Last year, the Bailey COE awarded almost 40 fellowships to Wes students to pursue research opportunities on campus, across the country, and abroad. Learn more about the summer experiences of (from top left): Zoe Todd ’27, Kallan Tripician ’27, Ronan Costello ’25 (AMST, ENVS), Sadie Woodruff ’26 (BIOL, E&ES), Constance Hirwa (NS&B, PSYC), Ava Yuanshun Guralnick ’25 (AMST, ENGL), Jasmine Fridman ’25 (E&ES, STS), & Jeet Patel ’25 (E&ES), below!
Ava Yuanshun Guralnick ‘25
AMST, ENGL
China, Korea
I identify as a transnational Chinese adoptee with a family made up of my Korean mother and white father. For my thesis, I plan to use personal storytelling narratives to combine the perspectives of Asian American Studies and Environmental Studies. I aim to examine the ways in which various spatial and temporal geographies of land can provide new ways to understand and locate the interwoven histories of imperial conflict, connection, and new kinship/family-making processes.
I began my research at the intersections of adoption studies and Korean War studies. I read from scholars Grace M. Cho, Arissa Oh, and Yuri Doolan who all researched (in different ways) the haunting and ephemeral effects of war, the severances of family, and the complexity that comes during new family formations. I was also able to read many poets such as Dawn Lundy Martin, Franny Choi, Dao Strom, and Ada Limón, among others, who have given me new perspectives to better understand myself and the world we all live in, as well as ways that I can transfer my own research into new languageable forms.
I was able to go to China and Korea this summer. I went to the social welfare institute in Taizhou, Jiangsu, China, that I lived in during the first 10 months of my life and I went to Seoul and Busan, South Korea—two cities that my grandmother made a living in before coming to the United States. It was a surreal and beautiful experience. One that will be living inside me forever and one that I have only begun to start to process.
This summer was one of growth, curiosity, awe, melancholy, and love. My questions have felt more tangible after this summer and I am very appreciative for the opportunity.
Ronan Costello ‘25
AMST, ENVS
Capital Region Affordable Housing Partnership Albany, New York
I interned with the Community Land Trust’s sister organization, the Capital Region Affordable Housing Partnership’s Homeownership Center. The organization partners with the Sheridan Hollow Neighborhood Association, the Capital Region Clean Energy Hub, and the Albany Community Land Trust to provide housing counseling and classes, secure and facilitate state and federal funding and grants, build green infrastructure such as electric heating and cooling systems, rainwater retention parks, and geothermal systems. They also build community through neighborhood events, murals, cleanups, and block parties. In 2021, the AHP did a community input–centered nomination study and got the neighborhood inducted into the New York Department of State’s Brownfield Opportunity Area program, a program that aims to foster community-based redevelopment in neighborhoods experiencing post-industrial blight and vacancy.
As an intern, under the loose umbrella of this program, I worked on projects such as writing grant applications and programs, using tax-based GIS software to construct owner-occupied homeowner mailing lists, and coordinating a “mow-to-own” land stewardship program, and shadowed the director and head community engagement liaison in meetings and day-to-day activities. I also joined the neighborhood association and helped leaflet for monthly meetings, started the process to get a mural on a key wall in the neighborhood, and helped set up and run a “neighborhood night out.” In collaboration with the association and a community elder named Tina Robinson, I also started to construct an oral history of the neighborhood, interviewing Tina and several other elders about their memories and experiences living in the Sheridan Hollow Neighborhood. It was super awesome to build my “people” skills through interviewing people for an oral history. These interviews, which typically took the form of conversations, helped me better relate to and communicate with people from backgrounds different from my own.
I’m planning on going to law school, and this summer really helped me hone research and interpersonal skills crucial to having a successful legal career and law school application.
Jasmine Fridman ‘25
E&ES, STS
Wesleyan University
Last summer, I researched the morphology of glauconite grains, which are green iron-rich minerals that form in place on the ocean floor. Since they stop their development when they are covered by sediment from deposition events, they are good indicators of sedimentation rates. My project focused on the gap in glauconite research, as previous research suggests that this grain only develops in shallow areas in the ocean, but the samples I am working on from IODP Site 1602E off the east coast of Greenland show in-place formation in the deep sea.
