Anna Medina
Anna Medina, Fisheries graduate student, received a 2023-2024 Mentor Award to bring Nivedita Menon, Wildlife Biology and Conservation undergraduate student, onto her study titled, Determining life history attributes of rainbow smelt in the nearshore waters of the Beaufort Sea.
The warming climate is impacting high-latitude aquatic ecosystems at rates more than double the global average. The borealization of the Arctic Ocean has caused nearshore fish communities to reorganize by replacing Arctic specialists with more boreal species in response to the warming climate. Such changes threaten the ability for fishes to function optimally and may destabilize nearshore marine ecosystems. Medina and Menon's study aims to understand the life history attributes of Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax) in the nearshore waters of the Beaufort Sea, a species that is data limited throughout the state of Alaska. Their objective is to analyze Rainbow Smelt otolith 88Sr concentrations to gain a better understanding of their habitat usage throughout their life, specifically focusing on their start of life and end of life histories
How is your project going so far this semester?
Anna: So far the project has been going swimmingly! We’ve both contributed a lot of time to working in the laboratory and developing a presentation for the research we’ve been conducting. We will soon be using the Laser Ablation Multi Collector Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometer (MC-ICPMS) in the Alaska Stable Isotope Facility on the UAF campus to conduct isotopic analyses on Rainbow Smelt otoliths. The data we collect from this analysis is the basis of our project and will help us gain a better understanding of Rainbow Smelt life history. We've had a few minor hiccups during our project, but we've both had the ability to be flexible and adjust the project as needed.
How did you find out about URSA and what encouraged you to submit an application for funding?
Anna: I was made aware of the URSA program from a previous graduate student in CFOS who had received the award in a prior year. I have personally been interested in becoming a mentor for an undergraduate and was pleased to find URSA was offering such an experience. I know that having a mentor during my undergraduate experience who could guide me through the in's and out's of college was a huge relief! The additional funding for my graduate research was a bonus, but the real payout is seeing Nivedita develop as a scientist and helping her build additional skills that will assist her in her future endeavors.
How has your undergraduate mentoring experience been thus far?
Anna: I have enjoyed this mentoring experience very much! Nivedita is a wonderful student who is driven to learn and develop a wide array of skills. From the laboratory to conducting data entry, Nivedita has excelled in all tasks effectively and efficiently. She has taken on each task professionally and takes her time to understand the science behind what we are doing. It's nice having someone to work alongside in the laboratory and bounce ideas off of, as well. I am happy to not only offer her assistance as a part of this URSA project, but also with her professional development outside of URSA . Nivedita's enthusiasm for science is contagious and refreshing to experience!
If you could share one piece of advice with prospective URSA Mentors, what would you say?
Anna: Don’t be afraid to try new things! There are so many opportunities to conduct novel research at this university. You only need to keep your mind open to new ideas. There are going to be hiccups along the way, but these will only help you grow as a researcher. The additional help from an undergraduate student on a project is so beneficial and you have the ability to take pride in your work as both an individual and as a team. Be sure to look outside of your department for interested students. Most of the students I came in contact with regarding the project were outside of CFOS, but were looking to build their professional portfolio and were seeking guidance on how to conduct general scientific research.
How did you come to work with your mentor on this URSA project in particular?
Nivedita: I was introduced to Anna’s project from an email she sent out to the CFOS and Biology & Wildlife undergraduate students. I was immediately interested in potentially working with the Alaska Stable Isotope Lab and getting real, hands-on lab experience. As a wildlife student, I was not sure if I would be a good fit for this position, but I decided to take a risk and reach out regardless. I had been thinking about doing an URSA project already because I had heard that many of my peers found it very rewarding; this email came at the perfect time. I contacted Anna with my interest and, by the end of the week, I became her mentee.
How does your work on this URSA project relate to your career or personal goals?
Nivedita: After my undergraduate studies, I want to do research and work in a lab. Prior to this project, I had very little lab experience outside of the classes I was taking. I wanted to find work in an actual lab setting to better understand what it would actually be like to work in a lab in my future career. This project has not only helped further my scientific knowledge, but has also given me the opportunity to develop important skills that are desirable as a research assistant. I also learned that I do really enjoy lab work in multiple aspects. Being able to do real lab work, and now share it with my peers, other graduate students, and professors, has been a very rewarding experience.
If you could share one piece of advice with other undergraduate students looking to join a mentored project on campus, what would you say?
Nivedita: Be brave. The thing I struggle with the most is reaching out about opportunities, but that is the only way to get started. Regardless of who you are talking to, chances are they remember what it was like to be an undergraduate student and they want to help you succeed. I get stressed whenever I have to talk to professors, so I try and remind myself that the worst thing they could do is say no. If they do, that just opens you up to try for something else. I use this same mentality for jobs, for mentorship, and for recommendations. A lot of college and figuring out future paths can feel scary, but I believe in you, and I hope you can believe in yourself. You got this!