Wow, it has been an incredible week! I came into the program not really knowing what to expect and a little nervous to start my project and meet my fellow cohorts. After this first week, I feel much more confident and I could not have asked for a better group of people to spend the rest of my time with! My fellow interns are all just as dedicated to working hard and having fun which is always a plus. Renee, Anne, and Jenny are dedicated to helping and have really eased the stress of being in a new place with people that we didn’t know coming into it. It was a little crazy settling in to a new living space and working environment, but it was definitely worth it.
The Mountain Research Center was an amazing experience. We all helped to create a fantastic dinner and I loved being able to sit around the fire and walk the trail. It was interesting to see people in action that get to work right at the station. In particular, we learned about the process of banding and keeping track of the bird species in the area. Working with my mentors this week has been just as rewarding. So far I have learned how to perform a DNA extraction as well as a sediment particle size analysis. I am excited to explore Boulder and enhance my scientific knowledge throughout the summer!
wow! nice birds, babe!