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GSC Student Completes Internship in Alaska
Wed Oct 27, 2010


Glenville State College Senior Melissa Shockey, of Romney, West Virginia served as an undergraduate intern this past summer in Alaska with the Undergraduate Research Opportunity in Alaska. Shockey is a Natural Resource Management major with a concentration in Forest Technology along with an Environmental Science minor. Her research mentor, GSC Professor of Natural Resource Management Dr. Milan Vavrek, accompanied her during this project.

Melissa Shockey

“This was an amazing opportunity to travel to Alaska. Somewhere between the research and the mosquitoes I looked up and realized that what I was doing is no longer hard, but that it was a blast. The memories from this experience are something I will treasure for a lifetime,” said Shockey.

The work took them from Fairbanks to the Arctic Ocean, approximately 500 miles. The project, Implications of Ecotypic Variation for the Response of Tundra Plants to Climate Change, examines the role of local adaptation of plants to the environment in the response to climate change. Shockey is continuing to work on the project this fall by conducting additional research related to the larger project goals.

“The opportunity to participate in research and in the trip is an incredible experience for students. Students are exposed to new ecosystems. They are involved in unique and valuable research. They also interact with students and faculty from other institutions. These experiences promote their professional development and will result in scientific publications,” said Vavrek.

The project is funded by the National Science Foundation with a grant to Dr. James B. McGraw, West Virginia University, and Dr. Ned Fetcher, Wilkes University. Dr. Vavrek is a Senior Collaborator on the project. Dr. Cindy Bennington, Stetson University, and Dr. Gus Shaver, The Ecosystems Center, Woods Hole, also serve as Senior Collaborators. The project encompasses two field seasons, 2010 and 2011, in Alaska during which student participation includes two graduate students from West Virginia University, and one undergraduate student each from Glenville State College, Stetson University, and Wilkes University.

For more information about the Undergraduate Research Opportunity in Alaska, contact Vavrek at Milan.Vavrek@glenville.edu or (304) 462-6375.

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