Internships

PROJECT

Deer Exclosure and Forest Restoration Study

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

The Watershed Institute - Pennington, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Steve Tuorto, Director of Science and Stewardship, The Watershed Institute; Allison Jackson, Stewardship Coordinator, The Watershed Institute

My focus was a study intended to quantify the impact of overgrazing by New Jersey’s deer population, which has allowed invasive species to overtake native plants. I was responsible for remeasuring the heights of over 150 native tree saplings, roughly half of which were protected in a deer exclosure with the other half left unprotected. Maintenance for the exclosure included fence repair, plot restaking, removing invasive plants that may inhibit sapling growth, and diagramming the exclosure with GPS coordinates. My internship also included a role as a land steward and science intern. I was responsible for aiding the rehabilitation of floating wetlands, a rain garden restoration project, and a summer-long effort to remove large patches of invasive plants to make room for planting 300 native trees and shrubs. I now have a much more expansive knowledge of the native and invasive species of New Jersey. This internship enhanced my appreciation for evaluating ecosystem health, and for the environmental research that must take place to determine courses of action. I hope to be able to incorporate some aspect of this into my career as an engineer.

Egar, Alice ’21

PROJECT

Hummingbird Color Vision, Plant-Pollinator Interactions, and Climate Change in the Rocky Mountains*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Stoddard Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, Colorado

MENTOR(S)

Mary Caswell Stoddard, Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Certificate(s): Language and Culture

I studied broad-tailed hummingbird pollination behavior to determine how climate change alters plant-pollinator interactions over time,
as well as how the birds’ perception of color influences their feeding behavior. I set camera traps at various flower species as part of a study to quantify hummingbird visitation frequency and how variations in the timing of flower bloom affect behavior. I used spectrophotometry and refractometry to collect data on flower color and nectar content at different stages in several plants’ flowering periods to identify possible visual cues that guide birds to feed. I also helped conduct an experiment in which I observed bird behavior at an array of flowers as nectar content was artificially manipulated. I learned all about hummingbird behavior, the science of plant-pollinator interactions, and how ecosystems can be altered when climate change creates mismatches in the timing of natural events. I gained amazing fieldwork experience and had the chance to participate in a thriving scientific community at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL), which provided me with insight into graduate school and careers in ecology. I would love to return to RMBL to conduct more independent research!

* This internship is connected to the PEI Climate and Energy Grand Challenges project, “Investigating the Effects of Climate Change on Pollinator-Plant Dynamics in the Rocky Mountains.”

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Jacobson , Dane ’22

PROJECT

Devil’s Hole: Microbial Succession and Drivers of Overturn in Seasonally Hypoxic Waters

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) - St.George's, Bermuda

MENTOR(S)

Rachel Parsons, Research Specialist, BIOS

Certificate(s): Music Performance

My goal was to gain a greater understanding of oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) in our oceans. OMZs are regions where dissolved oxygen is low or entirely depleted, which can lead to the deaths of many organisms, impact local aquaculture and threaten ocean health. I worked on the Devil’s Hole project collecting data on naturally occurring annual OMZ and documenting bacterial changes. I found that as the OMZ developed, different species of bacteria consumed nutrients in this order: oxygen, nitrates, sulfates and carbon dioxide. The peaks in various bacteria species followed this order as the different species consumed their preferred nutrients. My results spawned many questions and my project will be continued by other undergraduate students in the coming years. I learned how to design and carry out an independent research project, and a great deal about scientific protocols and general microbiology. I also learned about coral ecology, weather systems, fish ecosystems, and Bermuda’s history and wildlife. I hope to continue pursuing biological research at Princeton.

Johnson, Ian ’22

Mathematics

PROJECT

Go to the Ant Thou Sluggard, Consider Her Ways Be Wise: Buffelgrass Seed Preferences, Predation and Dispersal in Kenya Home Range by Messor Harvester Ants

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Mpala Research Centre - Nanyuki, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Dino Martins, Executive Director, Mpala Research Centre, Lecturer and Visiting Research Scholar, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University; Robert Plowes, Research Scientist, Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas-Austin

Certificate(s): European Cultural Studies, Humanistic Studies

I studied the relationship between harvester ants and buffelgrass, a wheatlike grass native to Kenya that’s invasive in Arizona and southern Texas. My team wanted to determine if harvester ants suppress buffelgrass by eating its seeds, or if they help it spread by dispersing its seeds. I mapped the ants’ trail networks and measured traffic on different dates and times to better understand their foraging behavior. We took samples of seeds from along the trail networks, the environment, and the refuse piles the ants form outside their nests. We compared the composition of seeds from various plant species in our samples, but did not find enough correlation to answer our initial question. Our findings did show that harvester ants forage in fantastically complex, dynamic and unpredictable (yet, not random) ways. My work greatly improved my abilities to interpret data, observe wildlife, collect samples, and organize measurements. If I’m to be a scientist, field zoology is the way to go.

Kawalec, Joseph ’21

PROJECT

Camouflage and Vigilance: The Secret Lives of Our Local Woodpeckers in an Increasingly Urbanized Environment

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Stoddard Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Mary Caswell Stoddard, Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Monica Carlson, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Certificate(s): Environmental Studies

I worked on a project investigating two predator-avoidance strategies in woodpeckers, specifically camouflage and vigilance. Woodpeckers are considered ecosystem engineers because they excavate holes that are used as nesting and roosting sites by many wildlife species. Understanding the ecology of woodpeckers is therefore important to ecosystem conservation. We collected vigilance data by video-recording woodpeckers in the Charles H. Rogers Wildlife Refuge and Institute Woods. We will analyze these videos to quantify vigilance behaviors and correlate vigilance with tree-canopy cover, foraging height on the tree, and proximity to urbanization. We also collected camouflage data by taking photos of the bark of trees on which we saw woodpeckers. Our photos were taken with an ultraviolet-sensitive camera because hawks, the primary predator of woodpeckers, can see ultraviolet light. We will overlay images of dorsal woodpecker plumage onto the tree-bark images to measure how closely the two patterns and colors match under ultraviolet light. Overall, this internship helped me understand the care that goes into collecting data and has motivated me to pursue ecology research in graduate school.

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Kim-Brookes, Phia ’22

PROJECT

Teaching Assistant for Conservation Clubs

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Rubenstein Group - Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Daniel Rubenstein, Class of 1877 Professor of Zoology, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University

I taught at 15 schools in Laikipia County, Kenya, for the Northern Kenya Conservation Clubs. I went to a different school every day during and after instruction hours to teach students ranging in age from 8 years old to in their 20s. I often created the day’s lesson from scratch, and choosing the activities and games I could play with my students was fun. I developed creative ways to overcome language barriers, such as by drawing or acting out what I wanted to say, and I figured out how to engage a hesitant audience. I also improved my overall knowledge of conservation and wildlife so that I could better teach about these topics. As someone who values conservation, I found teaching others about the environment to be truly fulfilling. I will continue to teach about conservation for the rest of my life, most likely in more informal settings than what I experienced in Kenya, but surely I will never stop teaching now that I have begun.

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Kuziel, Luca ’21

PROJECT

Monitoring the Ecological Restoration of Species and Their Interactions in Gorongosa National Park

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Pringle Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

MENTOR(S)

Robert Pringle, Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Matthew Hutchinson, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Certificate(s): Environmental Studies

I investigated how the diets of different antelope species change as predators are reintroduced to Gorongosa National Park. To understand antelope diets, my project team collected dung samples to identify via DNA analysis the plants the animals had eaten. We conducted activity budgets to study how antelope partition their time between eating and watching for predators. We also measured the densities of mammals
in different habitats and studied the effects of herbivory on pollination. In March, Cyclone Idai went through the park and destroyed many surrounding towns. My group helped other researchers collect flood sensors and camera traps, as well as measure the cyclone’s impact on fever trees. Being in the park with talented researchers taught me about the various forms fieldwork can take and helped me in asking and answering questions about the natural world. I also gained skills in using GPS collars to track animals. I plan on returning to Gorongosa for my senior thesis research, and I am inspired to pursue a career in conservation and restoration biology.

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Liang, Al ’21

PROJECT

Using Biogeochemical Information to Better Understand Biogeography of Southern Ocean Fisheries

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Jorge Sarmiento, George J. Magee Professor of Geoscience and Geological Engineering, Emeritus, Professor of Geosciences, Emeritus; Lionel Arteaga, Associate Research Scholar, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences; Kisei Tanaka, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

Certificate(s): Entrepreneurship

I used Southern Ocean State Estimate biogeochemical data and machine learning methods to determine whether biogeochemical data is significant in modeling Antarctic krill distribution. I also investigated the environmental factors that are most critical in predicting krill distribution. I used the machine learning techniques of random forest and boosted regression trees and found that both methods reinforced my findings. During my research, I learned to code in R, a valuable skill for data analysis that I will certainly use in the future. I also created machine learning models and used them to make observations about big data. This internship really increased my interest in using machine learning methods to analyze data, something I didn’t have previous experience doing. I’m looking forward to continuing my research on this topic and seeing what else I can uncover.

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Malik, Rimsha ’21

PROJECT

Impact of Grazing Regimes on Rangeland Quality and Wildlife and Livestock Use

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Rubenstein Group - Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Daniel Rubenstein, Class of 1877 Professor of Zoology, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University

Certificate(s): Neuroscience

I worked on an ongoing research project studying the effectiveness of silage (stored grass used as animal feed) in improving cattle gut microbiomes and preventing illness during the transition between the dry and wet seasons. My research group and I worked with privately held and communally owned cattle, collecting data on grazing behavior, weight, and their movement using GPS. Additionally, we examined the impact of cattle grazing on the presence of wildlife and the quality of the land by setting up camera traps and collecting data on the surrounding vegetation. Cows have a strong presence at Mpala and share the land with wildlife. Thus, it is important to understand how cattle can be raised sustainably to ensure that both local communities, wildlife and the environment thrive. Through this internship, I acquired valuable field research skills and improved my understanding of the interconnectedness of livestock, wildlife and people. I was struck by how something as small as cow-gut microbiology can affect the livelihoods of pastoralists.

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Ng, Sean-Wyn ’21

PROJECT

The Automation of Fish-Stock Assessment

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) - St.George's, Bermuda

MENTOR(S)

Tim Noyes, Research Specialist, BIOS

Certificate(s): Technology and Society

I worked training computer models to automatically identify fish species in Baited Remote Underwater Video systems (BRUVs). Marine biodiversity is often estimated from underwater video footage, but the manual annotation of fish is significantly time consuming. Automating the annotation of BRUVs would drastically improve the efficiency of marine research. I manually annotated approximately 14,000 images from multiple BRUVs, targeting fish species that occurred the most frequently. The images were then fed into convolutional neural network (CNN) models, which are often used in machine learning for automatic image classification. CNNs have internal parameters that are adjusted based on information contained in the training set and these parameters are later used to identify objects in new images. During my internship, I gained practical coding experience and learned more about computer vision techniques, and I developed time-management skills by organizing a large-scale project. I also have a greater awareness of issues related to marine biodiversity and conversation.

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O'Donnell, Emma ’21

PROJECT

Development of Three-Dimensional Models of Coral Reef

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Coral Reef Research Foundation (CRRF) - Koror, Palau

MENTOR(S)

Steve Lindfield, Research Scientist, CRRF

I worked on developing a 3D model of a coral reef for the final grouper spawning-aggregation survey of a 10-year study. The model quantifies features of the reef, such as complexity, to provide insights into potential drivers for the species’ chosen aggregation areas. To build
the model, I swam transects of the reef while taking photos every half-second with two GoPro cameras on a rig. I then stitched the photos together in the photogrammetric processing program Agisoft Metashape Pro to generate a preliminary 3D model of the area that could be refined manually. Through this project, I gained invaluable experience as I worked alongside visiting researchers on two five-day fieldwork sessions. Furthermore, I had the chance to learn valuable technical skills using Metashape and developing the model for analysis. I look forward to incorporating the skills that I learned into my senior thesis research next year, which I hope will be in marine biology.

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Rennie, Zoe ’21

PROJECT

Monitoring the Ecological Restoration of Species and Their Interactions in Gorongosa National Park

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Pringle Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

MENTOR(S)

Robert Pringle, Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Matthew Hutchinson, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

I primarily researched how the reintroduction of wild dogs to Gorongosa National Park has affected the behavior and diet of herbivore species, with a focus on reedbuck, warthog, waterbuck, impala and oribi. I performed vigilance surveys to record how often herbivores grazed or watched their surroundings. I also performed roadside counts of herbivores to understand how their populations are distributed in the floodplain and savanna, their two main habitats. Additionally, I collected fecal samples and prepared them to be processed in the lab.
I helped count parasite eggs in fecal samples to get an additional measurement of herbivore health, and these samples will later be used to extrapolate herbivore diet. I learned so much about hands-on fieldwork and experimental design. Working alongside a Ph.D. candidate was a great source of insight and helped me think about what I’d like to pursue after I graduate. The training I received, my own self growth, and what I learned about collecting data in the field have definitively shaped the way I plan to move forward with my major.

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Reynolds, Hannah ’22

Psychology

PROJECT

Teaching Assistant for Conservation Clubs

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Rubenstein Group - Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Daniel Rubenstein, Class of 1877 Professor of Zoology, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University

Certificate(s): Environmental Studies

I interned as a teaching assistant for the Northern Kenya Conservation Clubs. Each week, my fellow interns and I went to 15 different schools to teach through experiential learning centered on hands-on experiences. In class, we played conservation-oriented games that we developed for a classroom setting based on American games such as Taboo, Hangman, Jeopardy and Pictionary. I helped design lessons specific to Kenyan ecosystems. I worked with each school to prepare for Community Conservation Day, a community-wide event where students presented posters, poems and plays to share what they learned about conservation with the public. During this internship, I learned strategies for overcoming language barriers, found ways to test the students’ learning while having fun, and gained leadership experience. As a result of this experience, I have gained an increased interest in behavioral ecology and conservation. I hope to pursue courses and independent work in psychology related to sustainable behavior and conservation.

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Wallace, Elizabeth ’20

PROJECT

Fish Ecology from Otoliths (Ear Stones) Past and Present

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Sigman and Ward Labs, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Daniel Sigman, Dusenbury Professor of Geological and Geophysical Sciences, Professor of Geosciences; Bess Ward, William J. Sinclair Professor of Geosciences and the Princeton Environmental Institute; Jessica Lueders-Dumont, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Geosciences

Certificate(s): Visual Arts

I studied changes in the trophic level of four species of commercially important fish in the Gulf of Maine. Changes in trophic level indicate alterations in the health and structure of the ecosystem due to overfishing or changes in global climate. Nitrogen isotopes in the fish’s body provide a quantitative measurement as the ratio of heavy-to-light isotopes increases with trophic level. I measured the ratio of nitrogen isotopes in the fish’s otoliths, or ear stones, which grow throughout the fish’s life and can be preserved over long periods of time. I compared the trends in nitrogen isotopes of otolith samples from the past 40 years with the stomach contents of fish from a field-survey database. During this internship, I learned new laboratory and data-analysis skills, and I gained an understanding of how a scientific question can be explored through experiments and data analysis. This internship taught me skills that I will use for my senior thesis and gave me insight into a career in research.

