Environmental Internship Program - 2023 Booklet
Kelih Henyo ’26 UNDECLARED FOOD SYSTEMS AND HEALTH PROJECT TITLE Health and Conservation at the Human-Domestic Animal-Wildlife Interface in Madagascar ORGANIZATION(S) Metcalf Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University LOCATION(S) Antananarivo, Madagascar; Betampona Natural Reserve, Madagascar MENTOR(S) C. Jessica E. Metcalf, Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs, Princeton University; Fidisoa Rasambainarivo, Postdoctoral Research Associate, High Meadows Environmental Institute, Princeton University I studied the interplay of environmental, wildlife and domestic animal health on the health of people in Madagascar under the “One Health” framework. Our team tested for pathogens including Bartonella, Babesia and Leptospira, and I specifically focused on Toxoplasma gondii, a foodborne and zoonotic parasite that infects roughly one in every three people globally. I aimed to map out the disease ecology of this parasite. To do this, I used sentinel rats and chickens to ascertain its prevalence in the environment at the Betampona Natural Reserve and its surrounding communities, investigated its prevalence amongst Madagascar’s native wildlife species including lemurs and carnivores and explored possible connections and eradication strategies amongst the wildlife in Madagascar. Combining ecological fieldwork and molecular biology lab work in DNA extractions and polymerase chain reaction, I sought to understand the whole organism niche level of this parasite by profiling its presence in tissue samples collected from both lemurs and carnivores. From this research experience, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for how all of life is intertwined in one collective fate and the many different angles scientific inquiry can take. I’m keen to continue studying toxoplasmosis and other diseases in the future. * This internship is connected to the HMEI Biodiversity Grand Challenges project, “Biodiversity Conservation and Health at the Human-Domestic Animal-Wildlife Interface in Madagascar.” 56
Noe Iwasaki ’26 UNDECLARED PROJECT TITLE Exploring Natural Variation of Seed Oil Content in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) for Climate-resilient Agriculture ORGANIZATION(S) Conway Lab, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University LOCATION(S) Princeton, New Jersey MENTOR(S) Jonathan Conway, Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering Okra is extremely drought tolerant and grows in hot climates; thus, it would be a suitable crop for adapting to a changing climate and higher global temperatures. It also yields a large amount of oil per hectare and could be used as a market-viable cooking oil. I worked at the Stony Ford Seed Farm to grow okra plants in preparation for further research that will measure and characterize okra seed oil. The information gleaned from this study will inform future efforts to selectively breed okra varieties for greater seed oil content. Our team planted approximately 2,000 genetically distinct okra plants at the Seed Farm. I assisted in weeding, pruning and individually labeling each okra plant. I also bagged the okra flowers to ensure that the okra were self-pollinated and not crossed with other okra varieties. Though my focus was on the okra project, I also had the opportunity to work with other researchers at the Seed Farm on their projects. Through my experience, I learned a great deal about environmentally friendly farming practices and the work it takes to sustain a farm. FOOD SYSTEMS AND HEALTH 57
- Page 5 and 6: Aidan Matthews ’24 30 Kat McLaugh
- Page 7 and 8: INNOVATION AND A NEW ENERGY FUTURE
- Page 9 and 10: PROJECT TITLE Climate-change Mediat
- Page 11 and 12: PROJECT TITLE Naturalizing the Envi
- Page 13 and 14: PROJECT TITLE Seasonal Evolution of
- Page 15 and 16: PROJECT TITLE Investigating the Str
- Page 17 and 18: Patrick Newcombe ’25 ECOLOGY AND
- Page 19 and 20: PROJECT TITLE Broad-tailed Hummingb
- Page 21 and 22: Zehao Wu ’26 ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTIO
- Page 23 and 24: Helen Brush ’24 ECOLOGY AND EVOLU
- Page 25 and 26: Tacy Guest ’26 ECOLOGY AND EVOLUT
- Page 27 and 28: Benjamin Liu ’24 COMPUTER SCIENCE
- Page 29 and 30: Maddie Machado ’25 ECOLOGY AND EV
- Page 31 and 32: Senne Michielssen ’25 COMPUTER SC
