Opportunities in Science

Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program

National Science Foundation REU Program
Integrative Tree Science for the Anthropocene

Content Detail

Experience careers that explore solutions for climate change, biodiversity loss, natural resources management, and urban life through the National Science Foundation REU Program: Integrative Tree Science in the Anthropocene.

The era of unprecedented transformation of the biosphere due to human activities is termed the Anthropocene and calls for directly addressing the ecological and environmental challenges of the present and near future. The REU at The Morton Arboretum uses trees as model systems to investigate questions related to evolution, ecology, conservation, and management in natural and built environments. Participants in the 2025 REU program will participate in one of several research projects.

The Center for Tree Science’s 10-week summer internship program has trained 76 students over the past nine years from 45 universities across the United States.

Feedback from past students:

  • “It gave me a reference that allowed me to get into grad school and do the research that I really want to do!”
  • “Keep this up! It was a very important experience for me early in my career and is still one of my favorite jobs that I have ever had.”
  • “My REU experience has strongly impacted my career path. It has opened me up to and enhanced my true interests.”
  • “Enjoy what it feels like to be dedicated to and focus your energy on one project that you’re passionate about. You will love the experience and the people around you.”

Want more details from past students? See Past Projects and read the REU Student Blog Series for insights into past experiences and project highlights.

Program Details

Students currently enrolled in an undergraduate program may apply for this nationally competitive fellowship.

Participate in a paid, intensive, 10-week summer program, with housing and travel provided, conducting an independent research project under the guidance of a PhD-level mentor.

Gain direct experience on all aspects of a research project, from reading the primary literature, experimental design, collecting and analyzing data, to presenting the results at a final symposium.

Develop critical thinking, independence, self-confidence, perseverance, and collaborative skills. Interact with REUs from other Chicago institutions, and benefit from workshops on science communication and professional development.

Learn skills you can apply anywhere. The Center for Tree Science also offers opportunities to return to continue your work.

Learn more about potential 2025 projects.

The 10-week research program includes:

  • $7,500 stipend
  • Housing, research supplies, and travel
  • Professional development workshops in science communication, responsible conduct in research, resume building, and more

Research areas:

  • Soil and forest ecology
  • Conservation biology
  • Root biology
  • Plant systematics and biodiversity
  • Urban forests and arboriculture
  • Plant breeding and horticulture

Learn more:

  • Present your research at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.
  • Work on unique projects.
  • Meet new people and grow your network.

Application Information

The REU program includes a stipend, covers housing and travel expenses, and runs from Tuesday, May 27, to Friday, August 1, 2025. Applications open Monday, December 2, 2024, and close on Friday, January 31, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. Central Time (CT).

Our mentorship program seeks diverse viewpoints as we foster and grow a vibrant, innovative scientific community. REU participants will be incorporated into Arboretum research laboratories for the summer and work collaboratively.

It is important that this community be inclusive so participants can contribute their best ideas and efforts and achieve their full potential. ​We encourage applicants from colleges with limited research opportunities (e.g. community colleges, tribal colleges, and small colleges without graduate programs), groups underrepresented in STEM programs, first-year and second-year undergraduates, US military veterans currently enrolled as undergraduates, and first-generation college students. All applicants are guaranteed equal consideration for employment.

Eligibility

To apply for the 10-week research experience program, which includes a $7,500 stipend and covers housing and travel expenses, students participating in the National Science Foundation-supported REU program must be:

  1. Citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions.
  2. Currently-enrolled undergraduate students.
    a.
    Students between high school and undergraduate are NOT eligible to apply.
    b. Must NOT graduate before fall 2025.
    c. Graduating seniors or recent graduates are not eligible to apply.
    d. Students who are transferring from one college or university to another, and are enrolled at neither institution during the intervening summer, are eligible to participate.
  3. Able to participate from May 27 to August 1, 2025.

Application Requirements for the 2025 REU Program

Please review the following instructions in order to complete the online application by Friday, January 31, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. Central Time (CT). The 2025 program application will be available soon.

  1. In order to apply, you will be required to create an account through the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Education and Training Application (ETAP) platform. This account will allow you to browse and easily apply to multiple NSF opportunities.
  2. As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a resume or curriculum vitae (CV).
  3. A cover letter is not required. You will have the opportunity to provide information about your project interest and motivations within the application.
  4. Be prepared to provide contact information for one reference during the NSF ETAP application process. Please choose someone who is familiar with your skills, traits, and motivation, and discuss your goals with this person.
  5. NSF ETAP will ask you to upload your unofficial college transcripts in order to complete the application.
  6. Apply for the 2025 program from Monday, December 2, 2024, to Friday, January 31, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. Central Time (CT).

