Meet the past Center for Tree Science Undergraduate Research Fellows and learn more about their projects and experiences at The Morton Arboretum.
2018 Undergraduate Research Fellows
Our thanks to Morton Salt, Inc. for their generous contribution to the 2018 fellowship program; other funding as noted.
Alyssa L. Barrantes-Leonard
Augustana College
Title: Species richness protects prairie species from vole herbivory
Advisor: Dr. Andrew Hipp and Mary-Claire Glasenhardt
Funding provided by: National Science Foundation - Research Experiences for Undergraduates
2018_Barrantes-Leonard_CTS_URF_Poster.pdf
Cori L. Butkiewicz
University of Maryland - College Park
Title: Forests on the Edge: Climate, soil and fire on the prairie-forest boundary
Advisor: Dr. Christy Rollinson
Funding provided by: Morton Salt, Inc. and The Morton Arboretum Center for Tree Science
2018_Butkiewicz_CTS_URF_Poster.pdf
Elizabeth M. Gibbons
Michigan State
Title: A Phylogenetic Analysis of Biodiversity in an Oak Dominated Forest of the Chicago Region
Advisor: Dr. Andrew Hipp
Funding provided by: Morton Salt, Inc. and The Morton Arboretum Center for Tree Science
2018_Gibbons_CTS_URF_Poster.pdf
Lydia Schlaefke
Michigan State
Title: 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, Inc. and The Morton Arboretum Center for Tree Science
2018_Schlaefke_CTS_URF_Poster.pdf
Rachel S. Sims
Valparaiso University
Title: Leaf habit versus mycorrhizal fungi association: A framework for predicting tree species effects on soil
Advisor: Dr. Meghan Midgley
Funding provided by: Morton Salt, Inc. and The Morton Arboretum Center for Tree Science
Ashley A. Wojciechowski
North Central College
Title: 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, Inc. and The Morton Arboretum Center for Tree Science
2018_Wojciechowski_CTS_URF_Poster.pdf
2018 Undergraduate Research Fellowship Participants
Alice Bieda
Downers Grove North High School Graduate
Project: Species richness protects prairie species from vole herbivory
Advisor: Dr. Andrew Hipp and Mary-Claire Glasenhardt
Marion Deal
Downers Grove North High School Graduate
Project: Species richness protects prairie species from vole herbivory
Advisor: Dr. Andrew Hipp and Mary-Claire Glasenhardt
Amayrani Sanchez
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
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
2017 Undergraduate Research Fellows
Our thanks to Morton Salt, Inc. for their generous contribution to the 2018 fellowship program; other funding as noted.
Amy Byrne
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Title: 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
Sara Desmond
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Title: Latitude predicts leaf size in bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
Advisor: Dr. Andrew Hipp
Funding provided by: The Morton Arboretum Center for Tree Science
Dartmouth College
Title: 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, Inc. and The Morton Arboretum Center for Tree Science
Taskeen Khan
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Title: The Impact of Injury on Sap Flow in Quercus palustris
Advisor: Dr. Chuck Cannon
Funding provided by: Morton Salt, Inc. and The Morton Arboretum Center for Tree Science
Sierra Lopezalles
California Institute of Technology
Title: Effects of prescribed burn regime on the growth of mature trees in Midwest oak forests
Advisor: Dr. Christy Rollinson
Funding provided by: Morton Salt, Inc. and The Morton Arboretum Center for Tree Science
Kathryn (Katie) McGee
James Madison University
Title: 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, Inc. and The Morton Arboretum Center for Tree Science
Samantha Panock
Loyola University Chicago
Title: 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, Inc. and The Morton Arboretum Center for Tree Science
2016 Undergraduate Research Fellows
Mackenzie Coden
Northwestern University
Title: 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
Title: Comparing the Efficiency and Accuracy of a Digital Photography and Laser Based Technique in Conducting Forest Surveys
Advisor: Dr. Chuck Cannon
Funding provided by: Center for Tree Science
2016_McGarigal_CTS_URF_Poster.pdf
Quinn Taylor
University of San Diego
Title: 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
Title: Environmental impact and influence on urban tree health of biochar and biosolids
Advisor: Dr. Bryant Scharenbroch
Funding provided by: Center for Tree Science
2016_Triller_CTS_URF_Poster.pdf
Kasey Pham
Michigan State University
Title: A time and place for everything: The shifting predictors of genetic diversity in the oak chloroplast
Advisor: Dr. Andrew Hipp
Funding provided by: The National Science Foundation - Research Experiences for Undergraduates
2015 Undergraduate Research Fellows
Mary Babiez
DePaul University
Title: 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
Title: 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
2015 CTS URF Blog Archive
Jacob Cerminar
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Title: 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 & Universidade Federal de Viçosa - Viçosa, MG, Brazil
Title: 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
Title: 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
Title: Hybridization across the Bur Oak Range
Advisor: Dr. Andrew Hipp
Funding provided by: The National Science Foundation - Research Experiences for Undergraduates
2014 Undergraduate Research Fellows
Breane Budaitis
Ohio Wesleyan University
Title: Inferring the history of morphological diversification in sedges
Advisor: Dr. Andrew Hipp
Interns: Alexa Cotton & Kasey Pham
Elizabeth (Liz) Carter
DePaul University
Title: Do oak species that are genetically associated with warmer climatic niches have greater isoprene emission rates?
Advisor: Dr. Mark Potosnak
2014_Carter CTS_URF_Poster.pdf
Erik Desotelle
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Title: Assessing performance of volunteers to monitor the urban forest
Advisors: Dr. Bryant Scharenbroch & Dr. Lara Roman
2014_Desotelle_CTS_URF_Poster.pdf
Christina Fites
Indiana University - South Bend
Title: Carbon storage and dynamics of The Morton Arboretum
Advisor: Emma Bialecki
Stuart Hupp
Virginia Tech
Title: Oak seedling survival and growth in relation to canopy structure and understory competition
Advisor: Dr. Robert Fahey
Kathrine Klaus
University of Illinois
Title: Towards a sustainable designer urban soil for trees
Advisors: Dr. Bryant Scharenbroch & Michelle Catania
Brian Maule
Northern Illinois University
Title: Effects of urban trees and green infrastructure on water quality and runoff
Advisor: Dr. Bryant Scharenbroch
Felipe Santich
University of California - Davis
Title: Assessing the use of morphological characteristics to predict branch attachment strength
Advisor: Dr. Jason Miesbauer