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Climate Change and Environmental Science

Adams, Rebekah ’21

PROJECT

Predicting Environmental Conditions of the Past Using Soil Chemical Analysis

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Myneni Group, Department of Geosciences- Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Satish Myneni, Professor of Geosciences; Jianshu Duan, Ph.D. candidate, Geosciences; Danielle Schlesinger, Ph.D. candidate, Geosciences

Certificate(s): Biophysics, Engineering Biology

I studied paleosols, which are layers of soil formed in a past geological period. Paleosols could provide insight into the ancient climate, but their formation between basalt lava flows has made predicting the intensity of past climate variations inaccurate. A key example is the controversy over the role of climate variablity in the extinction of the dinosaurs. My internship focused on using chemical and mineralogical variations in red-clay samples from the Deccan Traps in India to determine whether they are basalt (volcanically) derived. I determined their chemical composition by creating pellet samples for an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer and interpreted the resulting spectral data. I made extensive soil plots for a compartitive study of my new empirical data to previously published data on basalt weathering and paleosol formation. I had the opportunity to process paleosol maps that were created with a synchrotron X-ray microprobe, which takes samples at various points underground to analyze a soil’s elemental composition. Through this internship, I realized the power and versatility that comes with understanding soil chemistry when trying to understand climate. It has prompted me to look for more career or research opportunities in environmental research and sustainable innovation.

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Amatya, Amy ’21

PROJECT

Satellite and Float Backscatter as Proxies for Southern Ocean Chlorophyll

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Jorge Sarmiento, George J. Magee Professor of Geoscience and Geological Engineering, Emeritus, Professor of Geosciences, Emeritus; Lionel Arteaga, Associate Research Scholar, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

I worked to better interpret data that are used to inventory phytoplankton over large expanses of the Southern Ocean. The understanding of the large-scale interannual variation in Southern Ocean phytoplankton is limited because it relies heavily on satellite data, which can be obscured by factors such as sea-ice extent and cloud cover. Our group used backscatter data — which are reflections of a signal such as sound waves or light — from satellite and float retrievals as proxies for the characterization of phytoplankton in the Southern Ocean. Since 2014, the Southern Ocean Carbon and Climate Observations and Modeling (SOCCOM) project has been collecting data from biogeochemical profiling floats that allow us to identify trends not only in backscatter/chlorophyll, but in accompanying nutrients and temperatures. The first half of
my internship centered on a spatially minded comparison of backscatter from floats and satellites, then I transitioned toward focusing on float backscatter and correlating these results to the biogeochemical results. I improved my programming skills by working in MATLAB with large datasets and I valued being in an environment that was collaborative yet allowed me to think independently.

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Basu, Udit ’20

PROJECT

Environmental Effects of Deccan Volcanism During the Late Cretaceous

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Keller Lab, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Gerta Keller, Professor of Geosciences

Certificate(s): East Asian Studies, Planets and Life

The goal of my project was to further confirm the significant impact that Deccan Volcanism had in the end-Cretaceous extinction event by conducting mercury analysis on samples from around the world, including Israel, India, Mexico and other countries. I prepared and analyzed hundreds of samples and calibrated the instrumentation for more conclusive results. This project further developed my understanding of geology, paleoclimate and sedimentology, and daily discourses on these topics allowed me to constantly reevaluate what I know. Furthermore, I performed much of the instrumentation and sample preparation independently, and I had the freedom to think critically about how to proceed from step to step. This internship truly was an eye-opening experience. My senior thesis will be based on the backbone of the research I conducted, and my work also influenced the research I’m interested in for graduate school. It would be an absolute pleasure to continue such study.

Bowyer, Kasey ’21

Neuroscience

PROJECT

Impacts of Sea-Level Rise on the Halogenated Organic Compound Production in Mangrove Ecosystems*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Myneni Group, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey; Menlo Park, California

MENTOR(S)

Satish Myneni, Professor of Geosciences; Danielle Schlesinger, Ph.D. candidate, Geosciences

Certificate(s): Environmental Studies

I worked to understand how increasing sea-level rise has affected the production of halogenated organic compounds in various coastal environments, including mangroves. Bromide and chloride from seawater react with organic carbon in the soil to create compounds called organohalogens. Organohalogens are toxic to plant and animal life in local ecosystems and catalytically destructive to the stratospheric ozone layer, which contributes to global warming. However, the relationship between organohalogen production and sea-level rise
is not well understood. I studied soil and leaf-litter samples from coastal mangrove forests in Panama, Punta Galeta and Bocas del Toro.
I performed synchrotron analyses (XANES and microspectroscopy), along with X-ray fluorescence (XRF), to identify the speciation of organochlorine and organobromine compounds in the samples and to determine the degree to which halogenation reactions are occurring in mangrove ecosystems. The Myneni Group also is interested in how this reaction occurs and what catalyzes it. I studied the role of iron redox chemistry in catalyzing halogenation reactions by incubating soils with various naturally occurring substances.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Water and the Environment Grand Challenges project,
“Impacts of Sea-Level Rise and Associated Saltwater Intrusion on the Coastal Biogeochemical Processes and Greenhouse Gas Emissions.”

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Brown, Sarah ’22

PROJECT

Extinction of the Dinosaurs Recorded in an Andean Paleolake

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Maloof Group, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University- Bolivia (multiple cities); Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Adam Maloof, Associate Professor of Geosciences; Bolton Howes, Ph.D. candidate, Geosciences; Ryan Manzuk, Ph.D. candidate, Geosciences

Certificate(s): Environmental Studies

I worked to narrow the stratigraphic position of the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary within ancient lake (paleolake) sediments preserved in Bolivia. The goal is to pinpoint the K-Pg boundary at various locations across this paleolake to better understand the environment before and after the K-Pg extinction event known for killing the dinosaurs. A detailed understanding of past environmental changes linked to mass extinction could provide insight into present-day climate change. I measured sections of outcrop, noting rock type and thickness. I collected samples that will be tested chemically and dated to help locate the boundary. Additionally, my research group discovered a bone bed which, with the help of paleontologists, could inform us about rock deposition age. I learned how to identify rocks, how to sample in an organized and effective manner, and how to select valuable outcrops. Through this immersive fieldwork experience, strong relationships with Ph.D. candidates in my department and training from a professor, I feel more confident in approaching my own research and engaging in climate change science.

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Cadley, Galen ’21

PROJECT

Sponge Reef Morphology as a Driver of the Cambrian Explosion

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Maloof Group, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Yukon Province, Canada; Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Adam Maloof, Associate Professor of Geosciences; Bolton Howes, Ph.D. candidate, Geosciences; Ryan Manzuk, Ph.D. candidate, Geosciences

I conducted fieldwork to locate Archaeocyathid sponges within early Cambrian rock in order to understand the role of early reef structure in creating the biodiversity we see in the fossil record after the Cambrian explosion. The research team and I investigated how Archaeocyathid sponges might have contributed to the creation of reef structure. We collected samples from early-Cambrian rock for further study in the lab at Princeton. I used GPS coordinates to record where we gathered each sample and to mark approximately 1,000 random points within a diamond grid for the purpose of creating a rendering of our site. Using these data and aerial photographs taken during two drone flights, we digitally reconstructed a 3D model of our site. This internship enhanced my course of study and helped me develop a skill base and excitement for fieldwork. I am more excited about the research opportunities that my junior paper and senior thesis will provide and am considering postgraduate education.

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Conrad, Casey ’21

PROJECT

Volcanic Proxies Predating K-T Boundary

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Keller Lab, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Gerta Keller, Professor of Geosciences

Certificate(s): Environmental Studies

I analyzed mercury concentrations in rock cores from Mexico, India, the United States and Israel. I learned how to properly prepare samples to be processed by the mercury-analysis machine. I used the wide assortment of data I accrued to aid Professor Keller’s research showing extensive volcanic activity predating the Cretacious-Paleogene boundary, which marks the time period when the dinosaurs went extinct. With access to such great data, I have decided to continue working with her during the fall of my junior year and she will be my first junior paper adviser. Through this internship, I gained excellent experience in a paleontological laboratory that will help me choose a career path in the very near future.

D'Arcangelo, Gabrielle ’21

Chemistry

PROJECT

Effects of Oxygen on Soil Methane Production*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Zhang Lab, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Xinning Zhang, Assistant Professor of Geosciences and the Princeton Environmental Institute; Jared Wilmoth, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Princeton Environmental Institute

Certificate(s): Technology and Society

The goal of my project was to investigate methane-producing bacteria in wetland soils (peat) and determine the effects of oxygen on their emissions. In order to understand, and hopefully, manipulate the composition of Earth’s atmosphere, it is important to consider the ways in which natural environments use and produce greenhouse gas. I collected peat samples from local wetlands and exposed them to oxygen for various time periods in the lab so that microbial populations experienced aerobic and anaerobic conditions. I also collected and tested samples from Princeton’s biodigester for composting food waste. For both the composted food waste and the peat, I analyzed emissions on a gas chromatograph, took various depth profiles including pH and redox potential, and extracted the DNA and RNA of the microbial populations for sequencing and identification. Both sets of samples showed that methane production increased during anaerobic periods that immediately followed oxygenation. This suggested the presence of a bacteria that uses oxygen to aid methanogenesis. This was my first insight into environmental chemistry as well as gas chemistry. It also was my first experience working with organisms in a lab, helping me
to consider a wider variety of careers after graduation.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Climate and Energy Grand Challenges project, “Controls on Alternative N2 Fixation.”

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Kortum, Grace ’21

PROJECT

Impacts of Slow Growth Rates on Coral Geochemical Climate Proxies

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) - Woods Hole, Massachusetts

MENTOR(S)

Konrad Hughen, Senior Scientist, Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, WHOI

Certificate(s): Statistics and Machine Learning

I worked to improve our understanding of trends in sea-surface temperature and rainfall over the past several centuries, which is essential for projecting the effects of anthropogenic climate change. Corals serve as ideal records for studying long-term climate variability in the ocean because they preserve climate information in their skeletons as they grow. I collected powder samples from a coral-skeleton core from Cuba that contained over 200 years of information. My mentor and I used a spectrometer to measure the samples’ strontium and barium content. High strontium levels indicate low sea-surface temperatures, while high barium levels suggest high rainfall. With these data, we can observe the yearly cycle of summer heat and spring rainfall, along with longer term changes in climate. I also investigated how the unusually slow growth rate of some corals potentially affects their ability to serve as climate records. I learned new laboratory techniques and developed my skills in Excel, MATLAB, and statistics as I analyzed our data in the context of existing global climate datasets. This was a great opportunity to learn about paleoclimate research, as well as contribute to our understanding of past climate.

Lynch, Margaret ’21

PROJECT

Reconstruction of Southern Ocean Nutrient Concentrations During Previous Interglacial Periods

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Sigman Lab, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Daniel Sigman, Dusenbury Professor of Geological and Geophysical Sciences, Professor of Geosciences; Ellen Ai, Ph.D. candidate, Geosciences

I prepared and analyzed diatom-bound nitrogen in a sediment core from the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean in order to reconstruct nutrient conditions during glacial and interglacial periods. After preparing these samples using a variety of physical, chemical and biological techniques, their nitrogen contents were measured on a mass spectrometer. The resulting isotopic signatures were then used to reconstruct the efficiency of past diatom nitrogen utilization. This record has great significance as it provides insight into the release of carbon — which is closely coupled with nitrogen in marine processes — into the atmosphere from Southern Ocean overturning. By examining the processes that controlled this overturning and their effects on Earth’s climate in the past, we can better understand current and future Southern Ocean overturning and carbon release. Throughout this project, I learned about stable-isotope geochemistry, the nitrogen cycle, and the research process, while acquiring new analytical and technical laboratory skills. This project has strengthened my interest in geochemistry and climate science.

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Paternostro, Seth ’20

East Asian Studies

PROJECT

Analysis and Advocacy Intern

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Natural Resources Defense Council - Beijing, China

MENTOR(S)

Alvin Lin, Climate and Energy Policy Director, China Program, Natural Resources Defense Council

I interned at the Beijing office of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) where I primarily worked with the office’s climate team on their efforts to reduce coal and oil consumption in China. Having a strong background in Chinese, I focused on translating highly technical environmental research studies and funding reports from Chinese to English to ensure accurate policy recommendations, support donor relations, and maintain the intellectual quality of materials published in English. In addition, I collected data on various oil-consumption scenarios and helped to establish an English training program within the office. Aside from developing a professional-level ability to translate documents, the internship provided me with a broad exposure to environmental work in China and to the inner workings of a major international non-governmental organization. My experiences at NRDC influenced my future plans by highlighting the importance of a mission-based career and prompting me to consider law school.

Sall, Louison ’21

East Asian Studies

PROJECT

Tracking Microbial Metabolism with Isotopes

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Zhang Lab, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Xinning Zhang, Assistant Professor of Geosciences and the Princeton Environmental Institute; Ashley Maloney, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Geosciences

Certificate(s): Humanistic Studies

The goal of the experiment I worked on was to find a relationship between metabolism and isotopes. Geochemists are very interested in how carbon affects the environment. Because carbon is present in water, air, rocks, methane, coral and biomass, a lot of work has gone into how the environment impacts carbon isotopes. The biomass c3 and c4 plants are very well studied, but there isn’t much research into heterotrophs, the organisms on the forest floor that break down detritus. If you change the environment, often the bioprocesses in the organisms will change and be reflected in isotopes. If you keep the environment exactly the same, but only change the food, the isotopes also will change. From this experiment I learned how to use a range of instruments, including the elemental analysis isotope ratio mass spectrometer, a centrifuge, and the MARS 6 microwave digestion system. I also learned that research takes diligence and commitment, both of which I will take with me into the rest of my studies.

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Santelices, Mench ’22

PROJECT

Surface Properties of Surfactant Solutions

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Deike Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Luc Deike, Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the Princeton Environmental Institute; Baptiste Neel, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

The goal of my project was to characterize water-surface quality and physics in the presence of surfactants, which are substances that reduce
a liquid’s surface tension. Aerosol production is important for atmospheric processes. Sea-spray aerosols are produced by bubbles bursting at the ocean’s surface, and surface properties can be impacted by surfactants. I worked in the lab taking pictures over different periods of time of drops made from different surfactant solutions and of varying concentrations. I determined the surface tension of these drops and organized them for future reference. I then filmed the drops as they oscillated so that I could determine their surface tension and surface area. My contributions consisted of data on the surface properties of water and the experimental setup for future projects. From this experience, I became more familiar with reading academic scientific writing, working in a lab, and setting up experiments. This internship affirmed my desire to continue studying mechanical engineering, particularly for future work in industry.