Projects and Mentors

We invite undergraduate students with a strong interest in environmental research to apply for the Center for Tree Science REU program. Ideal candidates will demonstrate a passion for the natural world and a willingness to engage in research across diverse environments. A commitment to collaboration, attention to detail, and scientific inquiry is essential.

This REU program provides an excellent opportunity to contribute to meaningful research while developing valuable skills in biological sciences through the lens of trees. Students will gain direct experience on all aspects of a research project including hypothesis and research question development, experimental design, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting the results to a diverse audience at a final symposium. Participants will develop critical thinking skills, independence, self-confidence, and perseverance as part of a collaborative community.

Our program seeks to build research skills for all students, particularly for early-stage students (first or second year), students from limited-research institutions, and those underrepresented in STEM. Successful applicants should demonstrate an interest in the discipline or topic of the projects they are most interested in (e.g., through coursework or personal exploration) and be excited to learn. Each description notes whether the project is lab and/or field-based. Experience with specific methods or data analysis is often useful but not required, as the mentoring teams will teach project-specific techniques.

Undergraduates applying for the 2025 REU program will select their projects from the list below:

Project List

  • Analysis of species-wide variation in oaks species using herbarium specimens
  • Assessing effective techniques for burn scar soil and plant restoration
  • Assessing the effects of pruning on branch structure and resiliency
  • Characterization of Ash Resistance to Emerald Ash Borer
  • Genetic diversity, recruitment, and health of butternut, a culturally and ecologically important tree species
  • Seasonal variation in leaf litter composition and nutrient cycling
  • Tree species variation in belowground resource allocation and uptake
  • Variation in fine-root traits associated with tree drought tolerance

Project Descriptions

Analysis of species-wide variation in oaks species using herbarium specimens

Mentors: Marlene Hahn, Kieran Althaus, Andrew Hipp

Summary: Every species of plant and animal is represented by a single “type specimen,” which is meant to embody the diagnostic characteristics of that species and serves as a permanent reference point for species names in biological nomenclature. However, if the type specimen represents a morphological outlier atypical of the species itself, it may lead to misidentification of other individuals and taxonomic confusion. This problem is particularly relevant in diverse plant groups like oaks (Quercus L.), where individual species often display remarkable variation in leaf shape and size across their geographic range, and even on different branches of a single individual. This project will investigate how well type specimens represent their respective species. The REU participant will measure leaf traits on a variety of oak species, including both representative specimens from across the range of the species and, critically, any available type specimens. In the course of their research, students will learn proper herbarium curation techniques while collecting and digitally scanning oak leaf specimens for analysis.

Project setting: The Morton Arboretum; herbarium components only, some field work optional.

Assessing effective techniques for burn scar soil and plant restoration

Mentors: Meghan Midgley, Tony Del Valle

Summary: Brush cutting is a common technique used by natural resource managers in the Chicago region to remove invasive plants and open the canopy to promote oak growth in woodland ecosystems. Brush is typically piled and burned after cutting, as a cost-effective strategy of removing undesirable woody material. The impacts of brush pile burning have been studied in the western US, but little is known about the impacts of pile burning in Midwest oak ecosystems and what restoration techniques (if any) may be the most effective at promoting plant and soil recovery. This project will assess the effectiveness of different restoration techniques in speeding the recovery of burn scars in the Chicago Region. The results of this project will provide important information for natural area managers in the region. The student can expect to gain experience in conducting understory forest plant surveys, collecting soils, and analyzing soil biogeochemistry in the lab.

Project setting: The Morton Arboretum and forest preserves in the Chicago region; with field and lab components.

Assessing the effects of pruning on branch structure and resiliency

Mentors: Jake Miesbauer, Abby Tumino

Summary: Tree pruning is one of the most common arboricultural practices. When done properly, structural pruning can help improve tree resilience to external forces such as wind, rain, and snow. This project seeks to help better understand the extent to which different intensities of pruning affect branch structural properties, and by extension, their resilience to being damaged during storm events. This project will involve hands-on work collecting, measuring, and cutting branches in the field, as well as subsequent lab work measuring leaves and branches.

Project setting: The Morton Arboretum, with lab and field components.

Characterization of Ash Resistance to Emerald Ash Borer

Mentors: Nathan Maren, Chad Rigsby

Summary: Lingering ash (Fraxinus spp.) are mature ash trees that have survived at least two years following the death of 95% or more of ash trees in a stand due to emerald ash borer (EAB) infestation. These trees may possess natural genetic variations that provide resistance to EAB that contribute to their survival. This project will focus on understanding the secondary metabolites of various ash taxa with known instances of lingering ash. The student will analyze the genetic and physiological adaptations of trees to identify lineages useful for breeding EAB-resistant woody landscape plants.

Project setting: The Morton Arboretum; lab components only, some field work optional.

