iUTAH Undergraduate iFellows

 

Week 1 Recap

May 15-21, 2017

 

Chase Beyer

Earlier this week, I got a quick tour of the Utah Water Research Laboratory 3rd floor lab and attended meetings with the rest of the storm water crew. We then went around the USU campus and checked out the collection wells and how they’re sampled. Thursday, we went down to Salt Lake to check out the auto-sampler there and collect samples. The sampler is super cool! I have been filtering samples and getting them prepped for metals analysis lately, which can be interesting but sometimes leads to long periods of waiting. I must order some IDEXX trays for microbe analysis and get access to the biology lab equipment, which should be doable next week. Until then, there are samples to process!

 

Earlier this week, I got a quick tour of the Utah Water Research Laboratory 3rd floor lab and attended meetings with the rest of the storm water crew. We then went around the USU campus and checked out the collection wells and how they’re sampled. Thursday, we went down to Salt Lake to check out the auto-sampler there and collect samples. The sampler is super cool! I have been filtering samples and getting them prepped for metals analysis lately, which can be interesting but sometimes leads to long periods of waiting. I must order some IDEXX trays for microbe analysis and get access to the biology lab equipment, which should be doable next week. Until then, there are samples to process!

 

 

 

Lindsay Capito

This week Mike and I were introduced to the ACWA lab at USU. The week began with introductions to the students working in the lab and a tour of the facilities. We then brainstormed with the team about what type of data we will be collecting and devised a plan for identifying potential sample sites. I read several papers to familiarize myself with the Weber River, native fish, and statistical methods used to validate models. We were trained on how to operate and calibrate the YSI probe, used for measuring dissolved oxygen, temperature, and TDS. We then ran through a demonstration with the Marsh McBurney flowmeter and measuring devices that we will use for discharge measurements. We also researched and downloaded historic elevation levels for Utah reservoirs and complied spreadsheets with the information. We may even get in the river to practice measuring discharge later today!

 

 

 

Maggie England

This week I have been working mostly to get everything in order for my project this summer. I have been working with Andy to develop a research question and gain an understanding of the problems that might be addressed in the watersheds for my project this summer. I have met with a few people to show me the resources I will need for research and data collection. I have met with Amber Jones who walked me through the GAMUT website and how to interpret the data, and with Teagan Eastman who showed me how to use the library's reference systems. I have also completed readings in relevant literature to narrow down a research focus for the summer. 

 

 

Christian Ford

The iFellow orientation on Monday was successful! I got to meet many other iFellows and make friends. The most important person I met was Jim Stagge, my near-peer mentor the summer. On Tuesday Jim was able to introduce me to my mentor for the summer Dr. David Rosenberg. Together, and with Dr. Rosenbergs research team, we were able to plan out the summer. I have spent most of the week familiarizing myself with the software we are using for our project, constructing a systems model for the Bear River. 

 

 

Michael Fowles

This week began with an introduction to the group I’ll be working with throughout the program. We met Tuesday morning to go over the initial plan and get to know each other. I worked on getting caught up to speed on the research so far and what is to come by reading several journals and published papers. I was given an introduction to several pieces of equipment we will be using this summer and was able to take them out to learn how to use them in the field. I also worked on gathering historic levels of Utah reservoirs, created a list of geomorphic indicators we can use to identify river conditions in the field, and mapped out potential sites to visit within the Weber watershed.   

 

Emily Jorgensen

This week has been a great as I’ve been able to get started on learning more about the project I’ll be working on this summer. After the first cohort session, I moved up to Logan and was able to work with my near peer mentor Betsey. She is so amazing and I have already learned so much from her! I got started on researching articles for some literature review. On Thursday we went to the historic district in Logan to practice identifying trees species in a block. Although it was very cold, I loved becoming familiar with how to identify trees. We also stopped by the county building to gather data about the property ages and market values and started a data sheet to input all the information. I also completed the IRB training and am working on a method to use in order to randomly select the blocks of which we will be sampling

 

 

 

 

Andrew Luymes

My first week as an iUTAH intern was great. This week has been all about helping me identify the research question, what has been done and learned so far, identifying the challenges going forward and helping me understand what I can contribute to the research. Our research is looking at mercury as it settles from the atmosphere as particulates onto snow. When the snow melts, the mercury moves through the ecosystem in either the soil water, or surface run off. Eventually entering the Provo river, we want to know what forms of mercury are being added from these settling particulates, and how they move through the ecosystem. My contributions to the project thus far are focused on understanding the challenges of extracting soil water. I've been looking into the literature of the subject, and talking to some of my professors to better understand the process. In preparation for our field work on Friday (5/19/17) I proposed taking soil samples that will be used to run texture and organic matter analysis, this will help us understand the soil physics, and what we need in order to extract soil water. A few additional things that I have done through the week are becoming familiar with the operating procedures of the mercury lab at BYU, and preparing bottles, instruments, and sample bags for our field day.

 

 

 

Rosanise Odell

The first week of summer research has finished! This week was mostly focused on catching up to speed and fully understanding the background of what the Anderegg lab is studying. I spent a fair amount of time reading related research papers and jotting down notes and definitions. I definitely feel like I’ve learned a semester’s worth of information on a relatively small subject. Next week will involve some training on how to use instruments to collect data for our projects.

