BYRD TAKES A DEEP DIVE INTO MARINE RESEARCH
Senior Chemistry major Allison Byrd of Sterling, IL, took advantage of an exciting research opportunity this summer— working with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science through a grant from the National Science Foundation, Byrd studied the organic matter present in different layers of sediment beneath Chesapeake Bay. Byrd’ s Research Experience for Undergraduates( REU) program also offered opportunities to visit and network with other scientists, visit national museums and aquariums, and go on a five-day research cruise in the Atlantic Ocean with other graduate students, professors, and Naval oceanographers.
“ I tell everyone who’ s interested in scientific research that they should look into applying to REU programs in areas they are interested in,” Byrd says.“ It’ s either going to help you know that this is the right field or the wrong one, so it’ s a great learning experience. Some people think that you can’ t go to a small school like UW-Platteville because you won’ t have any opportunities, but I believe it was the research experience I did at Platteville that helped me receive this opportunity. There were many students in the program from large universities, but I was able to receive this great opportunity and feel just as prepared as students from the larger universities.” We look forward to hearing all about Byrd’ s next research adventure!
Byrd’ s research will add to our knowledge of biogeochemical zonation.