We	SERA
GRO Forum
Environmental Protection Agency Greater Research Opportunities Undergraduate Student Fellowships
issue 2,2010
where are they now? Catching up with GRO Alumni
Cynthia Williams
When 2007 GRO Fellow Cynthia Williams traveled to EPA Region 9 Headquarters in
San Francisco, CA, for her internship, she expected to spend 8 hours a day in the
office working on the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Program TRI ensures that the
public has access to accurate data on toxic chemicals made, used, and released
in their neighborhoods. Cynthia didn't expect
that she would get to collect fish samples for
mercury testing and assist in a drinking water
inspection of chemical levels and regulations
in a water tank and wells.
After her internship. Cynthia asked family and friends what they knew about
environmental issues and did some research on environmental programs in her
home town of Greenville, MS, and at her school, Howard University, in Washington,
DC. "I found that many people weren't aware of environmental issues in their local
area," she said. "They were also not aware that
changing a single lifestyle habit can make a
huge difference, and that they have access to
EPA, State, and local resources."
Cynthia graduated from Howard in 2009 with
a BS in chemistry. Howard, a Historically Black
College and University was founded shortly after
the end of the Civil War. It is named for one of its
founders, General Oliver 0. Howard, a Civil War
hero and commissioner of the Freedman's Bureau. Cynthia maintained her focus
on the human side of science while deciding on graduate school One of her criteria
for selecting a research direction was to be able to work on a project that focused on
solving or improving an issue in society. As Cynthia put It "What fuels me to continue
research is knowing that I have the potential to help, protect, or better people "
On the drinking water inspection trip to Arvin.
CA, Cynthia attended a "town hall" meeting
about water quality During the question and
answer session, Cynthia saw that residents
weren't asking about scientific methods.,
data analysis, or molecular structure. "The
community wanted to know that their families
were safe and that the EPA and local water
facility were taking the necessary steps to
ensure their safety," she said. ' This made me
step back and realize that when I'm in the
laboratory with my sample and the four walls,
what I'm doing has a bigger significance than I
could even imagine."
"I absolutely loved my internship with Region 9 in San Francisco," Cynthia said. "1
was a part of so many other projects and programs along with my original project."
She credits her EPA hosts, Nancy Levin and Russell Frazer, with ensuring that she
was warmly welcomed and presented with many interesting opportunities in the
office, field, and lab. Cynthia successfully completed analyses of TRI data and made
recommendations to the TRI team during her internship
Finding that her own friends and family didn't
have much information, Cynthia said, "made me
wonder who else isn't aware of environmental
issues." Subsequently, Cynthia coordinated
an awareness meeting between a Region 9
Superfund specialist and her sorority. Phi Sigma
Rho National Engineering Sorority. She also wrote
to the mayor of Greenville about implementing
recycling programs and expressing concerns
about water quality.
Her internship work with TRI and her interactions with the community influenced
Cynthia's interest in increasing environmental awareness. "If you look on the news or
Internet, you see environmentalists, government officials, and scientists all covering
major issues, such as climate change, air pollution, and waste," she said "However,
there is little about awareness."
Now in her second year of PhD studies at the University of California-Davis, Cynthia
is still working to raise environmental awareness, now with her chemistry students.
"During lab I teach them that pouring chemicals down the sink or being wasteful with
materials negatively affects the environment," she said.
Cynthia credits many people and experiences for getting her to where she is today.
"If I had to list in order," she said, "it would be God, confidence in myself, support
of my family, academic and professional networks, good and bad experiences, and
positive friends."