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Song, Cindy ’22

Economics

PROJECT

Velocity of Rising Bubbles in a Volcanic Chamber

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Deike Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Luc Deike, Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the Princeton Environmental Institute; Baptiste Neel, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Certificate(s): Applications of Computing, Statistics and Machine Learning

I studied the rise velocity of large viscous bubbles in a narrow tube, which closely model bubbles in a volcanic eruption. Factors such as gravitational forces, surface tension, viscosity and tube diameter influence a bubble’s rise velocity and appearance. To understand how these bubbles behave, I ran simulations using Basilisk, a software program that solves partial differential equations using adaptive Cartesian meshes. I then created movies and graphs from the output to display the relationship between the bubbles’ rise velocity and their fluid properties. Through this internship, I sharpened my data analysis and coding skills and became familiar with new programming languages. I also gained a more thorough understanding of fluid dynamics, which I find fascinating. Although my research did not directly relate to my academic study, the technical and problem-solving skills I developed will be helpful in my future independent work.

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Tamama, Yuri ’22

PROJECT

The Impact of Freezing Temperatures and Strong Oxidants on Biological Methanogenesis: Implications for Melting Permafrost and the Search for Life on Mars

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Onstott Lab, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Tullis Onstott, Professor of Geosciences; Rachel Harris, Ph.D. candidate, Geosciences

Certificate(s): Planets and Life

I studied how the growth of methane-producing archaea, or methanogens, is affected under stressful conditions such as freezing temperatures and exposure to strong oxidants. This project aimed to examine whether biological methane production is contributing to the methane observed in the Martian atmosphere, as well as to better understand how climate change may impact methane fluxes from melting permafrost. Methane is a strong greenhouse gas and a significant fraction of it is stored in Earth’s permafrost, where conditions are not unlike those on Mars. Studying methane production under these conditions could tell us how methane is produced in permafrost. Active methane production in permafrost increases its potential impact on global warming. I learned how to culture methanogens and extract their RNA, which is currently being sequenced. The resulting transcriptomes will be analyzed to understand how the harsh conditions of permafrost affected gene expression and methane production. My internship furthered my interest in astrobiology, geobiology, environmental science and research. I hope to pursue similar opportunities in the future as an undergraduate and graduate student.

Taylor-Lash, Alexander ’21

PROJECT

Single-Burst Droplet Analysis

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Deike Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Luc Deike, Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the Princeton Environmental Institute; Baptiste Neel, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

I studied the interface between the ocean and the atmosphere, specifically the formation of aerosols from crashing ocean waves. Studying this interaction allows us to better understand how compounds in the ocean such as heavy metals from an oil spill are released into the
air. I studied the droplets produced by a single bubble bursting on the surface of de-ionized water by analyzing their size, velocity and ejection angle. To do this, I took high-definition video of the bubbles and processed them using various software. Through this process, I learned image-processing techniques, in addition to data manipulation and plotting in Python. I am grateful for the opportunity to explore a field that I previously had not realized existed.

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Tran, Elton ’22

Molecular Biology

PROJECT

Microbial Control of Nitrous Oxide Consumption in the Ocean*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Ward Lab, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Bess Ward, William J. Sinclair Professor of Geosciences and the Princeton Environmental Institute; Amal Jayakumar, Senior Professional Specialist, Geosciences

I worked to isolate microbial DNA from Pacific Ocean water samples in order to analyze distributions of nitrous oxide-consuming microbes at different ocean depths. Nitrous oxide is a particularly strong greenhouse gas and a significant fraction of atmospheric nitrous oxide is produced in the ocean by denitrifying microbes. However, the populations of nitrous oxide-producing microbes coexist with nitrous oxide-consuming microbes at different ocean depths. My work focused on isolating two genes thought to be responsible, respectively, for the microbial conversion of nitrous oxide to nitrogen gas and of nitrogen gas to ammonia in nitrous oxide-consuming microbes. By working firsthand in the Ward lab and learning to carry out lab procedures such as polymerase chain reaction, cloning, and DNA purification, I gained a greater understanding of how deliberate research can be used to make progress toward a larger goal. Eventually, this research will identify the populations of microbes that play a major role in naturally removing nitrous oxide and in discovering the most efficient natural mechanism for nitrous oxide degradation.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Water and the Environment Grand Challenges project, “Control of Microbial Nitrous Oxide Production in Coastal Waters.”

von Berg, Lauren ’20

PROJECT

Maud Rise Polynyas Linked to Largest Phytoplankton Bloom in Southern Ocean

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California–San Diego - La Jolla, California

MENTOR(S)

Sarah Gille, Professor, Scripps Institution of Oceanography; Lynne Talley, Professor, Scripps Institution of Oceanography; Matt Mazloff, Associate Researcher, Scripps Institution of Oceanography; Channing Prend, Ph.D. candidate, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

I studied the Maud Rise, a large seamount in the Southern Ocean associated with strong upwelling and weak stratification. Maud Rise experiences rare polynya events during which a hole forms in the seasonal sea ice above it, the most recent of which occurred in 2016 and 2017. My goal was to determine how these polynyas affect phytoplankton blooms near Maud Rise by using the biogeochemical data collected by the autonomous Argo floats that circulate the region to estimate chlorophyll and concentrations of particulate organic carbon. I used Python to analyze the relevant float data in conjunction with satellite sea-ice and reanalysis data. This allowed my group to develop hypotheses linking the two recent polynyas to observed changes in phytoplankton bloom timing, size and vertical structure. During my research, I learned a lot about Python data analysis and data visualization tools, as well as about oceanography. This internship was a very positive research experience and showed me that I would like to be involved in science as a computer science concentrator.

Zhang, Tyrone ’21

PROJECT

Assessing the Ocean's Biological Carbon Pump in a Water Mass Transformation Framework

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Jorge Sarmiento, George J. Magee Professor of Geoscience and Geological Engineering, Emeritus, Professor of Geosciences, Emeritus; Lionel Arteaga, Associate Research Scholar, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences; Graeme MacGilchrist, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

I worked on analyzing the ideal-age tracer in the ESM4 climate model at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory on Princeton’s Forrestal Campus and trying to use a different framework to understand the ocean. We used the old framework of depth and compared it using
a new framework, density, to see which better describes the relationship of the ideal-age tracer in the ocean. Density is a better option than depth, as you can reduce the distribution of ideal age in such a framework, but more work needs to be done. I used the ESM4 model that had no net emissions of carbon from human activities into the Earth system and looked at the model outputs. I analyzed these data using Python
via Jupyter Notebooks to look at the different relationships. This project gave me a glimpse into using model data and analyzing them, as well as increasing my familiarity with Python. This experience was very rewarding and it helped me develop new skills, especially in analyzing data and applying my knowledge of oceans to research.

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Zimble, Ezra ’22

Undeclared

PROJECT

Examining Biological Nitrogen Fixation Rates in New Jersey Forest Samples*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Zhang Lab, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Xinning Zhang, Assistant Professor of Geosciences and the Princeton Environmental Institute; Romain Darnajoux, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Geosciences

I studied nitrogen fixation in New Jersey forests as an extension of research conducted in Canada by my supervisor, Romain Darnajoux. We applied his work in boreal forests to New Jersey’s temperate forests by investigating whether nitrogen-fixing bacteria were present and, if so, the conditions that favor nitrogen fixation. My jobs included collecting samples such as mosses, tree bark and soil, then analyzing them in the lab. Over the course of the internship, I gained proficiency in using lab equipment such as gas chromatography and learned about the safe handling of chemicals. Additionally, my supervisor and I discussed experimental design at length before our weekly experiments and proper data analysis afterward. I plan to incorporate the sensitivity to detail in experiment design and analysis I learned to my future research at Princeton.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Climate and Energy Grand Challenges project, “Controls on Alternative N2 Fixation.”

New Energy Future

Alessio, Ben ’21

Physics

PROJECT

Clean, Small Fusion Reactors

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory- Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Samuel Cohen, Director, Program in Plasma Science and Technology, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

I worked with the Princeton Field-Reversed Configuration (PFRC) team toward creating a clean and small fusion reactor for use as a sustainable energy source in hard-to-access places such as natural disaster sites, remote villages or outer space. I studied X-rays emitted by the plasma and performed analysis on the X-ray radiation using computational scripts that I wrote or added onto. I diagnosed problems with the experimental apparatuses used to collect X-ray spectra and designed experiments to improve them. I also conceived of, designed and helped implement the addition of coils for the reactor, which resulted in major increases in X-ray production and potentially better diagnosis of the plasma. My contributions would not have been possible without help from the team I worked with, including a faculty member, a technician, a postdoctoral researcher, two Ph.D. candidates, and three interns. From working with them, I learned about experimental and computational methods and developed an intuition for plasma. I plan to continue working with the PFRC team for my junior independent research and I am enthusiastic about continuing with plasma physics as I begin to consider graduate school and career options.

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Ayala Garcia, Jose ’22

PROJECT

Solar Microgrid Research

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

BoxPower Inc.- Grass Valley, California

MENTOR(S)

Anderson Barkow, Co-Founder and Vice President of Finance, BoxPower Inc.; Angelo Campus, Founder and CEO, BoxPower Inc.

I worked alongside BoxPower’s production and engineering crew to develop a miniature version of their original solar-power system. BoxPower manufactures containerized solar energy generators that are currently used in rural communities and for disaster relief. I worked directly with the CEO to develop this new product. I used computer-aided design (CAD) to design the the miniature container’s frame and mounting brackets, and produced drawings used to manufacture both. I then developed the initial model of the container itself and served as the point of contact between the welders and BoxPower. I worked with the production crew to produce a prototype of the miniature generator that was shipped to Hawaii in mid-August. I also worked with the head of engineering to edit and update BoxPower’s patents, which taught me a lot about patents and how to obtain one. This internship developed my skills with CAD as well as my technical drawing skills. I also updated the company website at the request of BoxPower’s head of finance, which developed my HTML skills. Renewable energy is a field I want to keep exploring and I plan on taking related courses in the upcoming semesters.

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Badal, Jayson ’22

PROJECT

Aerodynamic Flow Control on Cars to Improve Fuel Efficiency

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Smits Fluid Mechanics Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University- Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Alexander Smits, Eugene Higgins Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Emeritus; Tyler Van Buren, Lab Manager, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Certificate(s): Applications of Computing

I designed modern flow-control techniques for the body of motor vehicles in order to reduce drag and fuel consumption. I used synthetic air jets that actively responded to the surrounding flow conditions of an SUV prototype to reduce the loss of momentum in the wake and separation of airflow from the sides of the vehicle. This project centered on fundamental experimental research in turbulence and fluid mechanics. Its long-term objective was to achieve maximum drag reduction, as well as an acceptable balance with comfort, safety and aesthetics. My responsibilities included studying previous research in the area, computer-aided design, 3D printing and time-pressured prototyping, and subsequent testing. I gained invaluable insight into the world of aerodynamic research and acquired a profound appreciation for those pushing the boundaries of human knowledge. Moreover, I learned about the intricate workings of the scientific community that allow for successful collaboration, innovation and invention.

Barnett, Anthony ’21

PROJECT

Aerodynamic Flow Control on Cars to Improve Fuel Efficiency

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Smits Fluid Mechanics Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University- Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Alexander Smits, Eugene Higgins Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Emeritus; Tyler Van Buren, Lab Manager, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

I analyzed airflow over the body of a typical SUV-type automobile in order to assess the benefits of active flow control in reducing drag. More specifically, I worked on creating an SUV model that would simulate synthetic jets, which use piezoelectric drivers to generate air that is then alternately blown and sucked in response to the surrounding flow conditions. After designing and printing many different models, my research group successfully created one that allowed us to analyze the airflow around the vehicle and potentially simulate the effects of using synthetic jets to reduce drag. This internship taught me many technical skills, including computer-aided design and the use of fabrication equipment such as a drill press. The biggest takeaway was the experience I gained working in a research environment. This experience will undoubtedly propel me in my future as a student and scholar.

Colter, Elise ’21

PROJECT

Wind and Solar Electricity Forecasting Tool

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Climate Central - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Eric Larson, Senior Research Engineer, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University; Jennifer Brady, Manager of Analysis and Production, Climate Central; Leila Hadj-Chikh, Developer for the Program on Sea Level Rise, Climate Central

My internship at Climate Central focused on improving the WeatherPower tool, which is a part of the climate-reporting resource Climate Matters that produces text and visual materials to help journalists and TV meteorologists build stories. WeatherPower uses weather forecast data to predict local wind and solar electricity generation across the United States. I primarily used Python, Amazon Web Services and Django to implement a redesigned version of the software’s backend, verify the tool’s calculations, and initiate the ongoing process of code review. I also worked on several new features, including renewable-energy estimates and their equivalencies for new regions (states, counties and congressional districts), and carbon emissions equivalency calculations. Through this internship, I gained a familiarity with several relevant technologies related to my major and had the opportunity to combine my academic interests with an issue that is important to me.

Evans, Raiden ’21

PROJECT

Aircraft Drag and Noise Diminishment Through Trailing-Edge Vortex Suppression

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Smits Fluid Mechanics Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Alexander Smits, Eugene Higgins Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Emeritus; Tyler Van Buren, Lab Manager, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Certificate(s): Applications of Computing, Robotics and Intelligent Systems

I worked on optimizing commercial aircraft flaps to induce less drag and noise at takeoff and landing. This would benefit the environment surrounding airports, as well as reduce fuel consumption if the adjustments were to be made to the entirety of an aircraft wing. I worked almost entirely on the design and manufacture of a test model for placing in the 40 meter-per-second wind tunnel in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering’s thermo lab. My lab partner and I ultimately created a small segment of a wing with a fully interchangeable and angle-adjustable flap. I learned many hands-on skills during this process, refined my skills in 3D modeling and learned the intricacies of 3D printing as a rapid-prototyping method. Additionally, I learned how to operate the large computer numerical control (CNC) foam cutter to carve our precision wing, and how to apply layers of carbon-fiber matting. I found research to be a very free and creative environment.

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Govil, Bharat ’22

PROJECT

Aircraft Drag and Noise Diminishment Through Trailing-Edge Vortex Suppression

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Smits Fluid Mechanics Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Alexander Smits, Eugene Higgins Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Emeritus; Tyler Van Buren, Lab Manager, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Certificate(s): Linguistics

I had the opportunity to participate in mechanical and aerospace engineering research that focused on reducing the drag on airplane wings, which would improve fuel efficiency and reduce noise pollution. The research focused specifically on reducing the drag caused by trailing-edge vortices, which form at the edges of plane wings. My partner and I designed a model aircraft wing, a NACA 0012 airfoil, scaled down to fit the subsonic wind tunnel in the Smits lab. The airfoil included an interchangeable flap, which would form trailing-edge vortices of varying intensity depending on the angle offset from the main airfoil. Our goal was to change the angle of the trailing-edge vortices that form on either side of the flap with the use of active flow-control devices. These flow-control devices, such as actuators and synthetic jets, would
be embedded into the flap. My work provided useful insights into a laboratory setting and gave me more confidence and knowledge related to mechanical engineering and various machining methods.