- Page 33 and 34: Peyton Smith ’25 ECOLOGY AND EVOL
- Page 35 and 36: Stella Szostak ’26 GEOSCIENCES PR
- Page 37 and 38: Emeline Blohm ’25 CIVIL AND ENVIR
- Page 39 and 40: Isabella Gomes ’25 CIVIL AND ENVI
- Page 41 and 42: Sriya Kotta ’26 CIVIL AND ENVIRON
- Page 43 and 44: Charlie Nuermberger ’25 COMPARATI
- Page 45 and 46: Jamie Rodriguez ’24 ENGLISH PROJE
- Page 47 and 48: Molly Taylor ’25 HISTORY Certific
- Page 49 and 50: Lily Weaver ’26 COMPUTER SCIENCE
- Page 51 and 52: Brooke Beers ’25 CIVIL AND ENVIRO
- Page 53 and 54: Sava Evangelista ’26 COMPUTER SCI
- Page 55: Alliyah Gregory ’25 ECOLOGY AND E
- Page 59 and 60: Chien Nguyen ’25 COMPUTER SCIENCE
- Page 61 and 62: Martina Qua ’25 CIVIL AND ENVIRON
- Page 63 and 64: Angelica She ’26 CIVIL AND ENVIRO
- Page 65 and 66: Sarina Wen ’26 CHEMICAL AND BIOLO
- Page 67 and 68: Rees Barnes ’26 ELECTRICAL AND CO
- Page 69 and 70: Leilani Bender ’24 CIVIL AND ENVI
- Page 71 and 72: Yagiz Devre ’26 COMPUTER SCIENCE
- Page 73 and 74: Helena Frudit ’25 MECHANICAL AND
- Page 75 and 76: John Kim ’25 PHYSICS Certificates
- Page 77 and 78: Nicholas Lim ’24 SCHOOL OF PUBLIC
- Page 79 and 80: Stephane Morel ’25 ELECTRICAL AND
- Page 81 and 82: Chloe Park ’25 CHEMISTRY Certific
- Page 83 and 84: Azhar Razin ’26 CHEMICAL AND BIOL
- Page 85 and 86: Maya Avida ’26 PHYSICS Certificat
- Page 87 and 88: Rebecca Cho ’26 GEOSCIENCES OCEAN
- Page 89 and 90: Dylan Epstein-Gross ’25 COMPUTER
- Page 91 and 92: Lindsay Anne Pagaduan ’26 CHEMIST
- Page 93 and 94: Sophia Villacorta ’24 GEOSCIENCES
- Page 95 and 96: Tienne Yu ’26 MOLECULAR BIOLOGY O
- Page 97 and 98: Braeden Carroll ’26 CIVIL AND ENV
- Page 99 and 100: Ashley DeFrates ’25 CIVIL AND ENV
- Page 101 and 102: PROJECT TITLE Molecular Simulation
- Page 103 and 104: Wiley Kohler ’25 MATHEMATICS PROJ
- Page 105 and 106: Christopher Li ’26 CIVIL AND ENVI
Kelih Henyo ’26<br />
UNDECLARED<br />
FOOD SYSTEMS<br />
AND HEALTH<br />
PROJECT TITLE<br />
Health and Conservation<br />
at the Human-Domestic<br />
Animal-Wildlife Interface<br />
in Madagascar<br />
ORGANIZATION(S)<br />
Metcalf Lab,<br />
Department of Ecology<br />
and Evolutionary Biology,<br />
Princeton University<br />
LOCATION(S)<br />
Antananarivo,<br />
Madagascar; Betampona<br />
Natural Reserve,<br />
Madagascar<br />
MENTOR(S)<br />
C. Jessica E. Metcalf,<br />
Associate Professor of<br />
Ecology and Evolutionary<br />
Biology and Public Affairs,<br />
Princeton University;<br />
Fidisoa Rasambainarivo,<br />
Postdoctoral Research<br />
Associate, High Meadows<br />
<strong>Environmental</strong> Institute,<br />
Princeton University<br />
I studied the interplay of environmental, wildlife<br />
and domestic animal health on the health of<br />
people in Madagascar under the “One Health”<br />
framework. Our team tested for pathogens<br />
including Bartonella, Babesia and Leptospira,<br />
and I specifically focused on Toxoplasma gondii,<br />
a foodborne and zoonotic parasite that infects<br />
roughly one in every three people globally. I<br />
aimed to map out the disease ecology of this<br />
parasite. To do this, I used sentinel rats and<br />
chickens to ascertain its prevalence in the<br />
environment at the Betampona Natural Reserve<br />
and its surrounding communities, investigated<br />
its prevalence amongst Madagascar’s native<br />
wildlife species including lemurs and carnivores<br />
and explored possible connections and<br />
eradication strategies amongst the wildlife in<br />
Madagascar. Combining ecological fieldwork and<br />
molecular biology lab work in DNA extractions<br />
and polymerase chain reaction, I sought to<br />
understand the whole organism niche level<br />
of this parasite by profiling its presence in<br />
tissue samples collected from both lemurs and<br />
carnivores. From this research experience, I’ve<br />
gained a deeper appreciation for how all of life is<br />
intertwined in one collective fate and the many<br />
different angles scientific inquiry can take. I’m<br />
keen to continue studying toxoplasmosis and<br />
other diseases in the future.<br />
* This internship is connected to the HMEI<br />
Biodiversity Grand Challenges project, “Biodiversity<br />
Conservation and Health at the Human-Domestic<br />
Animal-Wildlife Interface in Madagascar.”<br />
56