 

 

 

Gabrielle Regenhardt

One week down, ten more to go. This first week of research and joining the iUTAH iFellows program has been stimulating and exciting. Each day has been filled with information and insights from my new colleagues and mentors in the Bowen Lab as well as readings. The first few days of the week were filled with reading as I am attempting to develop a foundational understanding of both the background of our research topic and the objectives of our research itself. Thankfully, I already feel as though I have been placed in the excellent guiding hands of my mentor Dr. Brenda Bowen and my near-peer mentor Evan Kipnis. Talking with them this week gave me a glimpse at not merely the data driven aspect of our research out in the West Desert, but provided context for the human component of our study, because if we aren't doing research or science that makes a difference for the communities we are a part of- what is the point? So, in a short five days, I have acquired a number of safety certifications, instrument use certifications, rooftop access, become acquainted with my network of mentors and peers in the Bowen Lab, and have become only more excited for this summer as an iFellow. 

 

 

 

Agatha Roese

Orientation was a blast and I learned so much about what iUTAH is all about. In my mentor’s institution I learned a lot about the bacteria that I will be researching this summer and meeting everyone who will also be in the lab researching their own projects. The next day we had a fire drill when it was snowing. But it was okay because I got to meet a lot more people in the lab who are usually to busy doing their research to talk to anyone. Later that day we had a team meeting where we did introductions and talked about what I was going to be doing this summer. I am going to be helping Erin Jones, the PhD student with her project, along with the other iFellow in what he is doing. Overall I am going to learn a lot about algae and the toxins cyanobacteria produce. Friday we got to go out on Utah lake and learn how to collect samples and what to do with them once you got them. Overall this week was amazing and I got to read a lot about different toxins and other people’s research to get myself better acquainted with what kind of research the lab is doing. I am really excited to see what else they have in store for me.

 

 

Eric Shipp

This week started off with a bang.  On my first day, I was surprised to learn that I would go directly into the field to take water samples from Deer Creek Reservoir.  We are sampling more than one water body so we can compare the environmental factors that lead to harmful algal blooms.  Because I didn’t know we were going out on the water, I didn’t bring my jacket for the wet weather we were having.  Luckily, Dylan, an iUtah employee that works with the GAMUT stations, brought an extra jacket.  It was pink, but I was dry.  The rest of the week was setting up the next round of sampling which took place on Friday at Utah Lake.  We made sure the equipment was calibrated, sample bottles were sanitized, and sample site names were clear and organized. Utah Lake on Friday was much calmer than at Deer Creek on Tuesday.  I was able to get up close to the Utah Lake water and could clearly see the difference in the water there.

 

 

Jared Stewart

May 8th-12th:
"One of the best things about being an iUTAH fellow is that I get to become a mini-expert on everything about my project.  This first week at USU has been jam packed of learning everything I can about heat waves and how human perception changes influences how people react to heat.  I've read articles on extreme heat warning communication, case studies of historic Chicago heat waves, and about how and why humans evaluate future risks differently.  

Heat waves don't seem as "wet" as some of the other iUTAH projects but they actually tie in quite well.  Understanding how people view extreme heat events and how those events are communicated through news and social media channels is important because we can then understand how to improve emergency communication within the system.  I'm hoping that my research this summer help reveal what still needs to be studied in depth within the field of risk communication."

May 15th-19th:
"I started off this week by attending the iUTAH orientation meeting at the University of Utah.  The orientation helped me to better understand the various projects underway and meet all the excellent people I'll be working with throughout the summer.  I have a feeling that the summer is going to go by fast!

Post orientation this week has been all about developing my own research questions.  One thing I noticed was that the National Weather Service occasionally shares tweets in Spanish.  From the samples I have taken from NWS tweet data it struck me that many people in each weather station jurisdiction may not speak English as their primary language.  Does the National Weather Service communicate effectively with people who speak "less than very good English"?  This summer I will use twitter data to evaluate this question.  Finding the answer for this could lead to better understanding how to save lives in hot areas of the country where people die or need rescue each year.  Building a new base of understanding risk and warning communication will help ensure that future generations will be adequately notified of water and otherwise significant events.  

This week I also learned about coding schemes.  A coding scheme is basically a detailed description and breakdown of the variables that will be looked at in a research project.  Towards the end of the week I learned the coding scheme we will be using to evaluate and study tweet data on heat warnings.

 

In addition to coding schemes I began a GIS project that will help us display visually each area served by the various weather stations and the total population served by each area.  To do this I began learning a new GIS software called QGIS.  It is similar to ArcGIS but more open source.  I'm looking forward to the coming week and getting more experience under my belt!"

 

 

 

 

Arin Towns

This week, my mentor had pressing business out of town. Keeping in touch, she instructed me to prepare sample collection procedures. We intend to test water conditions including Chlorophyll-a, Ash Free Dry Mass, Dissolved organic carbon, nutrients, TP, TN, pH, and Alkalinity. I have spent the week researching and preparing these procedures, I am very excited to dive into the field and lab work next week.

 

 

 

Desiree Wickwar

This week was full of activities and materials that were both completely and excitingly foreign and comfortingly familiar. I have been introduced to instruments, equations and techniques that I had never even heard of, let alone been directly involved with; but, I have also found ties back to coursework and past research experience to ground me and aid in my understanding of new material. I have read papers that felt completely foreign, and possibly just simply over my head; but, I have also completed tasks with which I had experience, such as working with a mass or even power tools, that I found reassuring. Perhaps most importantly though, I have met many new people, but my mentors and peers seem just as supportive, genuine and enthusiastic as those I have had in the past. I believe it is these connections, and the building of this support network, that will ensure that I feel confident and capable to take on these unfamiliar challenges that this summer has to offer. I hoped to find a way to broaden my research experience this summer, and it seems that I have found just that!