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Julis, Esther ’20

Anthropology

PROJECT

Solar Market Strategy, Finance Intern

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

BoxPower Inc.- Grass Valley, California

MENTOR(S)

Anderson Barkow, Co-Founder and Vice President of Finance, BoxPower Inc.; Angelo Campus, Founder and CEO, BoxPower Inc.

Certificate(s): Entrepreneurship, Ethnographic Studies

I worked with other interns to develop an on-boarding document for future employees that contains summations of BoxPower’s current activities and future development plans. As the finance intern, I looked at the financial health of the company and helped create documents for investors. As a group, we conducted user research via cold calling to investigate viable potential customer markets. I learned how to accumulate knowledge about a foreign industry rapidly, how to navigate the early dynamics of a startup, and what is necessary to grow a company with limited resources and data. This internship heavily influenced my thesis research and academic study. I will focus on natural disasters and related issues facing communities, a decision that was influenced in part by BoxPower’s mission. I also am taking an environmental studies course this semester to further my understanding of climate-related issues in the present day.

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Lam, Lap Hei ’21

PROJECT

Helmholtz Resonators as a Small, Lightweight and Versatile Wind-Energy Harvesting Device

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Smits Fluid Mechanics Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Alexander Smits, Eugene Higgins Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Emeritus; Tyler Van Buren, Lab Manager, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

I worked on a novel device to harvest wind energy, specifically the optimization of a circuit connected to a piezoelectric disk coupled with a Helmholtz resonator. When air blows over a hole in the top of the device, it causes the Helmholtz resonator to vibrate, which can be converted to electricity through the piezoelectric disk and circuit. I ran experiments to better understand the piezoelectric disk and the Helmholtz resonator, reviewed research pertaining to similar experiments, and helped build circuits based on that research. Through this experience, I became familiar with the scientific literature on this topic and I developed a better understanding of circuits, as well as an appreciation for their amazing capabilities. Due to this exposure, I am more curious in the role that circuits play in other technology, such as signal processing and semiconductors. I intend to learn more about other fields within electrical engineering and the critical role circuits play in tying them together.

Le, Hoang ’22

PROJECT

Maximizing the Power Output of the Helmholtz Resonator Wind-Energy Harvester

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Smits Fluid Mechanics Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Alexander Smits, Eugene Higgins Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Emeritus; Tyler Van Buren, Lab Manager, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Certificate(s): Engineering Physics, Materials Science and Engineering

The goal of this project was to design a better load circuit to maximize the power output of
a Helmholtz resonator, a piezoelectric-based device that harvests wind energy by converting vibrational energy into electricity. The research group’s first task was to determine the internal resistance and reactance of the piezoelectric disk because the load circuit provides maximum power when the external resistance equals the internal one. Our second task was to design a low-loss rectifying circuit to harvest good direct current (DC) power. By actuating the resonator at a higher resonant frequency and choosing the optimal load, we achieved an alternating current (AC) power density that was 212% higher than the results published from a similar experiment in 2018. This was a great opportunity to familiarize myself with electronic parts and circuit design. I also gained a wide range of knowledge from using tools such as MATLAB, the LabVIEW programming language, the SPICE circuit-simulation software, and Altium PCB design software, as well as more conceptual approaches to power electronics and optimization problems.

Martin, Clare ’22

PROJECT

Binary Transition Metal Oxide Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Koel Group, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Bruce Koel, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Rachel Selinsky, Associate Research Scholar, Chemical and Biological Engineering

I worked on improving a process essential to cost-efficient electrolysis (water splitting), which is an emissions-free way to produce hydrogen fuel. The reaction is limited, however, by the inefficiency of one of its half reactions, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The most efficient OER catalysts are made from the prohibitively expensive metals iridium and ruthenium. I helped develop procedures for synthesizing OER electrocatalysts made from nanostructured metal-oxide thin films composed of catalytically active metal oxides (namely ruthenium, iridium and cobalt) and oxides of less expensive metals (zirconium, hafnium and titanium). I designed a new non-reactive electrochemical cell in which to synthesize metal-oxide films through electrodeposition; optimized the polishing and etching processes for the titanium substrates on which the films are grown; and synthesized potential oxalate single-source precursors for ruthenium, cobalt and iridium oxides. I also received training on how to operate a scanning electron microscope, Raman spectrometer, and an X-ray photoelectron spectrometer. This internship taught me concepts in imaging instrumentation and valuable wet-lab techniques, confirming my aspirations to conduct chemistry-based research with environmental applications.

Matthews, Connor ’20

PROJECT

Mechanical Engineering and Design for High-Rate Recharging Vehicles

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Lightening Energy - Dover, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Eric Materniak, Energy Systems Manager, Lightening Energy

I helped Lightening Energy with the development of a high-rate recharging electric-vehicle battery pack. My main responsibility was to design the cooling plate to be as efficient and effective as possible. Iterations were created in the computer-aided design program Creo, as well as in Autodesk Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Another goal was to submit a provisional patent for certain charging designs, including charging stations for electric vehicles. I gained skills using CFD and in battery-cell development. Additionally, I learned the process of filing for a patent and of being a working engineer by interacting with Lightening Energy employees. This experience made me want to continue to explore the world of electric vehicles, as their development will be an important part of reducing anthropogenic carbon emissions.

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Mays, Rebecca ’21

PROJECT

Optogenetic Control of Microbial Consortia

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Avalos Group, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

José Avalos, Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment; Makoto Lalwani, Ph.D. candidate, Chemical and Biological Engineering

I researched the optogenetic, or light-dependent, control of microbes such as Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which can be bioengineered to produce natural products such as biofuels, fragrance molecules and pharmaceuticals. My research consisted of studying previously engineered strains of optogenetic E. coli and S. cerevisiae and modeling their growth in different duty cycles of blue light. I also worked to insert optogenetic circuits into a strain of Pseudomonas putida, a bacterial species with great promise for biofuels, and successfully created a strain that grows in blue light and is suppressed in darkness. Finally, I fermented an optogenetic strain of E. coli with S. cerevisiae to produce isobutyl acetate (IBA). I measured the final IBA concentrations in the fermentations — as well as of its precursor, isobutanol — using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to determine the best light condition and E. coli/S. cerevisiae inoculum ratio for IBA production. Working on these projects allowed me to learn valuable lab skills and research procedures for future classes and beyond. I also learned much about the field of bioengineering, giving me an idea of careers that could stem from this research.

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Miller, Natalia ’21

PROJECT

Biotechnology for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Manufacturing

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Avalos Group, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

José Avalos, Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment

Certificate(s): Sustainable Energy

My internship focused on engineering the metabolism of yeast cells to produce plant-derived chemicals necessary for pharmaceuticals. The manufacturing of plant-derived natural products is essential for a wide class of medicinal drugs, but current methods are not environmentally sustainable. Manufacturing these plant-derived natural products in yeast cells is a sustainable way to create drugs. The goal of my project was to transform yeast cells that produce 8-hydroxygeraniol, a chemical precursor to many plant-derived pharmaceuticals. I designed genes that would allow for the production of the P450 enzyme 8-hydroxylase and its reaction partners in yeast cells. Then I transformed these genes into yeast containing metabolic clustering systems that would allow the P450 enzymes to complete the oxidation reaction necessary to produce 8-hydroxygeraniol. Through this internship, I gained valuable lab experience that led me to decide that I want to pursue a graduate degree in chemical and biological engineering.

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Montoya, Andres ’21

PROJECT

Electrical Engineering and Design of High-Rate Recharging Vehicles

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Lightening Energy - Dover, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Eric Materniak, Energy Systems Manager, Lightening Energy

For my project, I learned the product-development process and the key steps a company takes to create a new product. I also gained knowledge of mechanical design for engineering systems and learned the best practices for design review and implementation. I worked on a team that focused on innovating the components of high-rate recharging vehicles in an effort to further the improvement and impact of electric vehicles. Our team created and iterated cooling-plate designs for an electric-vehicle battery pack using the computer-aided design programs Creo and Autodesk CFD. We also generated and described multiple electric-vehicle charging stations and techniques for a provisional patent. We were able to consistently communicate with upper-level management as we presented various ideas in company meetings to discuss and improve upon designs. As a result of this internship, I learned the intricacies of Creo and Autodesk CFD, the process of filing a patent, and how to effectively collaborate with engineers from various disciplines in a laboratory setting.

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Nilsson-Salvati , Chiara ’22

PROJECT

Synthesis of Nanosized Portlandite for Carbon Capture

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Sustainable Cements Group, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Claire White, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment; Maria Curria, Ph.D. candidate, Civil and Environmental Engineering

I worked on synthesizing a compound that could efficiently capture gaseous carbon dioxide from fossil fuel-burning power plants, which could greatly mitigate their environmental impact. I attempted to form nanosheets of portlandite crystals, which prior research in the White lab predicted would be good candidates for carbon capture. Based on published studies, I developed a procedure for separating the crystals into layers one-molecule thin. I analyzed the portlandite’s structure at different experimental stages using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and prepared a report on my findings to guide further attempts in the group to create nanosized portlandite. I experienced academic research firsthand by working closely with my mentors and using high-level scientific instruments normally unavailable to undergraduate students. My work involved materials science, a discipline in the chemical and biological engineering major, providing me with insight as I decide which track to pursue.

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Oh, Jae Won ’21

PROJECT

Synthesis of Nanosized Portlandite for Carbon Capture

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Sustainable Cements Group, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Claire White, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment; Maria Curria, Ph.D. candidate, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Certificate(s): Applications of Computing, Sustainable Energy

I researched the viability of nanosized portlandite as an efficient material for carbon capture. Portlandite, the crystalline form of calcium hydroxide, is a very accessible and well-known material already used for carbon capture, but the energy requirement for desorption (the release of captured carbon) is significant, which reduces its viability for industrial-scale implementation. Previous simulations done in the White lab have shown that a monolayer of portlandite could reduce the energy intensity of desorption. My work involved assessing the presence of nanosize crystallites in commercially available portlandite by sieving the material and running an X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. I also worked to develop a method of synthesizing nanosized portlandite crystals to further study their carbon-capture ability. By running a thermogravimetric analysis on the samples, I studied each sample’s hydration and carbonation at room temperature, as well as the rate at which desorption occurred for different sizes of portlandite. Through this internship, I reaffirmed my interest in energy and the environment while learning research skills and experimental design.

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Ruano Arens, Cristian ’22

PROJECT

Investigation of Ash Removal from Fusion Reactors via Palladium Membranes

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Samuel Cohen, Director, Program in Plasma Science and Technology, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory; Bruce Koel, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University; Shota Abe, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University

Certificate(s): Materials Science and Engineering

My internship involved helping to develop processes that could extend the usefulness of fusion as a clean-energy source. The combination of deuterium and helium-3 is being studied as a potential fuel for fusion reactors as it does not produce high-energy neutrons. However, deuterium can react with itself and fuse to produce a tritium atom, which can subsequently fuse with another deuterium atom to produce a high-energy neutron that can damage reactor walls and weaken plasma strength. Thus, tritium must be removed from the plasma. My project explored palladium foil as a possible membrane material to separate hydrogen and helium isotopes and remove tritium ash. My primary activity was to service the high-vacuum chamber, including venting the chamber and manually adding and removing various machines such as plasma sources, mass spectrometers, and a cylindrical mirror analyzer. After this internship, I have a better understanding of the functionality and fragility of high-vacuum chambers, plasma sources, and mass transport. My project has exposed me to the field of surface analysis and I am now considering studying surface science or plasma-materials interactions in graduate school.

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Scott-Young, Ellen ’20

Anthropology

PROJECT

New Solar Product Market Research and Launch

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

BoxPower Inc.- Grass Valley, California

MENTOR(S)

Anderson Barkow, Co-Founder and Vice President of Finance, BoxPower Inc.; Angelo Campus, Founder and CEO, BoxPower Inc.

Certificate(s): Environmental Studies

As a business development intern, my primary objective was to develop a go-to-market strategy for BoxPower’s new solar product, which is
a smaller version of the company’s original solar microgrid product. I conducted market research to understand if this new product would be successful, investigating possible customer verticals and creating compelling value propositions. In addition to strategy development, I also helped increase the company brand name through social media management, writing accelerator-fund applications, and shooting pitch videos. Working in green technology was incredibly rewarding and reaffirmed my dedication to an environmentally conscious career. I am now looking into pursuing consulting, an MBA or a career in the energy sector.

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Stamps, Walker ’22

Economics

PROJECT

Solar Market Strategy, Business Development Intern

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

BoxPower Inc.- Grass Valley, California

MENTOR(S)

Anderson Barkow, Co-Founder and Vice President of Finance, BoxPower Inc.; Angelo Campus, Founder and CEO, BoxPower Inc.

As a business development intern, I worked to create a go-to-market strategy for BoxPower’s new trailerized/palletized solar generator. The generator was designed with the help of the interns as a replacement to current diesel or gasoline generators that are used in off-grid locations. I conducted outreach through phone calls, emails, and attending a business conference and networking. I also conducted secondary research to determine value propositions, the competitive landscape, barriers to entry and market feasibility. I worked to create a financial calculator to determine the savings customers would gain from using the generator. I learned about the cost-effectiveness of solar microgrids, the current users and their dependence on diesel/gasoline generators, and how firms and industries are moving towards becoming sustainable. This internship gave me a new perspective on solar energy and its future. I plan to continue working in a position where I can advance the principles of environmental stewardship and carbon-neutral power generation.

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Thai, Ethan ’21

PROJECT

Electrical Engineering and Design of High-Rate Recharging Vehicles

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Lightening Energy - Dover, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Eric Materniak, Energy Systems Manager, Lightening Energy

Certificate(s): Technology and Society

My internship provided an opportunity to connect the electrical engineering topics of circuitry, devices and energy storage to the environment of a company. I worked on a project concerning battery management and other energy-storage systems. I learned and practiced financial modeling for the business, and I learned how to apply technical research in a business setting. Furthermore, I got the chance to work closely with mechanical engineers to see the different components of a single project. Being in a small team, the contributions I made to the financial analysis felt meaningful and clear in their importance to the company. Getting insight into how engineers work in the world of industry, especially in a small-business setting, made me want to pursue more courses at the intersection of business and engineering, and work in industry in the future.

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To, Hannah ’22

PROJECT

Financial Modeling and Optimization for Electric-Mobility Business

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Lightening Energy - Dover, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Eric Materniak, Energy Systems Manager, Lightening Energy

I interned as a financial modeling and optimization intern at Lightening Energy. I worked on and created financial models to project different values for a commercial expansion, such as revenue and return on investment. I worked with a model called BatPaC that took inputs such as battery chemistry, cell capacity, the size of the battery produced, and labor and production costs to estimate the cost of the battery. Using these models, I was able to create the financial projections for revenue and other indexes that we used in presentations for investors. I created a pitch deck that served as a summary of the company, project and financials. In this role, I was able to learn a lot about
the battery market, and I also expanded my understanding of how companies calculate their financials and analyze future earnings.

