Biology, Geology and Environmental Science
Chyanne Smith
Hometown: Roy, Utah
Education: B.S. in Zoology from Weber State University (Ogden, Utah), M.S. in Environmental Science from UTC
Superpower(s): Rodent wrangling & small mammal photography
Dream Job: Wildlife Biologist
- What is the focus of your research?
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My research with Dr. Loren Hayes is focused on the social organization of degus (Octodon degus), which is a rodent endemic to Chile. Degus can live either solitary, in male-female pairs, or in groups. I am exploring what drives this variable social organization in degus using a long-term dataset. Additionally, I will be giving special attention to groups containing multiple males, as this is less common in degus than other social organizations. My goal is to determine what factors might influence the formation of these multiple-male groups, as well as variable social organization as a whole for this species. This research has potential to assist in understanding the evolution of sociality in degus, as well as predict future social organization patterns.
- What inspired you to write an NSF GRFP proposal?
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I came from a small undergraduate university where not too many people are aware of these types of opportunities. So, when I was told about the NSF GRFP (by potential graduate school advisors), I thought I should at least take a chance at applying. I knew that even though I didn't come from a big university, I had worked really hard in my program and had a lot of research experience.
- What was the most challenging part of the NSF GRFP proposal process?
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I chose to write my proposal during my senior year of my undergraduate degree. So, the most challenging part was finding time to fit in my schoolwork, undergrad research, and write the proposal. However, I just kept telling myself that it would be worth it in the end. When I look back on that time, I am so glad I tried and kept with the process, because receiving the NSF GRFP has made my life easier in the end.
- How does the NSF GRFP impact your research and education?
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I don't have to worry if I will have funding or not. So, I feel secure and that allows me to focus my energy more on my research and academics. Additionally, it kind of gives me a boost in my confidence. The review board saw something in my application and that helps to motivate me, even when a task or class is difficult. Being a recipient of the NSF GRFP also has additional perks, like additional funding and mentor opportunities, which is nice.
- What advice can you give to other students about preparing research proposals?
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First and foremost, take the risk and apply. It might seem like a long/difficult process, but it's worth the effort. Make sure to read all of the instructions and really tailor your proposal to what they are looking for. Make sure to read a lot of example proposals, look for similarities between successful proposals and incorporate those similarities into your own proposal. You can reach out to others who received the fellowship for advice and search websites for proposal examples.
Thomas Wiegand
Hometown: Knoxville, TN
Education: B.S. in Environmental Science & B.A. in French from UTC, M.S. in Environmental Science from UTC
Superpower(s): I have a stellar green thumb and am bilingual
Dream Job: Plant Ecologist
- What is the focus of your research?
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My research with Dr. Jennifer Boyd focuses on the ability of rare plant species to acclimate to environmental change. Specifically, we measure plasticity of rare plant species and their common congeners in a controlled laboratory setting where we are able to simulate different environments. Our work is part of a multi-year collaboration with colleagues across the U.S. and the U.K. that is funded by the National Science Foundation. We are interested in determining the reasons for plant rarity in a broad sense, investigating how environmental factors might affect adaptive and acclimatory responses to change, especially in a world that is at increased risk due to human development and human-driven climate change. As a recipient of the GRFP, I will be working on a large-scale meta-analysis of research on the Asteraceae family, using computational techniques to determine what factors have been influential to the abundance of Asters at various spatial scales. I will also conduct a growth experiment of several Aster species of differing abundances at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia at UGA.
- What inspired you to write an NSF GRFP proposal?
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A close friend of mine, Kirsten Hein, worked in biological research with Dr. Craddock here at UTC during her undergrad. She went on to pursue a Ph.D. in Ecology at Colorado State University as a recipient of the GRFP. Seeing her receive this award after all of the hard work and countless hours she had dedicated to research made it a worthwhile goal for me. I saw my own aspirations come to life in her, and I knew that I wanted to pursue a similar path in research, so I decided to apply. Dr. Jennifer Boyd and Dr. Hope Klug helped me throughout the entire process and gave me the support I needed to get through it.
- What was the most challenging part of the NSF GRFP proposal process?
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The most challenging part was the process of rewriting. The GRFP is a notoriously competitive fellowship, and I knew all along that my writing would be heavily scrutinized. I am thankful for my mentors who provided feedback time and time again so that I could reshape my writing and ensure that it was the best it could be. This process was especially taxing, but in the end it paid off!
- How does the NSF GRFP impact your research and education?
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The GRFP will provide me with funding to support both my master's and Ph.D. programs, so this is a considerable weight off of my shoulders. Going into graduate school knowing that you as a researcher are fully funded is a blessing, and I am extremely thankful for it. This means that I can focus on my research more, and hopefully be more competitive when it comes time to apply to Ph.D. programs.
- What advice can you give to other students about preparing research proposals?
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I would suggest that students ask for those around them who are more experienced to read and re-read their writing. There will always be aspects of our writing that can use improvement, and it often takes someone with more experience to point these things out to you. Don't be scared to be judged on the quality of your writing while preparing the application, because that's exactly what reviewers will be doing when they see the final product! I would also suggest that students reach out to past winners for tips on applying
