Sydney Rivera
Texas State University
Research Mentor: Samantha Kreling
Project: Non-invasive insights to urban coyote ecology
My experience participating in a research internship with CICOES was nothing short of the most marvelous education and work experience I have had to date. I worked with Samantha Kreling, a PhD student in the UW School of Environmental and Forestry Sciences, where I was able to gain field and lab experience in an array of areas. I got the chance to not only do work with the research I was assigned, collecting, swabbing, and extracting DNA from coyote scat, but also with other projects like helping to dissect owl pellets and identify the bones in them as well as checking camera traps in the field at various locations. I also was able to assist in performing necropsies on coyotes and an otter at the Burke Museum. During my field work I was able to explore areas all around Seattle. My personal favorite place we visited was a beautiful Japanese garden.
On top of the experiences that I wouldn’t be able to get in my home state, I was also was fortunate enough that every person in the program was incredible and a delight to be around. All my fellow interns were involved in their own interesting research projects, which we were able to discuss when time allowed. My mentor allowed me to work with her to create a schedule that accommodated my needs and considered my interests, and along the way showed me what to do. This schedule allowed me a very good balance of field and lab work as well as providing me with ample time to explore Seattle on my own and/or with the other people in the program. Every individual in the program that I met was incredibly knowledgeable and kind, I left every conversation knowing that I had gained new information and/or more understanding of the career field.
From the start to the end of the program I retained the opinion that this internship was the best opportunity I have had the pleasure of receiving.
Project introduction
Research poster