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Torrens, Kai ’22

Undeclared

PROJECT

Clean, Small Fusion Reactors

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory- Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Samuel Cohen, Director, Program in Plasma Science and Technology, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

I studied the movement of gas within the Princeton Field-Reversed Configuration (PFRC), an experimental plasma-energy device at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). As this gas fuels the plasma within the PFRC, understanding its movement is key to understanding the plasma’s behavior and moving towards the goal of safe, clean fusion energy. I investigated this effect experimentally, taking data from our nine pressure sensors during biweekly experimental runs, then subtracting noise from these data, analyzing them, and sharing them weekly with the rest of our team. I supplemented this work with theoretical calculations of gas conductance. I used these calculations to develop a simple program in Python to model gas flow within the PFRC and compare the model’s predictions to experimental data. I learned valuable skills in data analysis and coding, and I gained an appreciation for the breadth of plasma physics through PPPL’s intensive weeklong introductory course. I also discovered the satisfaction of digging deeper into a complicated problem and the joy of collaboration. This summer gave me exciting insight into fascinating problems I would love to return to.

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Urban Adaptation and Resiliency

Ajayi, Tobi ’22

PROJECT

Day's End — Ecological Research and Curriculum Development*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Princeton University School of Architecture; Guy Nordenson and Associates- New York City, New York

MENTOR(S)

Guy Nordenson, Professor of Architecture, Princeton University; Gina Morrow, Guy Nordenson and Associates

Certificate(s): Environmental Studies, Visual Arts

My goal was to collect archival audio and video data to build a visual understanding of the history of the Day’s End sculpture being constructed at New York City’s Hudson River piers by Guy Nordenson and Associates and the Whitney Museum of American Art. The sculpture serves as a monument to the site’s rich industrial, immigrant and maritime history. The footage and audio I collected will be used in the production of educational materials surrounding the installment. It was important to not only document the construction proccess and research the site’s historical significance, but also explore various avenues so that this research could be presented to the Whitney in the most effective and engaging way. The skills gained in curating informative multimedia tools will undoubtedly be valuable as I continue to explore how visual arts and spatial representations can be used to engage, educate and inform communities.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Urban Grand Challenges project, “Urban Adaptation to Climate Change.”

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Castaneda, Sierra ’20

PROJECT

Methane Emissions from Wastewater Treatment Plants: Implications for Resource Recovery and Climate Mitigation

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Atmospheric Chemistry and Composition Group, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Mark Zondlo, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Certificate(s): Environmental Studies

I took measurements of greenhouse gases, methane and carbon dioxide in and around wastewater treatment plants throughout
New Jersey using the Princeton Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (PACE), a vehicle equipped with trace-gas and meteorological sensors. Concentration profiles downwind of the plants were incorporated into a Gaussian plume-dispersion model to predict emission rates of these trace gases and estimate uncertainties. Because downwind trace-gas profiles are extremely variable due to atmospheric turbulence, repeated transects were conducted over a range of meteorological conditions. I investigated the use of an aerial source dispersion model to more accurately calculate emissions from tanks and other distribution sources. Quantifying emissions can inform the regulation of trace gases that impact air quality and climate, and can be useful to wastewater treatment plants in resource recovery, such as capturing methane. I gained problem-solving skills, experience collecting field data, and data-processing skills in MATLAB that were extremely valuable as I expand on these preliminary results for my senior thesis.

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Chen, Jessica ’22

PROJECT

Princeton Community GHG Emission Reduction Analysis

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Sustainable Princeton- Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Eric Larson, Senior Research Engineer, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University; Christine Symington, Program Director, Sustainable Princeton

I conducted research on calculating the emission-reduction potential of specific actions in the borough of Princeton’s Climate Action Plan (CAP). As climate change becomes a global problem that affects multiple sectors of life, communities such as Princeton have begun
to set goals to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions. I worked with Sustainable Princeton, the non-profit organization spearheading the CAP, performing calculations from spreadsheets showing emission projections until 2050. I used those data to create and add to the CAP’s methodology section, which explains the procedure behind the greenhouse gas emission calculations. At Sustainable Princeton, I met many dedicated people who have inspired me to continue incorporating sustainability into what I do. I hope to use this knowledge to obtain certificates that are related to sustainability, such as sustainable energy or environmental studies. In addition, as a civil and environmental engineering major, I hope to focus on green building within communities to lessen the impacts that the crisis of climate change has on the world.

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Choi, Hee Joo ’21

PROJECT

Adding Nanoparticles to Metakaolin-based Geopolymers

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Sustainable Cements Group, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Claire White, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment; Christine Pu, Ph.D. candidate, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Certificate(s): Materials Science and Engineering

I worked on synthesizing nanoparticles of zeolites to investigate their effect on the strength and durability of metakaolin-based geopolymer cements. This is important because producing geopolymers releases less carbon dioxide than producing the cement we use today. The nanozeolites are added to the geopolymer in hopes of increasing its endurance by acting as crystalline seeds that more crystals grow
on. I synthesized various zeolites, milled them down to the desired nanosize, and used characterization machinery such as dynamic light scattering (DLS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to verify the particle’s identity and size. I loved having the opportunity to find relevant papers, try to replicate the procedures they described, and learn about an exciting alternative to cement. My internship allowed me to explore up-to-date research on eco-friendly cement materials and truly appreciate the dedication and time put forth in the research process.

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Collins, Joseph ’20

PROJECT

Noise Pollution, Barriers, Health, Equity and the City*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Form Finding Lab, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey; Trenton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Sigrid Adriaenssens, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering; M. Christine Boyer, William R. Kenan Jr., Professor of Architecture

Certificate(s): Urban Studies

The Princeton Engineers Without Borders-Kenya team has been collaborating with the Kuria West district of southwest Kenya since 2012. Since then, the team has designed and implemented three rainwater catchment systems in the communities of Komosoko and Muchebe and two handpump borehole wells in Kiburanga and Kubweye. This year, we expanded the Kubweye system by constructing a distribution system powered by a solar-powered submersible pump. We also conducted house surveys in Kubweye and had formal meetings with members from other communities as part of our commitment to the sustainability of these projects. During our trip, we worked alongside contracted workers and community volunteers to overcome the challenges of implementing a water system. As a team of students from diverse backgrounds, this project helped inspire our future academic aspirations at Princeton and we hope to continue increasing our impact in the community to provide access to water.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Urban Grand Challenges project, “Noise Pollution, Barriers, Health, Equity and the City.”

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Dai, Allen ’22

Undeclared

PROJECT

Methane Emissions from Wastewater Treatment Plants: Implications for Resource Recovery and Climate Mitigation

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Atmospheric Chemistry and Composition Group, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Mark Zondlo, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Nathan Li, Ph.D. candidate, Civil and Environmental Engineering; Da Pan, Ph.D. candidate, Civil and Environmental Engineering

I investigated methane emissions from wastewater treatment plants, which, along with agricultural-waste systems, produce a significant and rapidly increasing percentage of global methane, nitrous oxide and ammonia emissions. I participated in fieldwork to help quantify these emissions by driving a mobile lab topped with trace-gas sensors around wastewater treatment plants for several transects on a weekly basis. After gathering these raw data, I parsed and organized them for ease-of-use before post-processing in MATLAB. I also wrote scripts to visualize the data in Google Earth. I gained a lot of valuable experience in data analysis, conducting field experiments, observing and analyzing atmospheric processes, and working as part of a team. The work I participated in has made me curious about how research informs and drives policy, and I definitely want to learn more about how to support policy changes aimed at creating a cleaner environment.

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Fleury, Maria ’22

PROJECT

Norm Dynamics as Agents of Social Change and Environmental Sustainability*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Behavioral Science for Policy Lab, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Elke Weber, Gerhard R. Andlinger Professor in Energy and the Environment, Professor of Psychology and Public Affairs; Johanna Matt-Navarro, Research Lab Manager, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment; Alicia Cooperman, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies; Sara Constantino, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Woodrow Wilson School

My research focused on identifying social norms surrounding the implementation of offshore wind-energy projects in New Jersey. As part of the larger Rapid Switch project at Princeton, which looks at the fast decarbonization of India and the United States, our goal was to understand potential bottlenecks in the rapid transition to renewable energy. This included market research on the offshore wind-energy sector, mapping out and interviewing stakeholders, conducting fieldwork in Atlantic City and coding for social norms. I worked closely with our lab manager and postdoctoral fellows and presented findings in lab meetings. This experience helped develop my communication skills, and provided me with great insight into the social complexity of implementing such large-scale projects and deepened my interest in the societal part of engineering.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Urban Grand Challenges project, “Norm Dynamics as Agents of Urban Social Change and Environmental Sustainability: Investigating Cross-Cultural Differences and Longevity of Intervention.”

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Fong, Ariane ’20

PROJECT

Flooding Infrastructure in the Venetian Lagoon*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Princeton University School of Architecture; Guy Nordenson and Associates; LTL Architects (Lewis. Tsurumaki. Lewis) - New York City, New York

MENTOR(S)

Guy Nordenson, Professor of Architecture, Princeton University; Paul Lewis, Professor of Architecture, Princeton University

Certificate(s): Urban Studies

My project investigated the island of Mazzorbo in the northern lagoon of Venice, Italy, ecologically, anthropologically and architecturally, culminating in a body of research for a graduate course in the Princeton School of Architecture. The course presents an urgency for housing in the Venetian lagoon and asks students to design social housing for Mazzorbo. While collecting general background information about Venice and Mazzorbo, my research also tracked the political and architectural precedent for postwar social housing in the lagoon. I further elucidated the precarious ecological state of the lagoon due to the increased severity of acqua alta (high waters), the MOSE floodgates, and tourism pressure on Venice, and suggested opportunities for an architectural response. Following the research phase, I mapped the island of Mazzorbo to generate a rough topobathymetric model of the lagoon comprising both the island and the seafloor surrounding the island.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Urban Grand Challenges project, “Venice: Amphibious Hotel.”

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Ge, Frank ’22

PROJECT

Hurricane Impact on Seismograms*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

GuyotPhysics, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University

MENTOR(S)

Princeton, New Jersey

I studied the links between seismology and weather with a focus on two primary projects. The first was developing an algorithm that would track the current locations of ocean seismometers given their past locations; the second was developing methods to visualize and research the effect of hurricanes on the seismic data produced by the Guyot Hall seismometer. This experience taught me many lessons in data science, allowing me to become more familiar with scripting in MATLAB and signal processing. This internship encouraged me to pursue
more programming projects in the future and opened my eyes to the intriguing possibilities of research.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Urban Grand Challenges project, “Guyot Physics: Princeton University as an Urban Science Node.”

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Golev, Oleg ’22

PROJECT

Norm Dynamics as Agents of Social Change and Environmental Sustainability*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Behavioral Science for Policy Lab, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Elke Weber, Gerhard R. Andlinger Professor in Energy and the Environment, Professor of Psychology and Public Affairs; Johanna Matt-Navarro, Research Lab Manager, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment; Alicia Cooperman, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies; Sara Constantino, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Woodrow Wilson School

With two other interns, I researched the bottlenecks to offshore wind-energy implementation in New Jersey. This project is part of the larger Rapid Switch project at Princeton, which examines the rapid decarbonization of India and the United States. Our research not only explored the public’s perceptions of modern renewables in New Jersey, but also provided a basis for comparison with these issues overseas. To compile reports, I conducted web research, stakeholder analysis, cold calling, fieldwork in Atlantic City, and interviews with high-level stakeholder officials. I gained numerous soft skills that are invaluable both personally and professionally. I also learned a lot about the offshore wind-energy market players, the complexity of tackling policy issues related to innovative renewables, the importance of social norms in defining individual perspectives, and the difficulty of engaging the populace in sustainability efforts. I gained valuable skills that will be applicable anywhere I go.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Urban Grand Challenges project, “Norm Dynamics as Agents of Urban Social Change and Environmental Sustainability: Investigating Cross-Cultural Differences and Longevity of Intervention.”

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Gonzalez , Victoria ’21

PROJECT

Day's End — Ecological Research and Curriculum Development*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Princeton University School of Architecture; Guy Nordenson and Associates- New York City, New York

MENTOR(S)

Guy Nordenson, Professor of Architecture, Princeton University; Gina Morrow, Guy Nordenson and Associates

Certificate(s): Environmental Studies

I worked on providing both context and content for a podcast series that the Whitney Museum of American Art is creating to accompany its newest sculpture, Day’s End, being carried out in conjunction with Guy Nordenson and Associates. My fellow intern and I collected historic audio and video related to the Hudson River’s Pier 52, including its markets, transportation and ecology. In order to best present our findings to the museum director, staff and podcast team, we created thematic and curated maps, online and on paper, each with points containing descriptions and links to the information we found. We also created a book of historical transcriptions and an online map of “now and then” pictures of the area to illustrate gentrification. Finally, we created QR cards to simplify access to our online information. Our work will help explain the context of Day’s End, justify its role as one of New York City’s newest monuments and explain the historical significance of the surrounding community.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Urban Grand Challenges project, “Urban Adaptation to Climate Change.”

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Hayashi, Shoichi ’22

PROJECT

Urban Lead Monitoring Program in Trenton, New Jersey*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Princeton-Isles Lead Lab, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey; Trenton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

John Higgins, Associate Professor of Geosciences; Jack Murphy, Ph.D. candidate, Geosciences; Nicolas Slater, Research Specialist, Geosciences

Certificate(s): Architecture and Engineering

I worked on an ongoing project to provide free lead testing of residential water and of paint and soil to low-income communities in Trenton. The team and I used a mass spectrometer to analyze water samples for a variety of lead isotopes that we could use to trace lead contamination back to the source. We created additional mapping of the concentration data and lead-ratio data so that observations could be made about the distribution of lead contamination in central New Jersey. I gained experience in the lab, in Microsoft Excel and with team collaboration that has increased my dexterity in these areas. In addition, serving less fortunate communities ties in to my goal as a civil engineer to help improve living conditions in developing nations. With this in mind, I seek to engage in future internships where I can widen my skills and pursue that goal.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Urban Grand Challenges project, “Anthropogenic Lead in the Urban Environment.”

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Lehmann, Rafi ’20

History

PROJECT

Fluvial Metropolis

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Fluvial Metropolis Group, Princeton University School of Architecture and the Department of Architecture and Urbanism, University of São Paulo - São Paulo, Brazil

MENTOR(S)

Mario Gandelsonas, Class of 1913 Lecturer in Architecture, Professor of Architecture, Princeton University; Alexandre Delijaicov, Professor of Architecture and Urbanism, University of São Paulo

Certificate(s): Urban Studies

I lived in São Paulo serving as the liaison between Princeton’s School of Architecture (SoA) and the University of Sao Paulo’s Faculdade
de Arquitetura e Urbanismo (FAU) as they prepared the second book from the yearslong Fluvial Metropolis research initiative, which explores the interplay between urban design and natural waterways. I worked with the faculty in São Paulo to collect, edit and translate papers for publication. I also developed a map of key locations in São Paulo to be photographed for the book. In my spare time, I shadowed a few FAU graduate students to learn about local fluvial design projects. Additionally, the faculty at FAU gave me one-on-one lessons on the history of the city’s water infrastructure, as well as general advice on my senior thesis project. Through this internship, I learned about the complexities of academic publishing, international collaboration and urban water infrastructure. I also was able to explore São Paulo and experience its history, architecture and culture.

