08/11/2026
A United States Geological Survey (USGS) grant continues to give SUNY Cortland students access to fisheries across New York state for undergraduate research experience.
The grant for the paid summer internship, led in partnership with SUNY Oswego, was first secured by Andrea Dávalos, associate professor of biological sciences , and Li Jin, professor of geology . Mary Beth Voltura, associate professor of biological sciences, worked with them to develop the project.
“(Students) engage in original research, hone their communication skills, and learn a variety of field and lab techniques used in fisheries,” said Dávalos, who noted the students interact and learn from professionals, graduate students and professors.
“A great aspect of the internship is networking,” she added.
The USGS grant began in 2023 as part of the Coregonine Restoration Framework, a plan representing eight U.S. states, three U.S. intertribal organizations and the Canadian province of Ontario to restore and conserve the coregonine subfamily of freshwater fish.
Since then, it’s expanded to wider opportunities but keeps its focus on aquatic life.
This year’s $73,315 portion of the grant let five Cortland and two Oswego students take part in research.
“Although our budget is relatively small, the impact of the internships we support is substantial,” Jin said. “Thanks to this grant, students gained real-world experience that significantly enriched their undergraduate education while enabling them to pursue these valuable opportunities without the burden of financial stress.”
Minju Kim, a senior chemistry major and geographic information systems minor, used fieldwork, lab work and analysis while at the New York State Water Resources Institute at Cornell University to study the effects of dam removal.
“Participating in an active field research project has provided invaluable insight into professional workflows and project execution,” Kim said of her experience, which included bioindicator sampling and data processing.
Cortland students and their main work sites are:
For Impellizzeri, a senior conservation biology major, the eight weeks she’s spent at SUNY Oswego have provided invaluable hands-on experience.
“I have learned a multitude of skills regarding boat procedures and safety especially,” Impellizzeri said.
Her work has contributed to weekly tows for larval fish at four sites, with samples then tested and identified.
“I took the New York boater safety training and got to drive a boat for the first time,” she explained. “I also learned how to manage sample and water profile collection on the water.”
Still considering her career options after graduation, the internship has helped her plan on what the next steps toward her career may look like.
“I’ve found working near the water to be very interesting, so potentially finding a job at one of the Great Lakes, whether it be conservation based or just nature based in general,” Impellizzeri said.
Kim described plans to pursue a career in environmental chemistry after graduation that lets her apply environmental monitoring and sustainable ecosystem management, with a focus on water quality.
“This experience provided practical, professional skills in fieldwork and laboratory analysis that go beyond standard classroom theory,” she added.
This is the fourth summer SUNY Cortland students have been a part of credit-earning internships thanks to USGS funding with it expected to continue a final year in 2027. Housing costs also are covered for all participants.
Applications for Summer 2027 internships will open in the spring semester.