Sydney Hawkins of Ripley collects new samples in Chautauqua Lake.
A biology student at the State University of New York at Fredonia receives a summer internship “Good insight into the world of research” through career-enhancing skills.
Sydney Hawkins, a junior from Ripley, is focused on studying harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Chautauqua Lake. Her research experience, “Identification of the species composition of benthic algae in Chautauqua Lake”, is through Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and the Jefferson Project, a multi-year research program studying water quality and harmful algal blooms in this lake and other freshwater bodies, both of which are funding the internship.
“The main goal of the Jefferson Project is to better understand HABs in order to improve their management in lakes. The research I am involved in is one piece of that puzzle,” Hawkins explained. “In particular, I worked with samples of Gloeotrichia collected last summer. Gloeotrichia is a species of cyanobacteria native to Chautauqua Lake but can contribute to HABs during periods of excessive growth.”
Hawkins will be conducting microscopic counts throughout the summer, said visiting scholar Allison Hrycik, who works for RPI and the Jefferson Project. Hawkins will also be collecting a variety of samples at various locations around the lake this summer, each of which will be processed for a different purpose, such as water chemistry or taxonomic studies.
Routine monitoring around the lake and other smaller experiments seeking answers to specific questions are also on Hawkins’ agenda.
Since this is her second summer in the internship, Hawkins is already familiar with most of the field equipment used, such as a Secchi disk and Van Dorn or integrated sample tube. More recently, she has gained experience with software such as RStudio, ImageJ, and Leica microscope software.
A typical work schedule includes bi-weekly sampling at the lake as well as sample processing and other tasks performed in a campus laboratory.
“This research experience has given Sydney a good insight into the research world and will hopefully provide her with many skills that will be useful in a research career, including technical, experimental design and communication skills,” said Dr. Hrycik, who is Hawkins’ faculty advisor and has been studying HABs since 2016. Hawkins has also met and collaborated with several other researchers during the fieldwork, primarily from RPI and IBM Research.
“HABs are a global problem and not a problem that is easy to solve,” thanked Associate Professor of the Department of Biology, Courtney Wigdahl-Perry, “So our best strategy is to approach this from as many angles as possible. And part of our role here is to bring that big picture perspective. So we’re not only working to learn more about Chautauqua Lake and the HABs here, but also comparing that to other sites around the world.”
Chautauqua Lake represents the Jefferson Project’s largest research investment outside its home base of Lake George.
“Robust” is Dr. Wigdahl-Perry’s description of HAB research at SUNY Fredonia. “We looked at many different aspects of lake ecology, understanding and studying not only HABs, but (also) the lake ecology that supports all the things that live there, for better or for worse.” She has been studying HABs at Chautauqua Lake since 2014, when she joined the biology faculty at SUNY Fredonia.
Hawkins, who is minoring in chemistry and is a member of Fredonia’s biology and chemistry clubs and the North American Lake Management Society, plans to present her research at the university’s 2025 OSCAR Expo and give an oral presentation in the biology department. She is a graduate of Chautauqua Lake Central School.
This research experience is extremely valuable to Hawkins and fits well with her plans to pursue a Master’s and PhD in research contexts.
“Ultimately, I want to be a scientist who focuses on areas related to molecular ecology. In particular, I want to address environmental and/or organismal issues, both from an ecological perspective and with knowledge of molecular techniques,” Said Hawkins.
When it comes to learning about working in the field and in scientific laboratories, Wigdahl-Perry says there is no substitute for hands-on experience.
“Not only can she work with the faculty here, she is also connected to the Jefferson Project, which has a number of different experts, different tools and different questions that they are trying to answer,” she added.
“Sydney is building skills and network connections,” said Wigdahl-Perry.