Li, Doris ’22

PROJECT

Guyot Hall Earthquake Catalog*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

GuyotPhysics, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University- Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Frederik Simons, Professor of Geosciences; Jessica Irving, Assistant Professor of Geosciences

I studied seismology and its various applications in other fields of science. I primarily performed data analysis with my internship consisting
of two main parts. In the first half, I focused on creating a program that would predict the locations of certain ocean seismometers based on location files of previous floats. This was done to assist a project launched toward the end of the summer and help in data collection. The second half consisted of programming a catalog of seismic data from the seismometer located in Guyot Hall. I used an online earthquake database (IRIS) to find the times and locations of earthquakes, match them with Princeton data, and graph the data according to the epicentral distance to the event. I greatly expanded my skill set and knowledge of geosciences, data analysis and computer science. I learned more computing languages and gained insight into signals and systems and statistics. I see myself performing data analysis and using the numerous techniques I have acquired from this internship in the future.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Urban Grand Challenges project, “Guyot Physics: Princeton University as an Urban Science Node.”

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Lichtblau, Aaron ’21

PROJECT

Noise Pollution and Barriers*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Form Finding Lab, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey; Trenton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Sigrid Adriaenssens, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Jessica Flores, Ph.D. candidate, Civil and Environmental Engineering

I worked on reducing noise pollution from traffic in urban areas. I investigated the noise-reduction properties of a few curved-crease folding-wall patterns, which fold along curved lines in order to deflect sound waves from oncoming traffic. Because my findings illustrated that the patterns were not suited to outdoor noise reduction, the emphasis of my project shifted to indoor noise reduction. I was able to start the design of a hanging, curved-crease folding noise reducer. I also wrote a blog article on the potential uses of curved-crease folding in engineering applications. This experience taught me how to work in multiple software applications for computer-aided design (CAD), including Rhinocerous 3D and its plugin, Grasshopper 3D. I also learned how to design and run computer modeling experiments. I hope to ultimately use my new programming and experiment-design skills at an engineering firm.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Urban Grand Challenges project, “Noise Pollution, Barriers, Health, Equity and the City.”

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Lovgren, Chase ’21

PROJECT

Storm-Surge Barriers and Jamaica Bay*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Form Finding Lab, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey; Trenton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Sigrid Adriaenssens, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

I worked with another intern to collect, analyze, and arrange data into digital maps with a narrative format for a project to implement storm-surge barriers in Jamaica Bay, New York City. We learned how to use ArcGIS Pro and other ESRI online applications to arrange the datasets, which we collected primarily through the U.S. Census Bureau. Additionally, our work consisted of interviewing stakeholders in coastal protection and design in order to gather a complete and multifaceted understanding of the decision-making dynamics in play. We interviewed experts from the New York City Mayor’s Office of Resiliency, the Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay, and Princeton researchers studying environmental policy. With our collected data and interview content, we provided new perspectives with which to approach organizations such as the Regional Plan Association — which has been responsible for significant public works projects in New York City — with proposals for this project.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Urban Grand Challenges project, “Novel Deployable Storm Surge Protection for Coastal Cities.”

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Mwesigwa, Peter ’21

PROJECT

Oceanic Seismology with the MERMAID Project*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

GuyotPhysics, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Frederik Simons, Professor of Geosciences; Jessica Irving, Assistant Professor of Geosciences

Certificate(s): Statistics and Machine Learning

I worked on the MERMAID project, an acronym for Mobile Earthquake Recorders in Marine Areas by Independent Divers. Each MERMAID float is a mobile seismometer that drifts freely in the ocean, diving to record seismic activity in the ocean bed and surfacing periodically
to report observations. I continued work I began in 2018 programming a mobile app that displays information received from the floats.
I also helped plan a deployment of more floats in the Pacific Ocean. With another student, I designed an algorithm that predicts a float’s future position using its past reported locations, which led to the interception of a MERMAID float and physically retrieving its data. I gained an appreciation for MATLAB, as well as for generating regression models using linear, quadratic and sinusoidal functions. I also gained a deeper understanding of mobile-app development for iOS using Xcode and the process of preparing an application for release on the App Store. I plan to continue working on the app in preparation for its release, and I’m also considering extracting an independent project from my experience.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Urban Grand Challenges project, “Guyot Physics: Princeton University as an Urban Science Node.”

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Schassler, Katharine ’21

PROJECT

Storm-Surge Barriers and Jamaica Bay*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Form Finding Lab, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey; Trenton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Sigrid Adriaenssens, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Certificate(s): Urban Studies

I worked on a project involving inflatable storm-surge barriers, a dynamic and largely still-emerging approach to coastal resiliency. Specifically, I helped the group understand how academic engineers can bridge the gap between theory and research to build structures that address environmental catastrophes. I interviewed community partners in a particularly susceptible region of New York City called Jamaica Bay, as well as a representative of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Resiliency. I learned and used ArcGIS to map Federal Emergency Management Agency floodplains within this region, motivating future work and development of that technology to service this community. During my work, I honed the skills to navigate interdisciplinary research by communicating with engineers, civic officials and community organizers alike, and I developed an understanding of the relationship research groups have to the real world. My work also provided concrete jumping-off points for future directions of the project, specifically notes on a potential pilot site and additional collaborators.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Urban Grand Challenges project, “Novel Deployable Storm Surge Protection for Coastal Cities.”

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Shi, Yunzi ’20

PROJECT

Liquid Landscapes: Meadowlands Through the Cine Lens

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Fluvial Metropolis Group, Princeton University School of Architecture and the Department of Architecture and Urbanism, University of São Paulo - Lyndhurst, New Jersey; Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Mario Gandelsonas, Class of 1913 Lecturer in Architecture, Professor of Architecture, Princeton University; Curt Gambetta, Ph.D. candidate, Architecture

Certificate(s): Urban Studies, Visual Arts

I directed a short film as part of the Fluvial Metropolis Research Network’s installation at the 12th International Architecture Biennale in São Paulo. The installation presented case studies of public spaces and everyday experiences related to water infrastructure in New York and New Jersey. My film focused on DeKorte Park in the New Jersey Meadowlands, a remediated recreational site and tidal salt marsh where many landfills used to be. Through a motion-picture collage of the infrastructure, wildlife and human activities in the park, my film drew attention to the changing landscape in the Meadowlands as a result of urban development and climate change. It also addressed the multiple agencies — human and non-human — involved in creating the documentary narrative of the changes taking place. My work included researching the history of the region, conducting interviews and filming on site, and editing and producing the film. I was challenged and inspired to explore the possibilities of communicating architectural research through cinematography. This internship reinforced my interest in landscape architecture and filmmaking, which I plan to develop further in my visual arts thesis installation.

Water and Health

Adkins, Caroline ’22

PROJECT

Potable-Water System Implementation for El Cajuil

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton Chapter, Dominican Republic- El Cajuil, Dominican Republic

MENTOR(S)

Peter Jaffe, William L. Knapp ’47 Professor of Civil Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University; Nolan Perreira, Responsible Engineer in Charge, EWB

We traveled to the Dominican Republic to continue implementing a plan for providing a gravity-fed potable water system to El Cajuil, a predominantly agricultural community. In previous years, the team installed chlorination and filtration systems, air-release valves and an additional section of pipeline to support equal access to safe, clean water throughout the community. This year, the team worked to improve the system by surveying the land for future water sources, chlorinating the existing water source, and protecting the existing infrastructure for increased sustainability. Additionally, the team worked to implement a break pressure tank to increase the flow rates of water within the community. This tank will provide an optimal tie-in point for our future project of connecting the community to an additional water source. Throughout the project, the team not only fulfilled the main Engineers Without Borders mission of finding an engineering solution to provide access to potable water, but also promoted sustainability and long-term community connections.

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Ahner, Kristen ’22

PROJECT

The Implementation of a Gravity-Fed Potable Water System in Pusunchás, Perú

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton Chapter, Peru- Otuzco, Peru

MENTOR(S)

Peter Jaffe, William L. Knapp ’47 Professor of Civil Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University; Corrie Kavanaugh, Technical Mentor, EWB; Josh Umansky, Technical Mentor, EWB

Certificate(s): Applied and Computational Mathematics

The Princeton Engineers Without Borders-Perú team finalized the implementation of a gravity-fed water system in Pusunchás, Perú, which provides the rural community with reliable access to potable water. The project collects water from a mountain spring and brings it via a
3-kilometer conduction line to a centralized reservoir tank. From the reservoir, three major distribution lines deliver that water directly to tap stands placed at each household. In August, seven students traveled for four weeks to connect the remaining houses to the distribution network, instruct the community water council on proper system maintenance, make improvements to the source capture, and install a chlorination tank at the reservoir tank. We also took time to visit nearby communities in search of a new project that the team will return to Perú in summer 2020 to assess. The team also will travel back to Pusunchás to ensure that the project is functioning properly and that the community has the resources and knowledge to maintain the water system once our partnership has ended.

SEE PRESENTATION

Aydin, Elif ’22

PROJECT

Potable-Water System Implementation for El Cajuil

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton Chapter, Dominican Republic- El Cajuil, Dominican Republic

MENTOR(S)

Peter Jaffe, William L. Knapp ’47 Professor of Civil Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University; Nolan Perreira, Responsible Engineer in Charge, EWB

We traveled to the Dominican Republic to continue implementing a plan for providing a gravity-fed potable water system to El Cajuil, a predominantly agricultural community. In previous years, the team installed chlorination and filtration systems, air-release valves and an additional section of pipeline to support equal access to safe, clean water throughout the community. This year, the team worked to improve the system by surveying the land for future water sources, chlorinating the existing water source, and protecting the existing infrastructure for increased sustainability. Additionally, the team worked to implement a break pressure tank to increase the flow rates of water within the community. This tank will provide an optimal tie-in point for our future project of connecting the community to an additional water source. Throughout the project, the team not only fulfilled the main Engineers Without Borders mission of finding an engineering solution to provide access to potable water, but also promoted sustainability and long-term community connections.

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Bagin, Charlie ’21

PROJECT

Water Conservation Efforts in Laikipia County, Kenya

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Rubenstein Group- Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Daniel Rubenstein, Class of 1877 Professor of Zoology, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University

I worked on local farms in Laikipia County, Kenya, to aid water conservation efforts. When the Kenyan dry season rolls around, scarce water incapacitates farms and leaves cattle desperate for water. My adviser thought that implementing drip irrigation systems on these local farms instead of existing flood irrigation systems woud save hundreds of thousands of liters of water. Every day, I measured exactly how much water was being wasted, collected soil samples to be used as controls for the experiment, and interviewed farmers on the economic costs of their operations. I also checked in on the farmers every few days to ensure they were setting up their farms for the experiment and to build rapport with them. In the last days of the internship, I aggregated the data I had collected and did a cost-benefit analysis of the farmers’ operations before and after the implementation of the drip irrigation system to estimate their total profits after the experiment. I learned a lot about farming and agricultural practices, as well as about research processes and working independently.

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Barnett, Katie ’21

PROJECT

Farm Project Field Assistant

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Rubenstein Group, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University- Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Daniel Rubenstein, Class of 1877 Professor of Zoology, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Gina Talt, Sustainability Project Assistant, Office of Sustainability

Certificate(s): Materials Science and Engineering

I worked with three other interns to assess how different farming practices affect crop yield by collecting data samples from five farms located near Princeton’s campus. Each farm uses different farming techniques and we compared crop productivity using the data we collected. We used remote sensors, soil samples, insect collection, aerial surveys conducted by drone, and tracked crop sales and plant health to measure the productivity of each farm. These data also helped us track the health of the fields during the summer. The project also evaluated Princeton’s agricultural land to determine the economic and environmental benefits of transitioning from conventional farming to more sustainable practices. The field was divided into sections and different weed- and pest-control methods were used to test which plot produced the greatest yield and exhibited the best overall health. The impact of deer on crop yield was measured by cordoning off half of the plots with an electric fence, which proved to be very beneficial to crop development.

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Baskind, Abigail ’22

PROJECT

Farm Project Field Assistant

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Rubenstein Group, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University- Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Daniel Rubenstein, Class of 1877 Professor of Zoology, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Gina Talt, Sustainability Project Assistant, Office of Sustainability

My project aimed to answer two research questions: How do different farming strategies affect crop output and biodiversity, and what types of compost have the highest pasture productivity? I was tasked with collecting data through a variety of methods, including remote sensors, field measurements, deer camera traps, soil resins, and insect inventories. This internship taught me how to deal with vast and varied data in an organized manner, as haphazard data collection would only confuse the other interns and anyone else who may want to interpret it. I knew I wanted to study the relationship between agriculture and a changing climate and this internship was a good introduction. I’m excited to be able to explore this topic more in depth as I progress through my academic and professional career.

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Cantero, Yulissa ’21

PROJECT

The Implementation of a Gravity-Fed Potable Water System in Pusunchás, Perú

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton Chapter, Peru- Otuzco, Peru

MENTOR(S)

Peter Jaffe, William L. Knapp ’47 Professor of Civil Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University; Corrie Kavanaugh, Technical Mentor, EWB; Josh Umansky, Technical Mentor, EWB

The Princeton Engineers Without Borders-Perú team finalized the implementation of a gravity-fed water system in Pusunchás, Perú, which provides the rural community with reliable access to potable water. The project collects water from a mountain spring and brings it via a
3-kilometer conduction line to a centralized reservoir tank. From the reservoir, three major distribution lines deliver that water directly to tap stands placed at each household. In August, seven students traveled for four weeks to connect the remaining houses to the distribution network, instruct the community water council on proper system maintenance, make improvements to the source capture, and install a chlorination tank at the reservoir tank. We also took time to visit nearby communities in search of a new project that the team will return to Perú in summer 2020 to assess. The team also will travel back to Pusunchás to ensure that the project is functioning properly and that the community has the resources and knowledge to maintain the water system once our partnership has ended.

