Abree Murch interns through The Smithsonian

2013 Jul 22

Abree Murch, of Middletown, N.J., is taking part in an internship this summer through The Smithsonian's Natural History Research Experiences (NHRE) program.

Murch is a senior biology major and is interning in Washington, D.C., in the paleobiology department.

The program, which runs from May through August, selected just 18 students out of more than 550 applicants.

Dr. Elizabeth Cottrell, who helps direct the internship program, said the selection committee looks for a strong record of achievement and the potential to go on to be a leader in the natural sciences.

Murch is looking at specimens of a particular salamander-like amphibian from the Cretaceous period and using a scanning electron microscope to image them to see if they have a new species and to determine relationships to other amphibians.

Through the program, she also had the opportunity to accompany her mentor to Montana for ten days. She worked with a team there collecting sediment samples, surface fossils, and looking for potential new dig sites.

I found what might be a hadrosaur femur, which was pretty cool, said Murch.

She said she is honored to be working with the program.

The Smithsonian is a place Ive always admired and the National Museum of Natural History is a pretty spectacular place, said Murch. I applied to be able to access the researchers and scientists, see the collection and to be able to work on this scientific level. Im so grateful to have the chance to experience something at an institution that is known internationally.

About Delaware Valley College

Delaware Valley College is an independent, multi-disciplinary college with property in Bucks and Montgomery Counties. Founded in 1896, it features individualized attention, small class sizes and an applied as well as theoretical approach to learning. The College offers rich programs in the sciences, as well as a variety of programs in business and the humanities, offering more than 20 undergraduate majors, five masters programs and a variety of complementary adult education courses.

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