Semester 1: Fall 2025

Reflection #1: WHAT?

My capstone project is to create a manuscript and poster for the 2026 Ecological Integration Symposium presenting the results of my undergraduate research with Fitzpatrick Lab investigating the variance of estrous swelling depth in yellow baboons and its correlation with swelling width, length, and various factors. This will help provide insight into the evolution & ecology of sexual ornamentation in female animals. I will be bringing my skills in R, scientific writing, and communication to this project; however, I definitely want to deepen my R programming and develop my public speaking skills. This connects directly to my professional goals, as I want to pursue a career in biological research (more specifically, mycology.) I am passionate about the pursuit of knowledge, especially in overlooked areas; comparatively, much less study has been devoted to sexually dimorphic species in which female individuals exhibit sexual ornamentation than those in which male individuals do. I expect to face challenges in managing my time, as this will be my first semester holding a job during the school year.

Reflection #2: SO WHAT?

I chose to undertake a Biology Honors departmental capstone because I am pursuing a career in biological research. I believed the experience would be valuable, and it very much has been. More specifically, my research project was chosen in collaboration with my lab PI and capstone advisor, Dr. Fitzpatrick. Conducting a research project, preparing a manuscript, and presenting a poster fulfills the Biology Honors capstone requirements. However, I would more personally define success in this capstone experience as also contributing directly through primary research to the field of biology/ecology. That is what has excited me most about this project, and I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to do so.

Reflection #3: NOW WHAT?

I am utilizing previous experience from numerous classes in my project, most notably: Fundamentals of Ecology, from which I developed a research and data-collection workflow; Statistics for Biology, from which I learned the basics of using R; and the Honors courses Introductory Biology I and II and Genes, Ecology, and Evolution, from which I learned fundamental concepts both of what is currently known and how biological research is conducted. One of the biggest things I am personally grappling with in this project is time management; I feel that I have to re-learn how to delegate time every semester, especially as I am now employed part-time as well as enrolled full-time. I have learned, however, not to catastrophize, even when I feel behind schedule; my Capstone advisor has been very helpful in this respect. I am collaborating with fellow undergraduate researcher Aidan Lee; we have related projects in the same lab, and I am using his data as part of my analysis.

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