We are continuing our series spotlighting Temple University Ambler students as they share insights into their research and their experiences on campus.

Jasleen Kalsi, is an Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity in the  College of Science and Technology and Spanish in the College of Liberal Arts.

"Coming into college, it was in between either studying neuroscience or entering the Ecology major. I tried to do neuroscience first but then I realized that it wasn't something I wanted to do as I career," she said. "I decided to pursue Ecology and I've been liking it a lot ever since."

Kalsi said she discovered the Temple Ambler Field Station by exploring information about the many research opportunities available to students at Temple.

"The Field Station sounded the most interesting to me," she said. "In the spring semester, I was working on collecting seeds, separating them from seeds and biomass and then weighing the biomass." Read more at https://youtu.be/mCpdqiQiymw.

For her personal research project, Kalsi said, "I was looking into microalgal communities within the Temple Forest Observatory versus nearby Robbins Park — basically comparing a disturbed forest and an undisturbed forest."

"I'm going to be expanding the research to look at soil fungus as a whole because microalgal fungus is only one type of soil fungus. I've already collected data on the all of the different types of associations in the Temple Forest Observatory versus Robbins Park," she said. "We're going to be looking at if those different associations effect of soil fungus as a whole."

The benefit of hands-on projects like the research she has undertaken with the Field Station, "is that it's a hands-on view of what a career in could potentially look like, especially in research that involves being outside."

"I like seeing directly where you are getting all of your data from. You see the source whereas in just a lab experience you're working with what you are given," she said. "Getting help and advice from mentors on career development and professional development has been very helpful."

Students gain advanced training by engaging in hands-on research internships that bring alive the excitement of science through an inquiry-based experience. Student interns work alongside researchers in the field to support ongoing projects and can develop investigations of their own.

Students interested in becoming a Field Station Research Intern, should reach out to the Temple Ambler Field Station at fieldstation@temple.edu with their name, why they are interested in working with the Field Station, current transcripts, and current resumé.  

Learn more about the Temple Ambler Field Station at https://ambler.temple.edu/fieldstation.