Sydney Hawkins of Ripley collects new samples in Chautauqua Lake.
A biology student at the State University of New York at Fredonia gains “good insight into the world of research” through a summer internship and acquires skills for career development.
Sydney Hawkins, a third-year student from Ripley, is focused on studying harmful algal blooms in Chautauqua Lake. Her research experience, “Identifying the species composition of benthic algae in Chautauqua Lake,” comes from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and the Jefferson Project, a multi-year research program studying water quality and harmful algal blooms in that lake and other freshwater bodies, both of which are funding the internship.
“The overall goal of the Jefferson Project is to better understand HABs to improve their management in lakes. The research I am involved in is one piece of that puzzle,” explained Ms. Hawkins. “In particular, I have been working with samples of Gloeotrichia collected last summer. Gloeotrichia is a species of cyanobacteria that is 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 world of research and will hopefully provide her with many skills that will be useful in a research career, including engineering, 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 easily solved,” acknowledges Courtney Wigdahl-Perry, associate professor in the Department of Biology. “So our best strategy is to approach the problem from as many angles as possible. 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 we’re 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 how Dr. Wigdahl-Perry describes HAB research at SUNY Fredonia. “We’ve 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 researching 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 doctorate in research settings.
“Ultimately, I want to be a scientist who focuses on areas related to molecular ecology. In particular, I want to study environmental and/or organismal issues, both from an ecological perspective and with knowledge of molecular techniques,” Hawkins said.
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 does she get to work with the faculty members here, but she’s also connected to the Jefferson Project, which has a number of different experts, different tools, and different questions they’re trying to answer,” she added.
“Sydney is building skills and network connections,” said Wigdahl-Perry.