Genetic diversity, recruitment, and health of butternut, a culturally and ecologically important tree species

Mentors: Sean Hoban, Emma Leavens

Summary: Butternut trees (Juglans cinerea), also known as white walnut, have historically been an important tree to indigenous and settler peoples in eastern North America but have severely declined in the past 70 years due to a fungal pathogen known as butternut canker (Ophiognomonia clavigignenti-juglandacearum). This project seeks to better understand genetic diversity, recruitment, and health status of butternut trees across their range, and contribute to knowledge and stewardship of this species. The project will likely focus on measuring tree health and characteristics of individual trees at forest preserves in the Chicago region and in Vermont, and analyzing this data along with spatial and environmental data. The overall goal is to understand why some butternut trees or populations are healthy in order to improve conservation efforts.

Project setting: The Morton Arboretum, forest preserves in the Chicago region, field sites in Vermont; with field and lab components.

Seasonal variation in leaf litter composition and nutrient cycling

Mentors: Christy Rollinson, Brendon Reidy

Summary: Autumn leaf fall is a key component of ecosystem nutrient cycling in many forests and is a source of soil nutrients for plants in subsequent years. The characteristics of leaf litter inputs into the soil may vary from year to year and within a season based on the amount and timing of leaf fall from different species. This project will characterize the timing of leaf fall for different species and associated soil nutrient dynamics in The Morton Arboretum’s East Woods. The goal of this project is to better understand how changes in tree fall senescence impact ecosystem nutrient cycling. This work will involve sorting and weighing already collected leaf samples and on-site field data collection.

Project setting: The Morton Arboretum, with lab and field components.

Tree species variation in belowground resource allocation and uptake

Mentors: Ryo Nakahata, Kelsey Patrick, Nicholas Medina, Luke McCormack

Summary: Trees allocate large amounts of carbon belowground to build and sustain fine roots and associations with mycorrhizal fungi. This ensures that trees are able to access the soil nutrients and water needed for aboveground growth. As these roots and soil fungi die, they contribute large amounts of carbon to short- and long-lived soil carbon pools. However, how belowground allocation differs among common tree species in the same environment is poorly understood, and how associations with symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi in soil change with increasing soil depth is not well known. This project will quantify patterns of root biomass and mycorrhizal fungal colonization with changes in soil depth in a diverse set of temperate tree species. The information gained through this project will then facilitate estimates of whole-tree carbon allocation.

Project setting: The Morton Arboretum, with lab and field components.

Variation in fine-root traits associated with tree drought tolerance

Mentors: Marvin Lo, Luke McCormack

Summary: Fine-root traits based on morphology, architecture, and anatomy largely determine the ability of plants to obtain soil nutrients and water. While global patterns of variation are beginning to emerge for some common traits, we still lack observations for many important tree species. Furthermore, there are many less commonly measured traits that may be much more important for predicting key plant processes such as drought tolerance. In this project, we will measure the ability of roots to resist shrinking as they become progressively drier as a relevant measure of a plant’s ability to maintain water uptake during drought across a diverse set of temperate tree species. This project will contribute to an improved understanding of tree drought tolerance and other aspects of root trait variation.

Project setting: The Morton Arboretum, with lab and field components.

Frequently Asked Questions

Accordion List

  • Applications for the Morton Arboretum 2025 REU program will be accepted through Friday, January 31, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. Central Time (CT). All applicants will be notified when awards are announced.

  • The Morton Arboretum 2025 REU program runs from Tuesday, May 27, to Friday, August 1, 2025. Participants should plan to check into program housing by Sunday, May 25, and depart on Saturday, August 2.

  • This is a full-time (37.5 hours/week) research experience. Specific hours will be arranged with your research mentor.

  • Read the FAQ on the ETAP website.

    Please contact ctsreu@mortonarb.org with any questions about The Morton Arboretum’s REU program.

  • Ensure that all elements of the application are complete and carefully proofread. Answer all required questions thoroughly. Whether you have past research experience or not, highlight assets that you feel demonstrate your potential and clearly articulate how an REU experience at The Morton Arboretum would fit into your larger academic and professional goals.

  • Applicants are matched to projects based on interests, personal background, and enthusiasm. Other factors will also be considered, such as relevant coursework and experiences. A subset of applicants will be interviewed by phone, email, or video.

  • If you are offered an internship, you will have a set amount of time to respond. We expect you to join the program if you formally accept an offer.

  • This situation will be handled on a case-by-case basis, and depends on a number of factors. We encourage you to apply if you anticipate a potential scheduling conflict that is out of your hands (e.g., your finals week coincides with the beginning of our program). Note your conflict during the application process and if you are offered an internship, we will discuss potential ways to accommodate your situation.

  • Yes, this NSF-funded REU internship provides a stipend of $7,500.

  • The program will cover costs for participants to travel to and from their homes to the housing provided. For more information, please contact ctsreu@mortonarb.org.