SEE PRESENTATION

Carlucci, Marina ’21

Sociology

PROJECT

Sustaining Diverse Income Streams in an Urban Setting: Poultry Farming and Newcastle's Disease in Antananarivo*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Metcalf Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Antananarivo, Madagascar

MENTOR(S)

C. Jessica Metcalf, Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs, Woodrow Wilson School; Fidisoa Rasambainarivo, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Princeton Environmental Institute

Certificate(s): Certificates: Cognitive Science, Urban Studies

worked as one of five interns helping to collect data on the spread of Newcastle’s disease among small-scale poultry farms in Madagascar. We spent the majority of our time in the capital of Antananarivo traveling to markets around the city to survey poultry vendors and collect tracheal, cloacal and fecal samples from their chickens. In the lab, we isolated DNA from the samples and analyzed our data using computer modeling. Through this internship, I learned about coding in R programming language, laboratory skills such as pipetting, and what food security means for the people of Madagascar. I also began to comprehend the socioeconomic interactions between groups of people living in a developing country, which interested me greatly as I’m studying sociology in urban contexts. Being able to administer a survey and analyze the data collected made me realize how useful those results can be, and I want to continue to use the skills I learned in my independent work.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Urban Grand Challenges project, “Sustaining Diverse Income Streams in an Urban Setting.”

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Chizewer , Jeremy ’22

PROJECT

Potable-Water System Implementation for El Cajuil

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton Chapter, Dominican Republic- El Cajuil, Dominican Republic

MENTOR(S)

Peter Jaffe, William L. Knapp ’47 Professor of Civil Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University; Nolan Perreira, Responsible Engineer in Charge, EWB

We traveled to the Dominican Republic to continue implementing a plan for providing a gravity-fed potable water system to El Cajuil, a predominantly agricultural community. In previous years, the team installed chlorination and filtration systems, air-release valves and an additional section of pipeline to support equal access to safe, clean water throughout the community. This year, the team worked to improve the system by surveying the land for future water sources, chlorinating the existing water source, and protecting the existing infrastructure for increased sustainability. Additionally, the team worked to implement a break pressure tank to increase the flow rates of water within the community. This tank will provide an optimal tie-in point for our future project of connecting the community to an additional water source. Throughout the project, the team not only fulfilled the main Engineers Without Borders mission of finding an engineering solution to provide access to potable water, but also promoted sustainability and long-term community connections.

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Cho, Christine ’22

PROJECT

Mapping and Modeling Dynamics of MCR-1 and NDM-1

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

ETH Zurich; Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy- Princeton, New Jersey; Zurich, Switzerland

MENTOR(S)

Ramanan Laxminarayan, Senior Research Scholar, Princeton Environmental Institute; Thomas Van Boeckel, Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich

Certificate(s): Statistics and Machine Learning, Technology and Society

I studied the spread of MCR-1 and NDM-1, genes that make animals and humans resistant to last-resort antibiotics. Outbreaks of these genes have been detected in countries other than the genes’ origin countries, making their spread a cause of great concern. I reviewed the scientific literature to compile a dataset of outbreaks and noted factors such as the date and location of each outbreak. I then created global outbreak maps to visualize the spread of these genes over time. Finally, I created models using stochastic simulations and statistical methods to estimate parameters in order to obtain information about within-country and within-continent dynamics. I also started to run simulations of the international spread of these genes. I learned new technical skills such as mathematical modeling and also obtained greater insight into the research process and how research can catalyze change in science and policy. Because of this project, I want to continue learning about the applications of data analysis and statistics.

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Cohen, Krystal ’21

Sociology

PROJECT

The Implementation of a Solar-Powered Water System for Kuria West, Kenya

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton Chapter, Kenya - Isebania, Migori County, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Peter Jaffe, William L. Knapp ’47 Professor of Civil Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University; Mahiri Mwita, Lecturer in Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies; Larry Martin, Responsible Engineer in Charge, EWB

Certificate(s): African American Studies, Statistics and Machine Learning

The Princeton Engineers Without Borders-Kenya team has been collaborating with the Kuria West district of southwest Kenya since 2012. Since then, the team has designed and implemented three rainwater catchment systems in the communities of Komosoko and Muchebe and two handpump borehole wells in Kiburanga and Kubweye. This year, we expanded the Kubweye system by constructing a distribution system powered by a solar-powered submersible pump. We also conducted house surveys in Kubweye and had formal meetings with members from other communities as part of our commitment to the sustainability of these projects. During our trip, we worked alongside contracted workers and community volunteers to overcome the challenges of implementing a water system. As a team of students from diverse backgrounds, this project helped inspire our future academic aspirations at Princeton and we hope to continue increasing our impact in the community to provide access to water.

SEE PRESENTATION

Fletcher, Michael ’22

PROJECT

The Implementation of a Solar-Powered Water System for Kuria West, Kenya

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton Chapter, Kenya - Isebania, Migori County, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Peter Jaffe, William L. Knapp ’47 Professor of Civil Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University; Mahiri Mwita, Lecturer in Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies; Larry Martin, Responsible Engineer in Charge, EWB

The Princeton Engineers Without Borders-Kenya team has been collaborating with the Kuria West district of southwest Kenya since 2012. Since then, the team has designed and implemented three rainwater catchment systems in the communities of Komosoko and Muchebe and two handpump borehole wells in Kiburanga and Kubweye. This year, we expanded the Kubweye system by constructing a distribution system powered by a solar-powered submersible pump. We also conducted house surveys in Kubweye and had formal meetings with members from other communities as part of our commitment to the sustainability of these projects. During our trip, we worked alongside contracted workers and community volunteers to overcome the challenges of implementing a water system. As a team of students from diverse backgrounds, this project helped inspire our future academic aspirations at Princeton and we hope to continue increasing our impact in the community to provide access to water.

SEE PRESENTATION

Fleury, Maria ’22

PROJECT

The Implementation of a Solar-Powered Water System for Kuria West, Kenya

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton Chapter, Kenya - Isebania, Migori County, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Peter Jaffe, William L. Knapp ’47 Professor of Civil Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University; Mahiri Mwita, Lecturer in Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies; Larry Martin, Responsible Engineer in Charge, EWB

The Princeton Engineers Without Borders-Kenya team has been collaborating with the Kuria West district of southwest Kenya since 2012. Since then, the team has designed and implemented three rainwater catchment systems in the communities of Komosoko and Muchebe and two handpump borehole wells in Kiburanga and Kubweye. This year, we expanded the Kubweye system by constructing a distribution system powered by a solar-powered submersible pump. We also conducted house surveys in Kubweye and had formal meetings with members from other communities as part of our commitment to the sustainability of these projects. During our trip, we worked alongside contracted workers and community volunteers to overcome the challenges of implementing a water system. As a team of students from diverse backgrounds, this project helped inspire our future academic aspirations at Princeton and we hope to continue increasing our impact in the community to provide access to water.

SEE PRESENTATION

Hsu, Sydney ’21

PROJECT

The Implementation of a Gravity-Fed Potable Water System in Pusunchás, Perú

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton Chapter, Peru- Otuzco, Peru

MENTOR(S)

Peter Jaffe, William L. Knapp ’47 Professor of Civil Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University; Corrie Kavanaugh, Technical Mentor, EWB; Josh Umansky, Technical Mentor, EWB

Certificate(s): History and the Practice of Diplomacy, Robotics and Intelligent Systems

The Princeton Engineers Without Borders-Perú team finalized the implementation of a gravity-fed water system in Pusunchás, Perú, which provides the rural community with reliable access to potable water. The project collects water from a mountain spring and brings it via a
3-kilometer conduction line to a centralized reservoir tank. From the reservoir, three major distribution lines deliver that water directly to tap stands placed at each household. In August, seven students traveled for four weeks to connect the remaining houses to the distribution network, instruct the community water council on proper system maintenance, make improvements to the source capture, and install a chlorination tank at the reservoir tank. We also took time to visit nearby communities in search of a new project that the team will return to Perú in summer 2020 to assess. The team also will travel back to Pusunchás to ensure that the project is functioning properly and that the community has the resources and knowledge to maintain the water system once our partnership has ended.

SEE PRESENTATION

Hughes, Sydney ’22

PROJECT

Microfluidics for Soil Carbon

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Complex Fluids Group, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Howard Stone, Donald R. Dixon ’69 and Elizabeth W. Dixon Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; Qingjun (Judy) Yang, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

I worked on a project that examined the movement of fluids through clay soils to understand how these fluids affect bacteria that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. I contributed to the project by using a camera and small-scale artificial clay soils to image the movement of nutrient-containing fluids through the soil. I found that different sugars moved through the soil differently. For example, dextran did not flow through the soil, but glucose did. I also found that more nutrients flowed through soil that was wet intermittently as opposed to when water was applied at once. Through this experience, I learned about diffusion (the movement of something to a lesser concentration), clay soils, programming in MATLAB, and the importance of imaging. I also gained insights into working in an academic research laboratory.

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Issah, Luqman ’20

PROJECT

Electrokinetics for the Separation of Particles and Potential Water Purification

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Complex Fluids Group, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Howard Stone, Donald R. Dixon ’69 and Elizabeth W. Dixon Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; Ankur Gupta, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; Suin Shim, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

I conducted research to determine new methods for purifying water. Billions of people worldwide lack access to clean water and proper sanitation. With the human population growing rapidly, there is a need to improve water-purification technology to meet the demand for water. For my internship, I explored how electrokinetically induced diffusiophoresis would affect the transport of electrolytes out of dead-end pores. I created microfluidic channels using soft lithography techniques. In addition, I used a microscope with live imaging and a fluorescent mode to capture images that I later analyzed using ImageJ image-processing software. Through this internship, I gained experience in a myriad of laboratory techniques such as plasma treatment methods and microscopy. I also furthered my data-analysis skills and developed experience using ImageJ. This internship gave me insight into the role of multiple electrolytes in particle movement in fluids and it made me want to pursue a more research-based career path.

Iyer, Pranav ’22

PROJECT

The Implementation of a Gravity-Fed Potable Water System in Pusunchás, Perú

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton Chapter, Peru- Otuzco, Peru

MENTOR(S)

Peter Jaffe, William L. Knapp ’47 Professor of Civil Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University; Corrie Kavanaugh, Technical Mentor, EWB; Josh Umansky, Technical Mentor, EWB

The Princeton Engineers Without Borders-Perú team finalized the implementation of a gravity-fed water system in Pusunchás, Perú, which provides the rural community with reliable access to potable water. The project collects water from a mountain spring and brings it via a
3-kilometer conduction line to a centralized reservoir tank. From the reservoir, three major distribution lines deliver that water directly to tap stands placed at each household. In August, seven students traveled for four weeks to connect the remaining houses to the distribution network, instruct the community water council on proper system maintenance, make improvements to the source capture, and install a chlorination tank at the reservoir tank. We also took time to visit nearby communities in search of a new project that the team will return to Perú in summer 2020 to assess. The team also will travel back to Pusunchás to ensure that the project is functioning properly and that the community has the resources and knowledge to maintain the water system once our partnership has ended.

SEE PRESENTATION

Krishnan, Arjun ’21

PROJECT

Constrained Evolution After Spillover in Zoonotic RNA Viruses: An Investigation of Viral Evolution in Human Hosts After Human-Animal Transmission

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Levin Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Simon Levin, James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Dylan Morris, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Chadi Saad-Roy, Ph.D. candidate, Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics

Certificate(s): Linguistics, Quantitative and Computational Biology

I worked on a project investigating the trajectory of influenza evolution after a jump from animal to human hosts. My mentors and I investigated how the selective pressures of the host environment influenced adaptation and whether there was a necessary, replicable chronosequence of adaptations that followed such a jump. My internship involved computational work with virus genome data from the GISAID global database, which meant writing code in Python to extract and graphically plot trends from large sets of gene sequences. I received guidance and support on useful computational tools and on the background theory of our work from Professor Levin and the graduate students I worked with, and I gained experience writing scientific code. My work was exciting for its interesting theoretical implications and its practical applications for pandemic preparedness. I gained insight into the research process and enjoyed the lab environment. As a computer science major, this internship was valuable exposure to a more computational approach to ecology and evolutionary biology, a field I really enjoy and hope to pursue further.

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Lee, Dale ’20

PROJECT

Potable-Water System Implementation for El Cajuil

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton Chapter, Dominican Republic- El Cajuil, Dominican Republic

MENTOR(S)

Peter Jaffe, William L. Knapp ’47 Professor of Civil Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University; Nolan Perreira, Responsible Engineer in Charge, EWB

We traveled to the Dominican Republic to continue implementing a plan for providing a gravity-fed potable water system to El Cajuil, a predominantly agricultural community. In previous years, the team installed chlorination and filtration systems, air-release valves and an additional section of pipeline to support equal access to safe, clean water throughout the community. This year, the team worked to improve the system by surveying the land for future water sources, chlorinating the existing water source, and protecting the existing infrastructure for increased sustainability. Additionally, the team worked to implement a break pressure tank to increase the flow rates of water within the community. This tank will provide an optimal tie-in point for our future project of connecting the community to an additional water source. Throughout the project, the team not only fulfilled the main Engineers Without Borders mission of finding an engineering solution to provide access to potable water, but also promoted sustainability and long-term community connections.

SEE PRESENTATION

Madison, Madison ’20

PROJECT

Potable-Water System Implementation for El Cajuil

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton Chapter, Dominican Republic- El Cajuil, Dominican Republic

MENTOR(S)

Peter Jaffe, William L. Knapp ’47 Professor of Civil Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University; Nolan Perreira, Responsible Engineer in Charge, EWB

Certificate(s): Engineering Biology, Materials Science and Engineering

We traveled to the Dominican Republic to continue implementing a plan for providing a gravity-fed potable water system to El Cajuil, a predominantly agricultural community. In previous years, the team installed chlorination and filtration systems, air-release valves and an additional section of pipeline to support equal access to safe, clean water throughout the community. This year, the team worked to improve the system by surveying the land for future water sources, chlorinating the existing water source, and protecting the existing infrastructure for increased sustainability. Additionally, the team worked to implement a break pressure tank to increase the flow rates of water within the community. This tank will provide an optimal tie-in point for our future project of connecting the community to an additional water source. Throughout the project, the team not only fulfilled the main Engineers Without Borders mission of finding an engineering solution to provide access to potable water, but also promoted sustainability and long-term community connections.

SEE PRESENTATION

McHugh, Maya ’22

PROJECT

The Implementation of a Solar-Powered Water System for Kuria West, Kenya

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton Chapter, Kenya - Isebania, Migori County, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Peter Jaffe, William L. Knapp ’47 Professor of Civil Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University; Mahiri Mwita, Lecturer in Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies; Larry Martin, Responsible Engineer in Charge, EWB

Certificate(s): Latin American Studies

The Princeton Engineers Without Borders-Kenya team has been collaborating with the Kuria West district of southwest Kenya since 2012. Since then, the team has designed and implemented three rainwater catchment systems in the communities of Komosoko and Muchebe and two handpump borehole wells in Kiburanga and Kubweye. This year, we expanded the Kubweye system by constructing a distribution system powered by a solar-powered submersible pump. We also conducted house surveys in Kubweye and had formal meetings with members from other communities as part of our commitment to the sustainability of these projects. During our trip, we worked alongside contracted workers and community volunteers to overcome the challenges of implementing a water system. As a team of students from diverse backgrounds, this project helped inspire our future academic aspirations at Princeton and we hope to continue increasing our impact in the community to provide access to water.

