Jan 27, 2023
The Tyson Undergraduate Fellows Program provides college students the chance to work elbow-to-elbow with a mentor on current environmental research projects, along with opportunities for science communication training and professional development. Applications for summer 2023 are due on February 15.
See below for perspectives from some of last year’s undergraduate fellows!
Jenny Mann - Tick and Wildlife Ecology
WashU student Jenny Mann smiling and making a heart shape with her hands.
I applied for the program because I felt like the research projects during the summer at Tyson aligned with my own research interests. It also seemed like it was welcoming of undergraduates with varying levels of research experience, which was comforting as Tyson was my first research fellowship.
My favorite aspect of Tyson was how much I learned about different fields of ecology. My own research team taught me many skills, but interacting with the other research teams at Tyson allowed me to learn so much about different research that I was not a part of.
My summer at Tyson affects my everyday life in discreet but very important ways. The individual project really helped me solidify my thought process and taught me to easily explain my research in accessible language. This gives me a lot more confidence whenever I am explaining what I research.
Advice I would give to someone applying is to be open to new experiences. People at Tyson have so many different and interesting projects going on, and being open to trying new things is the best way to learn and get the most out of the summer.
Team shout-out?
Tick and wildlife team obviously has the coolest people!
Allison Rea - Plant Disease
WashU student Allison Rea smiling and making peace signs with her hands.
I applied for the Tyson research program because I wanted to get hands-on experience in the field. I had past experience in labs and wanted to see what it was like to do research out in the field. Not only did I get field experience but I also became more comfortable presenting and gained a better understanding of academic paper submission and review.
My favorite aspect of the summer was getting to meet so many amazing people interested in natural science and ecology. Most of the people in my classes are pre-med students or focused on health work, so it was lovely to become involved with a group of people that were more aligned with my specific interests.
The Tyson program totally changed my undergraduate experience! The program helped me connect with my current PI and begin undergraduate research. I am hopefully on track to conduct my own research project and write a senior thesis. The program also introduced me to a lot of my closest friends, and I regularly talk with a lot of the other fellows.
Don’t be afraid to try new things! I was initially worried that the summer research wouldn’t align with my interests, but it actually helped me unlock a new research focus.
Team shout-out?
Shout-out to the Penczykowski research team! The lab environment is super inviting and uplifting, and because of the amazing people involved in the research, even the most menial tasks can be fun!
Nathaniel Doty - Pawpaw Patrol
University of Virginia student Nathaniel Doty smiling and wearing a field hat.
I applied primarily because it was a natural continuation of my work in SIFT and TERA and an opportunity to continue developing relationships within the Tyson community. It gave me the opportunity to dive even further into research and study that connects me with my beloved home landscape: the forests of Missouri.
My favorite aspect of the summer was the team dynamic within our lab group. We struck the delicate balance of getting work done and having tons of fun doing it. Inside jokes, popsicles, and stretch circles were an integral part of my experience during the summer.
Coming back to school, I became a pawpaw-vangelical spreading the good news of forests and pawpaws. But now with some time away from Tyson I have realized how important it was to my conception of what I want my future career to be. Further, I have also come to appreciate the strength of the friendships I formed at Tyson as I continue to talk to many of my teammates, and our lab group chat is still very lively.
I would advise someone to take a leap out of their comfort zone when picking a lab. Tyson is a great place to explore many areas of ecology and environmental science and figure out what you do and don’t like. This summer was the second research team I’ve been on and I learned even more about what I might want to study in my upper-level courses.
Team shout-out?
Pawpaw Patrol/the ForestGEO team is the best! Nothing brings a group closer than hiking in and out of Tyson’s valleys, tagging trees, and sweating it out under the Missouri sun. But seriously, it might be hard work, but we became a little lab family by the end of it, and I wouldn’t trade that for the air-conditioned labs any day of the week.
Laura TAyon - Mosquito Team
St. Louis Community College student Laura Tayon smiling and making a peace sign with her hand.
I applied to get a better understanding of what I was interested in. I already knew that Tyson had a great community and the program would give me opportunities to learn a wide range of skills, so I knew it would be a good place to explore career options.
I enjoyed working with a diverse group of people that shared an interest in science; I think the community at Tyson is unparalleled. Tyson is also a beautiful place to work, and it gives you the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors while studying the environment.
I'm still working at Tyson, so I'd say it's impacted my daily life quite a bit! Also, the things I learned over the summer help me understand my courses on a deeper level, especially biology and chemistry.
Don't hesitate to apply. The people you'll meet and the experiences you'll have are absolutely worth it.
Team shout-out?
Mosquito team is great! We have a lot of fun over the summer, and you can study mosquitoes in ways that aren't possible with other organisms.