  • Housing for the duration of the program will be provided at a local college dorm and hotel, as needed. Funding will be provided for any relevant and/or necessary costs associated with housing and commuting incurred during the program.

  • An important component of the REU program is the cohort experience, and we will host activities to nurture connections between cohort members. For this reason, participation in as many group activities as possible is expected.

  • The REU student experience includes a blog component. From 2022 onward, student participants document their internship experiences in a publicly accessible blog or series of blogs. Read the REU Student Blog Series to see if this program sounds right for you.

    Please contact ctsreu@mortonarb.org with any questions.

Past Projects

Meet the Center for Tree Science undergraduate research program participants at The Morton Arboretum! Arboretum scientists have welcomed 76 students into their labs for summer research projects since 2014. Students come from all over the United States, from large universities to smaller colleges, around Chicago, and across the country. The projects they have participated in make an impact on key challenges facing society today, including ecology and conservation, technology and engineering, and biodiversity.

  • Major funding for the 2024 program was provided by the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, and Morton Salt.

    Sara Ahlich, University of California Berkeley

    Project: Exploring the connection between species abundance, importance value, and ethnobotanical use in Amazonas

    Advisors: Dr. Chuck Cannon and Dr. Chai-Shian Kua

    Miranda Chiong, Lehigh University

    Project: Tree-Ring Patterns During Oak Establishment May Offer Insight Into Oak Decline

    Advisors: Dr. Christy Rollinson and Brendon Reidy

    Deborah Duong, Saint Joseph’s University

    Project: Drought Tolerance Analysis of Urban Tree Species

    Advisors: Dr. Luke McCormack and Marvin Lo

    Kathryn Lightfoot, Purdue University

    Project: Understanding the Chemotaxonomic and Genetic Collinearity of Rare Trees

    Advisors: Dr. Chad Rigsby and Dr. Nathan Maren

    Lucas Mansfield, University of Washington Seattle Campus

    Project: Utilizing Remotely Sensed Drone Data for Rainforest Analysis

    Advisors: Dr. Chuck Cannon and Dr. Chai-Shian Kua

    Julian Marshall, Binghamton University

    Project: Unraveling Fusarium Wilt in Gro-Low Sumac

    Advisor: Dr. Stephanie Adams

    Jada Martinez, University of North Texas

    Project: Seasonal Variations in Enzymatic Activity Associated with Ectomycorrhizal Fungi in Forest Soils

    Advisors: Dr. Luke McCormack, Dr. Nicholas Medina, Kelsey Patrick

    Katherine Opila, Temple University

    Project: Genome Size and Ploidy Survey of Winterberry Holly

    Advisors: Kim Shearer, Dr. Alan Whittemore, and Dr. Andrew Hipp

    Rebecca Wanger, Colby College

    Project: Exploring the Environmental, Morphological, and Spatial Traits of the Endangered Arroyo Oak (Quercus brandegeei)

    Advisors: Dr. Sean Hoban, Dr. Ash Hamilton, and Emma Leavens

  • Major funding was provided by the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates program and Morton Salt; additional funding is noted below.

    Laura Aguiniga, Elmhurst University

    Project: Genetic diversity of Quercus tomentella captured in ex situ collections

    Advisors: Dr. Sean Hoban, Emily Schumacher, and Austin Koontz

    Funding provided by the Center for Tree Science Integrated Mentorship Program

    Mikaely Evans, Macalester College

    Project: Analyzing parentage patterns in acorns at The Morton Arboretum

    Advisors: Dr. Sean Hoban, Emily Schumacher, and Austin Koontz

    Greta Franke, Emory University

    Project: Effects of brush pile burning on plant communities and soil properties

    Advisors: Dr. Meghan Midgley and Tony Del Vallé

    Jake Jagiello, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

    Project: Legacy effects of Curly dock (Rumex crispus) on plant communities and soil properties in tallgrass prairie

    Advisors: Dr. Meghan Midgley and Emma Leavens

    Emily Myers, Franklin and Marshall College

    Project: Comparative drought tolerance of urban tree species in Illinois

    Advisors: Dr. Luke McCormack and Marvin Lo

    Arnan Pawawongsak, The University of Texas at Austin

    Project: Geographic and taxonomic boundaries between Post oak (Quercus stellata) and Shinnery oak (Quercus havardii)

    Advisors: Dr. Chuck Cannon and Sam Panock

  • Major funding was provided by the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, NSF Research Experience for Post-Baccalaureate Students, and Morton Salt; additional funding is noted below.