SEE PRESENTATION

Mintah, Emmanuel ’21

PROJECT

Diffusiophoresis in 1-D Pore Geometry*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Complex Fluids Group, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Howard Stone, Donald R. Dixon ’69 and Elizabeth W. Dixon Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; Ankur Gupta, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; Suin Shim, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

My internship focused on engineering the metabolism of yeast cells to produce plant-derived chemicals necessary for pharmaceuticals. The manufacturing of plant-derived natural products is essential for a wide class of medicinal drugs, but current methods are not environmentally sustainable. Manufacturing these plant-derived natural products in yeast cells is a sustainable way to create drugs. The goal of my project was to transform yeast cells that produce 8-hydroxygeraniol, a chemical precursor to many plant-derived pharmaceuticals. I designed genes that would allow for the production of the P450 enzyme 8-hydroxylase and its reaction partners in yeast cells. Then I transformed these genes into yeast containing metabolic clustering systems that would allow the P450 enzymes to complete the oxidation reaction necessary to produce 8-hydroxygeraniol. Through this internship, I gained valuable lab experience that led me to decide that I want to pursue a graduate degree in chemical and biological engineering.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Water and the Environment Grand Challenges project,“Diffusiophoresis of Control of Particles in Water Systems.”

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Nguyen, Aaron ’22

PROJECT

Evaluating the Role of Unusual Nitrogen-Input Enzymes in the Global Nitrogen Cycle*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Zhang Lab, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Xinning Zhang, Assistant Professor of Geosciences and the Princeton Environmental Institute; Katja Luxem, Ph.D. candidate, Geosciences

I studied the effects of temperature and the partial pressure of hydrogen on various mutants of bacterial enzymes known as nitrogenase, which present a possible alternative to industrial fertilizers. Nitrogenase in agricultural soils would facilitate the microbial conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia — which is metabolized by most organisms — through a process known as nitrogen fixation. While previous studies have shown the effects of temperature and partial pressures of hydrogen on purified nitrogenase, I wanted to see if the same effects hold true inside the cell. I used an anaerobic bacteria known as Rhodopseudomonas palustris that contains various types of nitrogenase. The previously reported results held true within the cell, with increased temperatures resulting in a highter growth rate and increased partial pressures of hydrogen leading to a lower growth rate of the bacteria. I gained insight on how academic research works and, although I am interested in electrical engineering, the experience was invaluable and solidified my desire to work toward a cleaner Earth.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Climate and Energy Grand Challenges project, “Controls on Alternative N2 Fixation.”

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Prentice, Joseph ’22

Molecular Biology

PROJECT

Gonococcal Resistance and HIV Transmission in South Africa

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

National Institute for Communicable Diseases; Groote Schuur Hospital - Cape Town, South Africa; Johannesburg, South Africa; Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Ramanan Laxminarayan, Senior Research Scholar, Princeton Environmental Institute

Certificate(s): Environmental Studies

I spent seven weeks in South Africa and one week in Princeton researching the impact of gonococcal drug resistance on HIV transmission. My first week in South Africa was spent at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases to get background information on how the surveillance of sexually transmitted diseases and antibiotic resistance are conducted. I had spent the week before in Princeton researching trends in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV prevalence in South Africa, and creating a timeline for implementing treatment protocols for these diseases. After Johannesburg, I spent six weeks at the Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town researching the mechanisms through which STIs enhance the transmission of HIV and developed the mathematical models I would use for the study. Gonorrhoea became the focus of the study because it was the only STI in which there had been significant drug resistance. In addition to continuing my own research, I attended ward rounds at the hospital and helped with an antibiotic stewardship study being conducted.

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Pucurimay, Linda ’21

PROJECT

The Implementation of a Gravity-Fed Potable Water System in Pusunchás, Perú

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton Chapter, Peru- Otuzco, Peru

MENTOR(S)

Peter Jaffe, William L. Knapp ’47 Professor of Civil Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University; Corrie Kavanaugh, Technical Mentor, EWB; Josh Umansky, Technical Mentor, EWB

The Princeton Engineers Without Borders-Perú team finalized the implementation of a gravity-fed water system in Pusunchás, Perú, which provides the rural community with reliable access to potable water. The project collects water from a mountain spring and brings it via a
3-kilometer conduction line to a centralized reservoir tank. From the reservoir, three major distribution lines deliver that water directly to tap stands placed at each household. In August, seven students traveled for four weeks to connect the remaining houses to the distribution network, instruct the community water council on proper system maintenance, make improvements to the source capture, and install a chlorination tank at the reservoir tank. We also took time to visit nearby communities in search of a new project that the team will return to Perú in summer 2020 to assess. The team also will travel back to Pusunchás to ensure that the project is functioning properly and that the community has the resources and knowledge to maintain the water system once our partnership has ended.

SEE PRESENTATION

Schwab, Madison ’21

PROJECT

Sustaining Diverse Income Streams in an Urban Setting: Poultry Farming and Newcastle's Disease in Antananarivo*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Metcalf Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Antananarivo, Madagascar

MENTOR(S)

C. Jessica Metcalf, Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs; Fidisoa Rasambainarivo, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Princeton Environmental Institute

Certificate(s): Certificates: Gender and Sexuality Studies, Global Health and Health Policy

I spent the summer in Antananarivo, Madagascar, as one of five Princeton interns surveying poultry vendors and collecting biological samples from live chickens. I was jointly responsible for entering, cleaning and processing data collected from the surveys, as well as for performing DNA extractions on tracheal, cloacal and fecal samples. The aim of the project is to construct a poultry trade network within the country and — by combining survey and molecular data — identify target districts, regions or markets to inform livestock vaccination campaigns. While this has an obvious impact on food security and animal health in Madagascar, it also has implications for conservation and biodiversity. If small-scale poultry farms can reliably produce more protein for rural families, conservationists and wildlife veterinarians hope that poaching and the consumption of bushmeat will decrease. This project excited my interest in epidemiology and expanded my understanding of the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health in new and fascinating ways.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Urban Grand Challenges project, “Sustaining Diverse Income Streams in an Urban Setting.”

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Shaw, Kalil ’21

PROJECT

The Implementation of a Solar-Powered Water System for Kuria West, Kenya

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton Chapter, Kenya - Isebania, Migori County, Kenya

MENTOR(S)

Peter Jaffe, William L. Knapp ’47 Professor of Civil Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University; Mahiri Mwita, Lecturer in Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies; Larry Martin, Responsible Engineer in Charge, EWB

Certificate(s): Global Health and Health Policy

The Princeton Engineers Without Borders-Kenya team has been collaborating with the Kuria West district of southwest Kenya since 2012. Since then, the team has designed and implemented three rainwater catchment systems in the communities of Komosoko and Muchebe and two handpump borehole wells in Kiburanga and Kubweye. This year, we expanded the Kubweye system by constructing a distribution system powered by a solar-powered submersible pump. We also conducted house surveys in Kubweye and had formal meetings with members from other communities as part of our commitment to the sustainability of these projects. During our trip, we worked alongside contracted workers and community volunteers to overcome the challenges of implementing a water system. As a team of students from diverse backgrounds, this project helped inspire our future academic aspirations at Princeton and we hope to continue increasing our impact in the community to provide access to water.

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Song, Annie ’21

PROJECT

Mapping Antimicrobial Resistance in Humans in the Indian Subcontinent

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

ETH Zurich; Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy - Princeton, New Jersey; Zurich, Switzerland

MENTOR(S)

Ramanan Laxminarayan, Senior Research Scholar, Princeton Environmental Institute; Thomas Van Boeckel, Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich

Certificate(s): Applications of Computing, Global Health and Health Policy

I worked on mapping the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in people across India and surrounding countries. I first conducted a literature review and cleaned external data, then ran statistical models with covariates such as precipitation and proximity to major cities. I relied upon kriging, a spatial interpolation method, in order to use discrete AMR data from published studies to estimate AMR values at unknown points. I ran multiple models and combined their predictions using stacked generalization. Ultimately, I mapped the predicted AMR values, which allowed us to quickly identify different regions of high and low AMR. I learned and applied new knowledge about computer modeling, ensemble learning and spatial interpolation. As I am interested in the environmental contributors to health, the experience and technical skills I gained will help me with my junior- and senior-year academic work.

ten Cate, Willemijn ’21

PROJECT

Farm Project Field Assistant

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Rubenstein Group, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University- Princeton, New Jersey

MENTOR(S)

Daniel Rubenstein, Class of 1877 Professor of Zoology, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Gina Talt, Sustainability Project Assistant, Office of Sustainability

I studied agricultural productivity and biodiversity under the increasing impacts of climate change for the Princeton Farm Project. The experiment focused on a variety of farms that use conventional, organic or biodynamic practices. Each day, I worked with other interns on the project to take samples from different farms and analyze them in a lab. We placed remote sensors in each crop row to analyze precipitation, chlorophyll index, solar radiation, and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), which measures live vegetation. We also flew drones over each farm plot to give us additional NDVI values. We measured the length and weight of crops to determine the yield from each farm. This internship allowed me to collect large amounts of information and display it clearly on different platforms that can be used to conduct further analysis. I learned how important the environment is to agriculture and that farmers will have to adjust their techniques to survive in the drastic climate changes that will occur in the coming years.

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Tseitlin, Misha ’21

Woodrow Wilson School

PROJECT

Sustaining Diverse Income Streams in an Urban Setting: Poultry Farming and Newcastle's Disease in Antananarivo*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Metcalf Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Antananarivo, Madagascar

MENTOR(S)

C. Jessica Metcalf, Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs; Fidisoa Rasambainarivo, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Princeton Environmental Institute

Certificate(s): Finance, Neuroscience, Statistics and Machine Learning

I examined the spread of Newcastle’s disease and avian cholera among chickens in urban and rural Madagascar by studying vendors’ flocks at local marketplaces in and around the capital of Antananarivo. I conducted vendor surveys and collected biological samples from chickens, then conducted various biological tests, including DNA extraction, quantification and analysis. Statistical methods were used to describe and model disease transmission between urban poultry vendors. I also worked on data analysis for a lemur conservation project by looking
at the effectiveness of chicken-vaccination campaigns on preserving lemur populations otherwise targeted by local communities for food. I learned about the intricacies of fieldwork while also honing my familiarity with survey design, data collection, biological analysis, statistical comparisons and models, and other epidemiological and social science methods that will serve me well in my future independent research.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Urban Grand Challenges project, “Sustaining Diverse Income Streams in an Urban Setting.”

Vasquez-Barraza, Ivan ’22

PROJECT

Sustaining Diverse Income Streams in an Urban Setting: Poultry Farming and Newcastle's Disease in Antananarivo*

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Metcalf Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Antananarivo, Madagascar

MENTOR(S)

C. Jessica Metcalf, Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs; Fidisoa Rasambainarivo, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Princeton Environmental Institute

I participated in creating a trade-network map of the smallholder poultry farms in Madagascar that highlighted the origin and final destination of chickens that end up in markets in the capital of Antananarivo. The purpose of the trade network was to identify the chickens that were infected with deadly Newcastle’s disease — which can wipe out an entire flock — and where they came from. To create this map, the team I worked with traveled to various markets, surveyed poultry vendors, collected biological samples from chickens, and analyzed those samples in the lab. This internship taught me how to collect data and conduct research, and it introduced me to a different culture that provided me with a lot of valuable experience that I greatly enjoyed.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Urban Grand Challenges project, “Sustaining Diverse Income Streams in an Urban Setting.”

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Wagner, Riley ’20

PROJECT

The Implementation of a Gravity-Fed Potable Water System in Pusunchás, Perú

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton Chapter, Peru- Otuzco, Peru

MENTOR(S)

Peter Jaffe, William L. Knapp ’47 Professor of Civil Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University; Corrie Kavanaugh, Technical Mentor, EWB; Josh Umansky, Technical Mentor, EWB

Certificate(s): Sustainable Energy

The Princeton Engineers Without Borders-Perú team finalized the implementation of a gravity-fed water system in Pusunchás, Perú, which provides the rural community with reliable access to potable water. The project collects water from a mountain spring and brings it via a
3-kilometer conduction line to a centralized reservoir tank. From the reservoir, three major distribution lines deliver that water directly to tap stands placed at each household. In August, seven students traveled for four weeks to connect the remaining houses to the distribution network, instruct the community water council on proper system maintenance, make improvements to the source capture, and install a chlorination tank at the reservoir tank. We also took time to visit nearby communities in search of a new project that the team will return to Perú in summer 2020 to assess. The team also will travel back to Pusunchás to ensure that the project is functioning properly and that the community has the resources and knowledge to maintain the water system once our partnership has ended.

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Wang, Jocelyn ’20

PROJECT

Potable-Water System Implementation for El Cajuil

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Peter Jaffe, William L. Knapp ’47 Professor of Civil Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University; Nolan Perreira, Responsible Engineer in Charge, EWB

MENTOR(S)

Peter Jaffe, William L. Knapp ’47 Professor of Civil Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University; Nolan Perreira, Responsible Engineer in Charge, EWB

Certificate(s): Engineering Biology, Materials Science and Engineering

We traveled to the Dominican Republic to continue implementing a plan for providing a gravity-fed potable water system to El Cajuil, a predominantly agricultural community. In previous years, the team installed chlorination and filtration systems, air-release valves and an additional section of pipeline to support equal access to safe, clean water throughout the community. This year, the team worked to improve the system by surveying the land for future water sources, chlorinating the existing water source, and protecting the existing infrastructure for increased sustainability. Additionally, the team worked to implement a break pressure tank to increase the flow rates of water within the community. This tank will provide an optimal tie-in point for our future project of connecting the community to an additional water source. Throughout the project, the team not only fulfilled the main Engineers Without Borders mission of finding an engineering solution to provide access to potable water, but also promoted sustainability and long-term community connections.

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Wayner , Claire ’20

PROJECT

The Implementation of a Gravity-Fed Potable Water System in Pusunchás, Perú

ORGANIZATION / LOCATION

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton Chapter, Peru- Otuzco, Peru

MENTOR(S)

Peter Jaffe, William L. Knapp ’47 Professor of Civil Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University; Corrie Kavanaugh, Technical Mentor, EWB; Josh Umansky, Technical Mentor, EWB

Certificate(s): Environmental Studies, Sustainable Energy, Urban Studies

The Princeton Engineers Without Borders-Perú team finalized the implementation of a gravity-fed water system in Pusunchás, Perú, which provides the rural community with reliable access to potable water. The project collects water from a mountain spring and brings it via a 3-kilometer conduction line to a centralized reservoir tank. From the reservoir, three major distribution lines deliver that water directly to tap stands placed at each household. In August, seven students traveled for four weeks to connect the remaining houses to the distribution network, instruct the community water council on proper system maintenance, make improvements to the source capture, and install a chlorination tank at the reservoir tank. We also took time to visit nearby communities in search of a new project that the team will return to Perú in summer 2020 to assess. The team also will travel back to Pusunchás to ensure that the project is functioning properly and that the community has the resources and knowledge to maintain the water system once our partnership has ended.

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Woo, Michelle ’22