BOWIE, Md. — A Southern Maryland student is making waves in marine science. Reina Whittington, a Bowie native and St. Mary’s College of Maryland student, spent her summer in Connecticut studying beluga whales through Mystic Aquarium’s “Research Experiences for Undergraduates” (REU), a National Science Foundation program that provides college students with hands-on research training.
The 10-week program is the only aquarium-based REU in the nation and pairs Mystic Aquarium with the University of Connecticut’s Avery Point campus. Students conduct independent projects while also receiving professional development in ethics, scientific writing and data analysis.
Working alongside Dr. Laura Thompson in Mystic Aquarium’s Research Department, Whittington studied daily hormone patterns of beluga whales using noninvasive sampling methods. The project focused on measuring cortisol — a hormone tied to energy regulation and stress response — in breath and saliva samples to see if patterns matched those found in blood.
“Having the opportunity to help contribute to the validation of noninvasive health monitoring has been a highlight for me,” Whittington said. “This would not have been possible without the knowledge and assistance of Dr. Thompson and the other members of Mystic Aquarium’s Research Department.”
Thompson, a research scientist at Mystic Aquarium, studies marine mammal dive physiology and health, including the role of the immune system in dive-related injury and disease. She helped validate methods for collecting respiratory vapor, or “blow,” from belugas to measure cortisol and other markers of health.
Researchers hope these noninvasive techniques will improve animal healthcare in aquariums and help scientists monitor wild populations without disrupting their natural behavior.
For Whittington, the work brought together cutting-edge science, hands-on learning and a unique summer opportunity that reflects well on both her college and her hometown community.
More information about the program is available at Mystic Aquarium’s website.
More About REU
The U.S. National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports intensive research opportunities for undergraduate students in a wide range of STEM fields. Faculty can apply for REU funding to host student research cohorts at universities, laboratories or institutions such as Mystic Aquarium.
Students accepted into REU sites receive stipends and, in many cases, assistance with housing, meals and travel. More information and a directory of active REU sites can be found at nsf.gov.
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Wow! That’s really productive…