    Luis Alvarez, Aurora University

    Project: Investigating oak decline at The Morton Arboretum

    Advisors: Dr. Stephanie Adams, Dr. Christy Rollinson, and Lucien Fitzpatrick

    Norbaya Durr, Elmhurst College

    Project: Hyperaccumulation impacts on phylo-community composition, nutrient cycling and functional trait diversity across the phylogeny of herbaceous prairie plants

    Advisor: Dr. Meghan Midgley

    Angelina Harley, Clemson University

    Project: Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) defense response to different elicitors

    Advisor: Dr. Chad Rigsby

    Chloe Hendrikse, Ohio University

    Project: How accurately STRUCTURE can identify hybrids when comparing different numbers of species

    Advisors: Dr. Sean Hoban, Austin Koontz, and Emily Schumacher

    Claire Henley, Michigan State University

    Project: Natural variation within and among shinnery oak (Quercus havardii) clones in a Texas hybrid population, particularly in response to strong drought conditions

    Advisors: Dr. Chuck Cannon and Sam Panock

    Jorge Jaime-Rivera, University of Miami

    Project: Root trait trade-offs within and across phylogenetic clades of tallgrass prairie plants

    Advisor: Dr. Meghan Midgley

    Ian Lauderback, University of Tennessee

    Project: The long-term effects of injection treatments on Fraxinus pennsylvanica

    Advisors: Dr. Jake Miesbauer and Abigail Tumino

    Marshall McCall, Emory University

    Project: Root traits drive variation in exudation rates among temperate tree species

    Advisor: Dr. Meghan Midgley

    Kelsey Patrick, Aurora University

    Project: Root responses of congeneric species to waterlogging

    Advisors: Dr. Luke McCormack and Marvin Lo

    Josephine Schall, University of Chicago

    Project: Opening a Gateway: How we can best engage with future tree scientists

    Advisor: Dr. Chai-Shian Kua

    Primary funding provided by the University of Chicago Jeff Metcalf Internship Program

    Madelyn Thompson, Samford University

    Project: Morphological distinction between Acer saccharum var. schneckii and var. saccharum: How to tell these cryptic varieties of sugar maple apart

    Advisors: Dr. Richard Condit, Dr. Andrew Hipp, Dr. William Finch, Dr. Brian Keener, and Senna Robeson

    Isabella Vergara, Grinnell College

    Project: The contributions of roots, fungi, and free-living microbes to soil respiration for diverse tree species

    Advisors: Dr. Luke McCormack and Marvin Lo

  • Theodore James Bohdanowycz, Washtenaw Community College

    Project: U.S. wild harvested tree species: A conservation snapshot

    Advisors: Dr. Jessica Turner-Skoff, Dr. Murphy Westwood, and Christina Carrero

    Symposium presentation

    Andrew Ernat, Iowa State University

    Project: Exploring remotely sensed data as an indicator of phenological sensitivity in oaks

    Advisors: Dr. Christy Rollinson and Lucien Fitzpatrick

    Symposium presentation

    Maddie Fernandez-Laris, DePaul University

    Project: Exploring barriers to recruitment of transplanted seedlings of the endangered Quercus brandegeei

    Advisor: Dr. Silvia Alvarez Clare

    Symposium presentation

    Janey R. Lienau, Wheaton College

    Project: The effects of forest type on ground beetle abundance and diversity

    Advisors: Dr. Meghan Midgley and Dr. Rob Buchkowski

    Symposium presentation

    Katelyn McBride, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

    Project: Sap flow variation in response to environmental factors in American sycamores

    Advisors: Dr. Chuck Cannon and Sam Panock

    Symposium presentation

    Tanya R. Perez, The University of Texas at San Antonio

    Project: Tree growth in response to slope in a highway setting

    Advisors: Dr. Jake Miesbauer and Dr. Allyson Salisbury

    Kaylee J. Rosenberger, Northern Illinois University

    Project: Sampling to capture the most genetic diversity when population sizes vary in a rare species

    Advisors: Dr. Sean Hoban and Emily Schumacher

    Symposium presentation

    Pranav Sai, Colorado College

    Project: Processing and analyzing LiDAR scans of trees

    Advisors: Dr. Chuck Cannon and Colby Borchetta

    Leslie M. Vargas, The University of the South

    Project: Early detection and rapid response: Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) monitoring

    Advisors: Dr. Chai-Shian Kua, Tricia Bethke, and Dr. Chuck Cannon

    Funding provided by: Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program and Morton Salt

    Symposium presentation

  • Major funding was provided by the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates program and Morton Salt; other funding sources are noted below.

