2020 VIRTUAL UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM
The 7th annual Center for Tree Science Undergraduate Research Symposium took place on Thursday, August 13th and Friday, August 14th via Zoom (recordings will be posted below in the coming weeks). Over a dozen students, mentored by Arboretum scientists, presented their independent research projects and two keynote speakers, Dr. Justin Richardson and Dr. Tanisha M. Williams, engaged and inspired an international audience. This event is part of the Center for Tree Science’s Integrated Mentorship Program and is funded by the National Science Foundation’s REU Program and Morton Salt.
Thursday, August 13
Leslie M. Vargas, The University of the South, Early Detection and Rapid Response: Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) Monitoring, advisors: Dr. Chai-Shian Kua, Tricia Bethke, Dr. Chuck Cannon
Kaylee J. Rosenberger, Northern Illinois University, Sampling to capture the most genetic diversity when population sizes vary in a rare species, advisors: Dr. Sean Hoban, Emily Schumacher
Andrew C. Ernat, Iowa State University, Exploring Remotely Sensed Data as an Indicator of Phenological Sensitivity in Oaks, advisors: Dr. Christine Rollinson, Lucien Fitzpatrick
Tanya R. Perez, University of Texas at San Antonio, Tree growth in response to slope in a Highway Setting, advisors: Dr. Jason W. Miesbauer, Dr. Allyson Salisbury
Maddie Fernandez-Laris, DePaul University, Exploring Barriers to Recruitment of Transplanted Seedlings of the Endangered Quercus Brandegeei, advisors: Dr. Silvia Alvarez-Clare, Dr. Christie Klimas
Carolyn Brinckwirth, DePaul University, Population Structure Analysis of Quercus brandegeei, advisors: Dr. Christie Klimas, Dr. Silvia Alvarez-Clare
Camila Cortez, DePaul University, Reproduction influences of Quercus brandegeei, advisors: Dr. Christie Klimas, Dr. Silvia Alvarez-Clare
Keynote speaker
Dr. Justin Richardson - Biogeochemistry for urban trees/forests, Assistant Professor, Department of Geosciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Friday, August 14
Janey R. Lienau, Wheaton College, The Effects of Forest Type on Ground Beetle Abundance and Diversity, advisors: Dr. Meghan Midgley, Dr. Robert Buchkowski
Theodore James Bohdanowycz, Washtenaw Community College, U.S. Wild Harvested Tree Species: A Conservation Snapshot, advisors: Christina Carrero, Dr. Jessica Turner-Skoff, Dr. Murphy Westwood
Katelyn McBride, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Sap flow variation in response to environmental factors in American sycamores, advisors: Dr. Chuck Cannon, Samantha Panock
Pranav Sai, Colorado College, Processing and Analyzing LiDAR Scans of Trees, advisors: Dr. Chuck Cannon, Colby Borchetta
Sydney Kaplan, Illinois Institute of Technology, A Robust Computer Vision Algorithm for Tracking Branches from a UAV, advisors: Dr. Chuck Cannon, Dr. Matthew Spenko, Colby Borchetta
Jessica R. Langguth, Ohio University, Trait variation of gymnosperm fine roots, advisors: Dr. Luke McCormack, Marvin Lo
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Tanisha M. Williams - Conserving Biodiversity: From California to South Africa to Australia, Postdoctoral Fellow in Conservation, Genetics, and Ecology & Evolution of Plant Reproduction, Bucknell University
PAST PRESENTATIONS
During the last week of the REU program, students present their work at the annual Center for Tree Science Undergraduate Research Symposium. The audience consists of staff, volunteers, members of the public, as well as friends and family, and is a great opportunity for speakers to utilize the science communication training they received throughout the summer.

2019 Symposium
Full Presentation with guest speaker, Dr. Meg Lowman, aka Canopy Meg (website).
Rachel Sims (REEF)
Bailie Muñoz (RTF)
2018 Symposium
Full Presentation with guest speaker, Dr. Gary M. Lovett (website)
2017 Symposium
Full Presentation with guest speaker, Dr. Richard B. Primack (website)
2016 Symposium
2015 Symposium
2014 Symposium
Includes: Katie Klaus, Liz Carter, Erik Desotelle, Breane Budaitis, Felipe Santich, Brian Maule, Stuart Hupp
Highlights from past Undergraduate Research Symposiums

