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Undergraduate Students Learn Research Techniques Over The Summer

Elmira, NY (07/30/2021) — Six Elmira College undergraduate students recently concluded the Obler Summer Research Program. This intensive four-week program is designed to give students a glimpse into the breadth and depth of what they would encounter in graduate and professional school.

Held virtually last year due to COVID, the program this year had students return to an on-campus residential research experience that included weekly progress reports and lunches, social outings to Wisner Market and the Ithaca Sciencenter, and final group presentations open to the mathematics and natural sciences faculty. The 25-minute slide presentations, which focused solely on the research conducted during the four-week program, included ideas for how the work could fit into a larger research program.

This year's projects are highlighted below:

Project Title: "Population dynamics, tree density and foraging strategies of white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus."

Student Researchers:

Sierra Koktowski '22
Alexis Wyckoff '23
Julia Ambrose '23
Candice Sabatino '24

Faculty Mentor: Lynn Gillie, professor of biology

Project Title: "Orbital Dynamics and the Classical Two-Body Problem."

Student Researchers:

Jeremy Andrews '21
Annabelle Schmitte '23

Faculty Mentors: Adam Giambrone, assistant professor of mathematics, and Phil Kovac, assistant professor of chemistry

"This program helps students learn how to navigate the struggles inherent to the research process, as well as celebrate the successes along the way," said Giambrone. "After a challenging year due to the pandemic, it is heartening to see students demonstrate throughout the program their ability to adapt to uncertainty and persist through setbacks."

The Obler Summer Research Program is generously supported by the Obler family, the Emerson Foundation, and Elmira College.

About Elmira College

Founded in 1855, Elmira College is a private, residential, liberal arts college offering 25-plus majors, an honors program, 17 academic societies, and 18 Division III varsity teams. Located in the Southern Finger Lakes Region of New York, Elmira's undergraduate and graduate student population hails from more than 20 states and nine countries. Elmira is a Phi Beta Kappa College and has been ranked a top college, nationally, for student internships. The College is also home to the Center for Mark Twain Studies, one of four historically significant Twain heritage sites in the U.S., which attracts Twain scholars and educators from around the world for research on the famous literary icon. Proud of its history and tradition, the College is committed to the ideals of community service, and intellectual and individual growth.

Media Attachments

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Candice Sabatino '24, Sierra Koktowski '22, Alexis Wyckoff '23, and Julia Ambrose '23 presenting their findings about the population density and foraging strategies of white-footed mice during the Obler Summer Research program.