dame is a private research and teaching university inspired by its Catholic mission. Located in South Bend, Indiana, its researchers are advancing human understanding through research, scholarship, education, and creative endeavor in order to be a repository for knowledge and a powerful means for doing good in the world. For more information, please see research.nd.edu or @UNDResearch.