    Andrew Archundia, Elmhurst College

    Project: Tree physiology and soil amendments in highway environments

    Advisors: Dr. Jake Miesbauer and Dr. Allyson Salisbury

    Alice Bieda, Macalester College

    Project: Investigating phylogenetic trends in vole herbivory patterns on tallgrass prairie species

    Advisors: Dr. Andrew Hipp and Marlene Hahn

    Funding provided by: National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates supplemental funding

    Mariah Casmey, Carleton College

    Project: Using open source data to identify conservation priorities at large spatial scales

    Advisors: Dr. Murphy Westwood, Christina Carrero, and Emily Beckman Bruns

    Perry Giambuzzi, University of the Sciences

    Project: Comparison of wood growth sensitivity to timing of optimal temperatures among trees varying in xylem anatomy and mycorrhizal association

    Advisor: Dr. Christy Rollinson

    Sydney Kaplan, Illinois Institute of Technology

    Project: Drones for tree science: multi-sensor 3D modeling and precise canopy sampling

    Advisors: Dr. Chuck Cannon and Dr. Matthew Spenko

    Gabriela Krochmal, Loyola University Chicago

    Project: Tree growth responses to chronic fertilization in a lowland tropical rainforest

    Advisors: Dr. Silvia Alvarez Clare and Dr. Richard Condit

    Jessica Langguth, Ohio University

    Project: Fine-root functional traits across the gymnosperm phylogeny

    Advisor: Dr. Luke McCormack

    Jamilys Rivera, University of Puerto Rico

    Project: Comparison of growth and recovery in response to drought stress across wood types

    Advisor: Dr. Christy Rollinson

    Ella Segal, Rice University

    Project: The impacts of fine root mass and soil nitrogen availability on nitrogen uptake rate in trees

    Advisors: Dr. Meghan Midgley and Dr. Ray Dybzinski

    Bailie Fredlock Munoz (program participant), Trinity Christian College

    Project: Botanic garden populations of Quercus havardii: are we conserving enough genetic diversity?

    Advisor: Dr. Sean Hoban

    Funding provided by: Center for Tree Science Research Technician Fellowship (RTF)

  • The Center for Tree Science would like to thank Morton Salt for their generous contribution to the 2018 undergraduate research program; additional funding is noted below.

    Alyssa L. Barrantes-Leonard, Augustana College

    Project: Species richness protects prairie species from vole herbivory

    Advisors: Dr. Andrew Hipp and Mary-Claire Glasenhardt

    Funding provided by: National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates supplemental funding

    Cori L. Butkiewicz, University of Maryland

    Project: Forests on the edge: climate, soil, and fire on the prairie-forest boundary

    Advisor: Dr. Christy Rollinson

    Funding provided by: Morton Salt and Center for Tree Science

    Elizabeth M. Gibbons, Michigan State 

    Project: A phylogenetic analysis of biodiversity in an oak dominated forest of the Chicago region

    Advisor: Dr. Andrew Hipp

    Funding provided by: Morton Salt and Center for Tree Science

    Lydia Schlaefke, Michigan State

    Project: Root regeneration after fall and spring root severance of two common urban tree species, Acer platanoides and Betula nigra

    Advisor: Dr. Gary Watson

    Funding provided by: Morton Salt and the Center for Tree Science

    Rachel S. Sims, Valparaiso University

    Project: Leaf habit versus mycorrhizal fungi association: A framework for predicting tree species effects on soil

    Advisor: Dr. Meghan Midgley

    Funding provided by: Morton Salt and Center for Tree Science

    Ashley A. Wojciechowski, North Central College

    Project: Foliar nutrient concentrations of understory plants in a chronically fertilized lowland tropical wet forest in Costa Rica

    Advisor: Dr. Silvia Alvarez Clare

    Funding provided by: Morton Salt and Center for Tree Science

    Alice Bieda (high school intern), Downers Grove North High School 

    Project: Species richness protects prairie species from vole herbivory

    Advisor: Dr. Andrew Hipp and Mary-Claire Glasenhardt

    Marion Deal (high school intern), Downers Grove North High School 

    Project: Species richness protects prairie species from vole herbivory

    Advisor: Dr. Andrew Hipp and Mary-Claire Glasenhardt

    Amayrani Sanchez (high school intern), Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

    Project: Foliar nutrient concentrations of understory plants in a chronically fertilized lowland tropical wet forest in Costa Rica

    Advisor: Dr. Silvia Alvarez Clare

    Mary Ashley Tenedor (high school intern), Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

    Project: Foliar nutrient concentrations of understory plants in a chronically fertilized lowland tropical wet forest in Costa Rica

    Advisor: Dr. Silvia Alvarez Clare

  • The Center for Tree Science would like to thank Morton Salt for their generous contribution to the 2017 undergraduate research program; other funding as noted.