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GRO Fellow awarded EPA STAR Graduate Fellowship
Jonathan McKinney
Congratulations to 2008-2010 GRO Fellow
Jonathan McKinney, who was recently
awarded an EPA STAR Graduate Fellowship!
The Fellowship provides support to Jon as
he pursues a Master's degree in chemical
engineering at the Missouri University of
Science and Technology (Missouri S&T),
Rolla, MO.
Jon has already earned a Bachelor's degree
in environmental engineering, and plans
to pursue a doctorate in the same field.
He explains the field like this, "A major
portion of environmental engineering is
using a process design approach to meet
the needs of people, while at the same time
beingenvironmentallyfriendly." He sees
the Master's as a way to strengthen the
theoretical underpinnings of his work: I feel
having a Master's in chemical engineering,
which involves designing chemical
In addition to providing Jon with the opportunity
to conduct interesting and relevant research
being a GRO Fellow was a learning experience.
First of all, he said, "A Fellowship is actually
quite a lot of responsibility!" Jon also learned
to work with other students. "That was kind
of hard," he said. "I'm extremely picky about
my work. I had to learn to let small differences
go." During his GRO summer internship at
EPA's Western Ecology Division, Corvallis,
OR, Jon saw how EPA research responded to
social and regulatory priorities. "In my opinion,
the EPA is doing its part to answer important
environmental questions with enough detail to
support a decision about regulation, but not
so much detail that time and resources are
wasted, which is what EPA is supposed to do,"
he said.
Jon has been researching the forensic analysis
of historical indoor air pollution events since he
was an undergraduate. With the support of the
GRO Fellowship, he created a reactor System
to simulate indoor air pollution events. "During
my graduate work, I'm concentrating on data
analysis methods and uncertainty analysis. I
also plan on doing some field tests with an
undergraduate student," Jon said. His work will
be applicable to addressing health problems,
resultingfrom indoor air pollution
processes, will provide a broader theory-based
background that will strengthen my future
research on environmental processes."
A major portion of environmental engineering
is using a process design approach to meet
the needs of people, while at the same time
being environmentally friendly.
Introducing the
2010-2012 GRO Fellows
Benjamin Auch
St. Olaf College
Janique Cheesman
Syracuse University
Allison Baker
Northern Arizona University
Stephen Cotter
Clemson University
Cailie Carlile
Missouri University of
Science and Technology
Kelsii Dana
Western Oregon University
Ethan Degner	Erin Delman
Gustavus Adolphus College Union College-NY
Ciarra Greene
Arizona University
Alexander Guzzetta
California State University
- Fresno
Melissa Haber
Lafayette College
Jessica Helgesen
University of Wisconsin -
Milwaukee
Melinda Hopper
Virginia Wesleyan College
Rachel King
Scripps College
Rachel Lamb
Wheaton College
Thomas Langer
University of St Thomas
Sarah Larsen
Florida Gulf Coast University
Phoebe Lewis
Langston University
Jillianne Matus
Southern Methodist
University
Allison McAtee
University of Arkansas
at Fayetteville
Jesyka Melendez
University of Puerto Rico
at Cayey
Brett Murdoch
University of Arkansas
at Fayetteville
Justin Paul
Juniata College
Brian Peacock
Lafayette College
Amy Prescott
Middiebury College
Robert Reynolds
Loyola Marymount University
Starlyn Robinson
NC A&T State University
Deandra Smith
Spelman College
CorinaSolis
Saint Edward's University
Jessica Taylor
James Madison University
Michael Thompson
Lafayette College
Emily Thorpe
Salisbury University
Jonne Woodard
Salisbury University
Chelsea Woodworth
Clemson University

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Fellows' ref lections - summer 2010 GRO internships
I'll be sad to leave the
wonderful weather and all
the friendly folks I've had the
pleasure to meet and work
with at the Mid-Continent
Ecology Division in Duluth,
but one thing I won't have to
leave is the experience that
has made me who I am at
the end of a short 12 weeks.
After gaining all the experience
and knowledge I have over the
three months interning here in
the Region 2 Lab, I feel I have
become a better steward towards
the environment. Looking back, I
believe the time spent interning
here was eternally beneficial
towards my academic and
employment future.
Elizabeth Medlock
DePauw University
Nikita Peperni
Southern Connecticut State University
Overall, I was quite
impressed with the Agency,
although it was a bit
different from what I had
expected. I had worked in
very structured and rigid
office settings before. I had
expected to find a similar
situation in Denver but I was
pleasantly surprised to find
that the office culture was
quite different. While there
is a very clear hierarchy,
collaboration and synergy are
strongly encouraged.
I really enjoyed being part of a team where
I was depended on. I was trusted to be
in charge of instrumentation and data
and not treated like an intern who doesn't
know anything It has helped my sense of
responsibility and shown me what it is like to
work in the real world
John Maravich
Virginia Wesleyan College
Shannon Klotsko
Coastal Carolina University
The atmosphere of the EPA lab
was always welcoming, which
allowed an easy transition. The
experience was invaluable because
I developed contacts, increased my
laboratory skills, and strengthened
my career choice.
MattTancos
Ball State University
It was easy to become comfortable interacting and getting to know
the people I worked with at the Atlantic Ecology Division, whether
during a lunch break or while working on a project together. I also
enjoyed getting to hear about the wide variety of projects being
done among the different branches. It was a very rewarding place
to learn, not to mention a great place to live for the summer.
Ellen Perkins
Wheaton College
Being at EPA this summer has entrenched me yet more deeply in
my environmentalist views, and in believing that what EPA does is
vitally important. I think that many people at EPA are working very
hard for that mission.
Amanda Hayes
Calvin College

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*>EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Research
and Development (8723F)
Washington, DC 20460
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use
$300
EPA/600/N-04/198
October 2010
www.epa.gov/ord
Fellows' reflections - summer 2010 GR0 internships... continued
I have learned to not
underestimate myself
and more fully appreciate
the significance of my
a ccomplishments.
JarymarArana
St. Edward s University
I came to Boston with a vague understanding of how the federal
government operated. My internship experience helped me to
develop a greater understanding and respect for the EPA and its
mission. The EPA tackles large national issues with limited resources
and works efficiently to improve environmental issues across the
United States.
Jessica Pulliam
Eastern Kentucky University
I have very much enjoyed
learning how EPA employees
fuse together science,
technology, and policy to help
preserve our Nation's most
precious natural resources and
hope to emulate their work ethic
and prowess throughout my own
future career endeavors.
Kristin Waller
Syracuse University
The internship itself is an incredible opportunity that I don't
think I could have had through other programs. I was able
to do meaningful work that actually helped with ongoing
projects; this is far superior to many internships that mainly
involve making copies.
Kelsey Boyd
Lafayette College
I have never been exposed to so many scientists working on
environmental issues. Everyone at the EPA is environmentally
conscious, which gave me a sense of belonging.
Angel Casanova
University of Puerto Rico at Humacao

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