It was a challenge at first to figure out how to measure the shapes of the grains accurately, in a way that was not too tedious. I was so proud of myself for learning how to use ImageJ, a digital imaging software, which allowed me to increase the contrast of my digital thin sections using the thresholding tool, and select each green grain.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to do research at Wesleyan over the summer. It was important for me to stay on campus over the summer because this glauconite research acted as the primary piece of my senior thesis, and after this summer I feel more prepared to tackle this project.
Jeet Patel ‘25
E&ES
Juneau Icefield Research Program, Juneau, Alaska
Last summer I participated in field research on the Juneau Icefield. It was a combination of academic coursework, research, and mountaineering skills. We learned how to travel in rope teams to get to research sites and how to safely conduct research in glacial environments. I never skied before this summer and I learned how to ski! I fell a lot, but it was rewarding to learn in such a beautiful environment with amazing instructors. We had about three days of practice, and the fourth day involved a 14-mile traverse in skis. It was a trial by fire for all the novices, but we all did it.
My summer experience will impact my graduate school decisions and has provided me the ability to continue to do fieldwork in conjunction with academic research. Being accepted to the program allowed me to secure funding to purchase gear and equipment that will be used for many years to come! It was one of the best experiences I have ever had, and I am incredibly grateful to have received such support to participate in the Juneau Icefield Research Program.
Zoe Todd ‘27
Wesleyan University
Last summer I worked in George I. Seney Professor of Geology Dana Royer’s lab here at Wesleyan, studying the process of leaf fossilization with a focus on observing preservation bias for certain leaf characteristics (things that made leaves more likely to fossilize). This is important to study because there are deep time climate models built off of leaf fossil characteristics, and preservation bias could make these models skewed or inaccurate.
I really enjoyed being able to go to the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Maryland and sample leaves in the forest there. I got to meet other environmental scientists and overall I am super grateful for that opportunity.
My summer experience inspired me to continue to pursue environmental science, and has given me confidence in my scientific abilities. I am thankful for the opportunity!
Constance Hirwa ‘25
NS&B, PSYC
Wesleyan University
Last summer I performed research in Assistant Professor of Biology Laverne Melón’s Lab. I investigated the impacts of alcohol and phthalates on mammary gland development and how these impacts amplify the risk of developing breast cancer. My summer experience enriched my knowledge of how basic biomedical research translates to real-life medicine. I appreciate Dr. Melón, who was so patient with every one of us in the lab and so encouraging in our journey. This experience has solidified the reason why I want to go to medicine.
Kallan Tripician ‘27
Wesleyan University
Last summer, I was a student researcher in the lab of Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Timothy Ku, studying blue carbon (mangroves, seagrass meadows, and salt marshes) in St.Thomas, USVI. Specifically, I analyzed elemental C/N ratios and carbon isotope compositions from three study sites in St. Thomas. I also aimed to determine whether different plant components (leaves, branches, roots) had different elemental C/N ratios and carbon isotope compositions.
The highlight of my summer research project was definitely our trip to Saint Thomas, USVI. While there we collected sediment cores and vegetation samples. I got to experience what working in the field is like and learned so many lessons through this hands-on opportunity. Although the work was challenging, we definitely had fun along the way!
My summer opportunity has provided me with unique experiences that provided great insight into the field of environmental science research. I now have a better understanding of what research is like, and have created a connection with my research group that I value greatly. I will carry these lessons with me throughout my future education.
Sadie Woodruff ‘26
BIOL, E&ES
Coastal Mountains Land Trust, Camden, Maine
Last summer, I worked on building capacity within the local watershed association and researching a big threat to the watershed that is hemlock woolly adelgid.
My biggest highlight from this summer was hearing the gratitude from the watershed donors about what my help has freed the executive director to do. They are now trying to find a way to have a staff scientist. I am also proud of how my knowledge of watershed and community ecology advanced in practice. It was cool to see the relationship building between two local nonprofits based on a common problem. This summer experience gave me the freedom to learn what works for me working in conservation and what I need more of. Without this experience I don’t think I would have been able to be confident in my ability or want to leave my hometown. Now I feel I have sparked significant change and will be able to move forward and gather more skills with the knowledge I have gained.