Tullaia Powell
High School Apprentice
If all goes as planned within the next few years, Tullaia will be well on their way to becoming a vet. Already steeped in ecological research from two summers here at Tyson, they certainly have the skill set needed to make a foray into the wildlife rehabilitation they hope to do in the future.
“I specifically want to go into wildlife rehabilitation. I like the idea of taking in a wild animal and caring for it well enough to release it back into the wild. The feeling of releasing it would be very fulfilling.”
Last year, Tullaia worked in the mosquito lab, identifying species under a microscope. This year, they’re back and haven’t skipped a beat.
“For the first hour coming back I had forgotten how to do mosquito IDs. But then it clicked. Working with a mosquito in the lab is a lot different than working with a mammal. It’s on a much smaller scale. Mosquitoes are just different. They’re one of the more dangerous animals in the world. Working here in the lab, I know that what I’m doing will make an impact. It makes me more inspired to work because I’m doing it for a bigger reason.”