    Amy Byrne, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

    Project: Diversity mechanisms shape first-year survivorship in a phylogenetic and functional diversity prairie restoration experiment

    Advisor: Dr. Andrew Hipp

    Funding provided by: National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates supplemental funding

    Sara Desmond, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

    Project: Latitude predicts leaf size in bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa)

    Advisor: Dr. Andrew Hipp

    Funding provided by: Center for Tree Science

    Alyssa Gao, Dartmouth College

    Project: Examining the effects of bacterial leaf scorch on the leaves of Quercus mongolica trees within The Morton Arboretum collection

    Advisor: Dr. Chuck Cannon

    Funding provided by: Morton Salt and Center for Tree Science

    Taskeen Khan, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

    Project: The Impact of Injury on Sap Flow in Quercus palustris

    Advisor: Dr. Chuck Cannon

    Funding provided by: Morton Salt and the Center for Tree Science

    Sierra Lopezalles, California Institute of Technology

    Project: Effects of prescribed burn regime on the growth of mature trees in Midwest oak forests

    Advisor: Dr. Christy Rollinson

    Funding provided by: Morton Salt and Center for Tree Science

    Kathryn (Katie) McGee, James Madison University

    Project: The effect of prescribed fire regimes on seedling regeneration and nitrogen dynamics in an oak forest

    Advisor: Dr. Silvia Alvarez Clare

    Funding provided by: Morton Salt and Center for Tree Science

    Samantha Panock, Loyola University Chicago

    Project: Uncovering belowground properties of urban forests: The relationship between root systems, soil characteristics, and fungal communities in deciduous and evergreen trees at The Morton Arboretum

    Advisor: Dr. Meghan Midgley

    Funding provided by: Morton Salt and the Center for Tree Science

  • Mackenzie Coden, Northwestern University

    Project: Testing protocols for preserving oak leaf tissue and extracting DNA for use in oak conservation genetic studies

    Advisor: Dr. Sean Hoban

    Funding provided by: Center for Tree Science

    Alison McGarigal, Colorado College

    Project: Comparing the efficiency and accuracy of digital photography and laser-based technique in conducting forest surveys

    Advisor: Dr. Chuck Cannon

    Funding provided by: Center for Tree Science

    Quinn Taylor, University of San Diego

    Project: Burn forest burn: effects of annual burning of forest soils

    Advisor: Dr. Meghan Midgley

    Funding provided by: Center for Tree Science

    Kirsten Triller, University of Northwestern-St. Paul

    Project: Environmental impact and influence on urban tree health of biochar and biosolids

    Advisor: Dr. Bryant Scharenbroch

    Funding provided by: Center for Tree Science

    Kasey Pham, Michigan State University

    Project: A time and place for everything: The shifting predictors of genetic diversity in the oak chloroplast

    Advisor: Dr. Andrew Hipp

    Funding provided by: National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates supplemental funding

  • Mary Babiez, DePaul University

    Project: The correlation between basal isoprene emissions and climate of the native range within oak species

    Advisor: Dr. Mark Potosnak

    Funding provided by: Center for Tree Science

    Bruce Jake Berger, University of Wisconsin – Madison

    Project: Isolating the invasive mechanisms of non-native canopy trees on white oak and sugar maple seedling growth

    Advisor: Dr. Robert Fahey

    Funding provided by: Center for Tree Science

    Jacob Cerminar, University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point

    Project: Biosolids and biochars initial effects on environmental quality in urban soil

    Advisor: Dr. Bryant Scharenbroch

    Funding provided by: Center for Tree Science

    Angélica Bannwart Lopes, West Virginia University and Universidade Federal de Viçosa

    Project: Testing the accuracy of imaging software to measure tree root volumes

    Advisor: Dr. Jason Miesbauer

    Funding provided by: Center for Tree Science

    Erin Pfarr, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

    Project: Genome sizing of wild collected weigela and weigela cultivars

    Advisor: Joseph Rothleutner

    Funding provided by: The Daniel P. Haerther Charitable Trust

    Nick Steichmann, Augustana College

    Project: Hybridization across the bur oak range

    Advisor: Dr. Andrew Hipp

    Funding provided by: National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates

  • Breane Budaitis, Ohio Wesleyan University

    Project: Inferring the history of morphological diversification in sedges

    Advisor: Dr. Andrew Hipp

    Interns: Alexa Cotton and Kasey Pham

    Elizabeth (Liz) Carter, DePaul University

    Project: Do oak species that are genetically associated with warmer climatic niches have greater isoprene emission rates?

    Advisor: Dr. Mark Potosnak

    Erik Desotelle, University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point

    Project: Assessing performance of volunteers to monitor the urban forest

    Advisors: Dr. Bryant Scharenbroch and Dr. Lara Roman

    Christina Fites, Indiana University – South Bend

    Project: Carbon storage and dynamics of The Morton Arboretum

    Advisor: Emma Bialecki

    Stuart Hupp, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

    Project: Oak seedling survival and growth in relation to canopy structure and understory competition

    Advisor: Dr. Robert Fahey

    Kathrine Klaus, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

    Project: Towards a sustainable designer urban soil for trees

    Advisors: Dr. Bryant Scharenbroch and Michelle Catania

    Brian Maule, Northern Illinois University

    Project: Effects of urban trees and green infrastructure on water quality and runoff

    Advisor: Dr. Bryant Scharenbroch

    Felipe Santich, University of California – Davis

    Project: Assessing the use of morphological characteristics to predict branch attachment strength

    Advisor: Dr. Jason Miesbauer

Alumni News

Find out what past Center for Tree Science Undergraduate Researchers have been doing since their time at The Morton Arboretum.

