By Abbey Bigler
Each summer, Stroud Water Research Center welcomes a new group of interns who are eager to participate in research projects and to begin what may become their life’s work — a career in the sciences. Our internship program, now in its 46th year, has ushered through hundreds of interns who have come in search of meaningful work.
The summer internship experience allows undergraduates to see for themselves if they have the passion and fortitude to sustain themselves during the challenges inherent in research. The Stroud Center also benefits from the program.
Our development department intern, Abbey Bigler, interviewed our 2018 interns and shares a little bit about them (and herself) here.
Sarah Becker
Entomology Intern
Becker is an undergraduate student at Ursinus College majoring in environmental studies. Her hobbies include reading and theater, and she has been involved in both stage management and set design at Ursinus. A fun fact from Becker is she has been studying French since she was in kindergarten.
Abbey Bigler
Development Intern
Bigler recently graduated from West Chester University with a bachelor’s degree in English and will begin a master’s program in science journalism at Boston University this fall. Her hobbies include reading, writing poetry, and archery. She has read every book in the Sherlock Holmes series at least twice.
Lindsey Cathcart
Entomology Intern
Cathcart recently graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s degree in insect ecology and conservation, and she plans to work as a conservation biologist and entomologist. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and rock climbing. She can also say the alphabet backwards faster than she can forwards.
Kaitlin Fausey
Entomology Intern
Fausey recently graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor’s degree in environmental resource management and hopes to have a career working with water. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baseball, volleyball, and watching shows on Netflix. Twenty-two years ago, Fausey was born at 11:11 a.m.
Courtland Hess
Entomology Intern
Hess recently graduated from Millersville University with a bachelor’s degree in biology and plans to pursue a career in entomology. His hobbies include reading, hiking, and raising insects, such as silk moths. He is also a very fast typist.
Rebecca Lauver
Entomology Intern
Lauver is an undergraduate student at Messiah College majoring in biology with a concentration in ecology. She is interested in pursuing a career in the field of animal behavior or in ecological research. Her hobbies include reading, hanging out with friends, growing succulents, and traveling. She recently spent three weeks in Panama and Costa Rica studying tropical biology.
Jeff Manner
Geomorphology Intern
Manner is an undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in both biology and environmental science and plans to eventually pursue a doctoral degree in ecology. His hobbies include fly fishing and hiking. Prior to beginning his scientific studies, Manner had a 15-year career as a chef.
Francis Mullan
Entomology Intern
Mullan recently graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s degree in insect ecology and conservation. He plans to pursue a career as a research entomologist, possibly focusing on the behavioral ecology of insects and arachnids. His hobbies include listening to new music, playing the clarinet, hiking, and playing video games. He has a pet devil’s flower mantis named Shetani.
Michelle Stafford
Information Services Intern
Michelle is a graduate student in West Chester University’s applied statistics master’s program, and she holds an undergraduate degree in mathematics from the University of Delaware. She hopes to combine her two passions, sports and math, by working in the field of sports analytics. In her free time, she enjoys playing basketball and running. Stafford was born on St. Patrick’s Day.
Sarah Vitale
Microbiology Intern
Vitale recently graduated from West Chester University with a bachelor’s degree in biology and hopes to pursue a career in entomology or ecology. Her hobbies include playing the piano and sketching. A fun fact from Vitale is when she straightens her hair it is almost three feet long!
Laura Zielinski
Entomology Intern
Zielinski is an undergraduate student at Wilkes University majoring in biology. This fall, she will be studying abroad in Poland at Jagiellonian University. In the future, she would like to teach biology at a collegiate level and do research in conservation entomology and ecology. Zielinski’s hobbies include running, reading, writing, cooking, and painting; three of her watercolor paintings are currently being exhibited at The Hive in Downtown York. She also has three types of cockroaches as pets: Dubia, Madagascar Hissing, and Domino.
Isabel Zungailia
Watershed Biogeochemistry Intern
Zungailia just completed her first year as an undergraduate student at Washington and Lee University. She is still exploring possibilities for her major and career path but is interested in geology, environmental studies, earth science, and veterinary practices. Zungailia plays on the varsity lacrosse team at Washington and Lee university and also enjoys hiking, running, and riding horses, which she has done since before she could walk! Her last name is Lithuanian, which is a quarter of her ancestry.
