Summer Research in Canada

Queen's University Biological Station

From May to August Dr. Bruce Smith and Kit Muma conduct research at a field station north of Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Studies generally involve both a field and laboratory component and are in the area of host/parasite interactions involving water mites and insects and sensory physiology on moths and their bat predators. In the past, students coming to Canada have recieved funding from the DANA internship program (application deadline in February) and the Ford Fund and we anticipate funding in the future from the newly established "Jack and Flo Bernard Family Undergraduate Research Fund". Students may choose to complete their 302 research requirement through summer research.

Students who have worked with us in Canada include:

Nate Sylvester, '02 Environmental Studies

(here pictured with Bruce Smith outside the Operations Centre at QUBS)

Fawn Stehlin, '02 Biology

Jennifer Moran, '01 Biochemistry, currently at Notre Dame University, Ph.D. Program at the Center for Tropical Disease Research and Training working on Toxoplasma gondii.

Derek Budman, '98 Biology - in last year of 4 year program at Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and will be starting a 3 year scholarship with the Airforce when he finishes at the end of this year.

Chris Coleman, '97 Biology - P.T. Program, Beaver College.

Melissa Thornton, '96 Biology - MS North Carolina State University

Jessica Morrow, '95 Biology - Frostburg State

Nolan Pickens, '95 (Sociology)

Seth Ettenberg, '94 Biology - USUHS - PhD Mol./Cell, Bethesda

The Queen's University Biological Station is located approximately 4 hours by car from Ithaca. The station consists of over 5000 acres and provides laboratories, lodging, and meals. While located in forest on Lake Opinicon, the research station is not isolated: the primary land-use of the region is for cottages. Elgin (a town) is a 15 min. drive, Kingston (city) is 40 min. drive, and Ottawa (nation's capital) is 1 1/2 hours drive. Off-hours activities include canoeing, fishing, hiking, and going into town for night-life. There will be approximately 40 full-time occupants (professors, graduate students, undergraduates) representing 8 or more academic institutions. The atmosphere is more like an extended family, and many lasting friendships are made. The diversity of the station community provides exposure to a wide range of field-related research; this is chance to get to know professors at other institutions and explore opportunities for graduate studies.

"Station Dinner" Group - 2002

David, Amanda and James filming bats with an infrared camera to see them foraging on moths.

James and Amanda on their way to find a bat roost.

 

Raising the "arthropodium" - a platform used for launching moths into the flight paths of bats.

When we aren't working you might find us enjoying a BBQ by the lake...

(Beth, Mike, Bryan, Amanda, Cassie)

...or a campfire.

Contact either Bruce Smith (smithb@ithaca.edu, CNS 171) or Kit Muma (muma@ithaca.edu, CNS 158) if you are interested in being a part of the QUBS experience in the summer of 2003.

This page maintained by Kit Muma.

Last updated: Sept. 2002

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