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The Environmental Science and Design Research Institute (ESDRI) supports students through their fellowship program. In this program students across any major with interest in environmental science or design come together to form a like-minded, yet diverse, community. Fellows receive mentorship from ESDRI staff, including workshops and other events, as well placement with a research or creative activity faculty mentor if desired. If fellows have a faculty mentor they may apply for funding for their research or creative activities.

This Spring 2024 six ESDRI fellows are graduating! The institute is proud of the growth they have witnessed in these students and excited for what is to come in their futures!

Lukas Capatosto

BS Environmental and Conservation Biology

“I’ve really enjoyed being connected with peers,” said Lukas, regarding the ESDRI fellowship, “Hearing about all the research gives a broader view of what is going on.” He also noted that ESDRI is a source of undergraduate research funding, which can be difficult to find.

In 2023 Lukas was awarded the Gary B Larkin Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship in Biological Sciences. While working in Dr. Sangeet Lamichhaney’s omics lab (Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences) over the last few years Lukas has become interested in genomics research and was even an author on a  about genetic adaptation to high altitudes in the Tibetan Partridge in 2023.

Lukas is now applying to jobs in the environmental field and considering applying for grad school for the next cycle.

Alicia Costello

BS Horticulture

Alicia loved getting to meet people through the ESDRI fellowship program and feeling connected even though she was based at the Salem campus. “Being a fellow over the last few years has been really nice. It’s how I got into research and I feel like I wouldn’t be going to grad school without being a part of ESDRI,” said Alicia. 

In 2023 she was awarded Outstanding Student in Horticulture Research, a Davey Tree Expert Scholarship, a Mitch's Live Your Dream Scholarship, and an Honorable Mention at the Salem Undergraduate Research Conference. This spring she was awarded the Eugene W. and Betty Haupt-Davey Tree Company Endowment and an Honorable Mention for her poster presentation at the ESDRI Research Showcase. She recently received funding from ESDRI for the greenhouse research project presented in that poster. Over the summer she’ll be continuing that research as well as working in the lab of Dr. Sarah Eichler (Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences), who was one of her research mentors during undergrad.

In the fall, Alicia will be beginning a master’s program (MS) in Ecology at Pennsylvania State University, working with  (Professor of Production Systems and Modeling) to research carbon stabilization.

Olivia Eader 

BA Environmental Studies & English

“I’m happy to have been a part of the fellow’s program because it’s nice to be around like-minded people,” said Olivia, “I enjoyed the conversations we had and it was fun to do things together as a group.” She also enjoyed being in a place where opportunities were brought to you.

This year Olivia received First Place for her poster at the Honor’s symposium and the Environmental Studies Major Award. She also served as the Director of Academic Affairs for , after previously serving as a senator.

This fall she will begin a Master’s program (MS) in Geography at ����ֱ�� State building upon previous work regarding outdoor education with Dr. Aimee Ward (Assistant Professor, Department of Geography).

Samuel Large

BS Environmental and Conservation Biology; minor in Climate Change

“The ESDRI fellowship was great as it connected me with my peers,” said Sam. Sam said that his favorite event during his time as a fellow was the Environmental Justice, Ecology, and Race Symposium in 2023.

In 2023 Sam was awarded the Cooke and Andreas Scholarship in Biological Sciences and the Gary B Larkin Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship in Biological Sciences. Recently Sam participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program, working with Dr. Jennifer Mapes (Associate Professor, Department of Geography). His work on this tree mapping project earned him a First Place poster prize at the Undergraduate Research Symposium this spring. In addition to that research Sam spent time in Dr. Dave Costello’s biogeochemistry lab, , and .

After graduation he will be starting a job at  as an Environmental Scientist, performing site evaluations/characterizations. Ultimately, he hopes to go back to graduate school to study landscape ecology.

Abigail Leonard

BA Environmental Studies

Abi enjoyed being a fellow because she felt it was a good place to meet people and learn what other people are doing. “It made me realize how much research is happening on campus and how easy it is to ask to get involved,” said Abi, “this was a good step to take towards doing research.” She felt like the ESDRI fellowship program had a good system for giving feedback, making her feel like there’s a lot of care.

Starting soon after graduation Abi will begin as a technician at , repairing, recalibrating, prepping equipment for soil, air and water environmental testing.

Grace Watson

BS Environmental and Conservation Biology; minor in Environmental Geology

Even with just joining the fellows program this year, Grace states “I had a really good experience. I’ve felt strong support in this good group of people. I like the newsletters and how they showcase people’s accomplishments.” Grace started getting involved in events like the annual poster presentations before she was a fellow, which she said was nice to be able to still be involved without officially being part of the program.

This spring she won the Judith Koonce Memorial Award from the Biological Sciences Department and defended her Undergraduate Thesis. This summer she will continue her wetland work in Dr. Lauren Kinsman-Costello’s nutrient biogeochemistry lab (Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences).

In the fall Grace will be starting a master’s program (MS) in Aquatic Ecology at Ohio State University with  (Associate Professor, Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology). She'll be working on a project in the Pilot watershed, measuring agricultural nutrient runoff in streams.

You can follow along with our current fellows here. And see what is happening with our alumni here!
If interested in becoming a fellow, click here to learn more and apply.