Saving fish, money: Trine student gains research experience

Sometimes, all it takes to change the course of your future is one moment.

Trine University student Ellie Warhoftig’s moment was in her Professional Practice class as she learned all about Research Experience for Undergraduates (REUs) from her peers.

“After that class, I started researching REU opportunities on the National Science Foundation website, which is where I discovered the program at Clarkson University,” Ellie said. “I was very captivated by the project description and decided to apply!”

Ellie is a senior biology and environmental science double major from Plano, Texas. This summer, she participated in an REU at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York, researching and creating more cost-effective methods to measure contaminants in fish from the Great Lakes.

Behind the scenes of an REU

Ellie’s REU centered around finding a more affordable way to measure contaminants in fish. These contaminants come from agricultural runoff, industrial waste, etc. that enter the lakes and build up in the fish over time.

“The contaminants for which we were measuring have been banned since the late 1900s; however, they were still extremely prevalent in our samples,” she explained. “Being able to understand the types of contaminants and their respective amounts is a huge area being researched today.”

“The current method used by the EPA to test for these pollutants is expensive and time-consuming,” Ellie said.

During her REU, she worked on developing a cheaper alternative to the expensive EPA test by using chitosan, a material that comes from the shells of shrimp and other crustaceans.

“By combining chitosan with magnesium and zirconium metals, we made a powder that helps remove unwanted materials (such as fats and oils) from fish samples. This allowed us to focus only on the contaminants during our analysis,” Ellie elaborated. “Overall, the new method worked, but more experiments and tests need to be conducted in order to fully optimize our process.”

Her day-to-day work consisted of making and optimizing the modified chitosan powder and then packing fish cells with the synthesized material. They eventually ran the fish cells through various complex instruments, including the Extreva Accelerated Solvent Extractor (the first of its kind in the United States) and the Atmospheric Pressure Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry instrument.

“Each instrument took between two and 12 hours to run (depending on the number of samples), and we could then analyze the data collected to quantify the concentrations of 30+ pollutants present in the fish tissue,” she explained.

“One of the most unique aspects of this REU included spending a week on a US EPA research vessel on Lake Erie,” Ellie said. “It gave us added insight as to how larger tests are performed, and we collected samples for future research, which will be done by Clarkson.”

The 10-week program concluded with Clarkson’s Research and Project Showcase event, where more than 70 undergraduate students presented their research.

“I ended up placing third overall, which was a great end to the program!” she exclaimed.

From REU to post-grad research

“An REU offers a one-of-a-kind experience,” Ellie said. “I had the chance to work with amazing professors and a knowledgeable lab group, I was able to learn how to utilize advanced scientific equipment, and I gained so many additional skills which will help me have an advantage when looking for graduate school opportunities.”

“As an added bonus, my mom, dad, aunt, uncle and grandfather all went to Clarkson, so it was really meaningful to spend the summer in northern New York.”

“This REU deepened my passion for research as I was able to see real-world effects and outcomes from what I was able to do this summer,” Ellie said. “This experience was great preparation for grad school, and I built relationships with some amazing mentors who I will remain in touch with for years.”

After graduating, Ellie intends to continue doing research, and she hopes to be able to work both in the field and in advanced lab settings.

“The opportunity to work with cutting-edge instrumentation helped fuel my future ambitions,” she said. “I am really thankful for the experience.”