Spring 2023 Update

Mary Jordan Babiez (2015) completed an undergraduate degree from DePaul University and went on to earn a master’s degree in plant biology from Rutgers in 2018, specializing in plant pathology. She worked at the Rutgers Plant Diagnostic Lab and wrote a manual for the lab based on their samples: Pathogens and Pests Encountered on Plants in New Jersey, 2001–2017. She was married in June 2022 to a fellow DePaul graduate who introduced her to the research project at The Morton Arboretum in 2015. They both moved to New Jersey to attend Rutgers, purchased their first home, and she now works as a sales arborist with SavATree.

Bruce Jake Berger (2015) completed a master’s degree in environmental science and a master of public affairs degree in December 2019 from Indiana University Bloomington. He continues his work at the United States Environmental Protection Agency as a Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System compliance inspector and enforcement officer, doing industrial and municipal water pollution inspections and case management to bring water polluters into compliance with their permits and local, state, and federal laws. He was married in October 2022 and enjoyed a honeymoon in Greece. 

Norbaya Jameela Durr (2020–2022) recently graduated from Elmhurst University with a bachelor of science degree in biology and English, a minor in chemistry and a scholar’s title in the honors program. She is currently on a Fulbright Scholarship, teaching English and developing a scientific language arts project. She will also be performing community and cultural work and would like to volunteer or work with Maun, Botswana’s conservation research facilities. She spent three summers working at the Arboretum and is currently working with her mentor to publish the research in a peer-reviewed journal. She loves doing interdisciplinary research and plans to pursue that path by attending graduate school next year. 

Elizabeth Huang (2022) is currently a sophomore at Whitman College, double majoring in English and geology, and she plans to continue seeking out research opportunities before attending graduate school. She was asked to present a paper she wrote about the Arab Spring at the Whitman College Undergraduate Conference, analyzing a piece of realistic fiction that explores totalitarianism in a fictional Middle Eastern state. She continues to provide feedback and edits on the project she worked on as a Center for Tree Science Research Technician Fellow, and the experience encouraged her to continue pursuing a career in Environmental Science.  

Gabriela Krochmal (2019–2021) graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a bachelor’s degree in environmental science. She is currently completing a master of science degree in forestry and natural resources at Purdue University with the Forest Advanced Computing and Artificial Intelligence Lab. She presented at the Forest Inventory and Analysis Stakeholder conference on the “Shade tolerance of tree species and drivers of successional change across the contiguous United States.” Over the course of three summers at the Arboretum, she gained experience with a wide range of fieldwork techniques and tools that now help her plan and conduct fieldwork for her own research. This field season, she will be visiting 60 private forests across Indiana and extracting over 600 tree cores.

Loren Ladd (2021) completed her undergraduate degree at Wheaton College and plans to attend graduate school. She is currently working as a viticulture technician for a vineyard management company in the heart of Oregon wine country. The position involves various field sampling techniques, agricultural data analysis, viticulture-related experimentation, and client communication. She also joined a local forestry and conservation club, which she attributes to the lingering positive impact of her time at the Arboretum. Her work as a Center for Tree Science Research Technician Fellow reinforced her desire to enter the field of conservation and provided a realistic perspective on how research and management practices are connected. 

Kamil Orozco (2021) has completed her undergraduate degree at Dominican University and is pursuing a master’s degree in environmental management at the Duke University Nicholas School for the Environment. She is currently working part-time in a toxicology lab at Duke University, as well as for Durham Parks and Recreation, and states her summer at the Arboretum helped narrow down what she wanted to do with her environmentally focused education. As a lifelong resident of Chicago, she was excited to move and get her first apartment, enjoying the amazing North Carolina weather and many new experiences.  

Kasey Pham (2014–2017) finished their bachelor of science and master of science degrees, and is currently pursuing a PhD in botany at the University of Florida. Pham is the first author on a textbook chapter in the Encyclopedia of Biodiversity (in press), has a paper in review at The Plant Journal, and is a workshop organizer for Botany 2023, as well as a presenter. Pham noted that the Arboretum is still one of the warmest, most affirming research spaces they have experienced in their career, and convinced them to go into research in plant science and obtain a PhD. 

Student Blog Series

Student researchers in the annual REU program use trees as model systems to investigate questions related to evolution, ecology, conservation, and management in natural and built environments.

Individuals gain direct experience in all aspects of a research project, from researching the primary literature to sampling design, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting at a final symposium.

Learn about the projects and experiences of past students in the Student Blog Series.