Maine EPSCoR is hiring student interns for the fall 2023 semester to help produce written and digital content about Maine-eDNA, Track-2 EPSCoR projects, and other research in Maine. Apply through CareerLink or email a cover letter, resume, and, if able, examples of past work to Maine EPSCoR (maine.epscor@maine.edu.) If you have any questions contact Maine […]
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This year’s high school MERITS Scholars celebrated their summer work in August at the 2023 MERITS Program Celebration Day. Hosted at the University of Maine’s Innovative Media Research and Commercialization Center (IMRC), the 20 scholars presented their summer work conducted at research institutes, universities and colleges, and Maine companies. Of the 20 scholars, several worked […]
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Congratulations to Maine-eDNA’s summer internship cohort! The NSF EPSCoR RII Track-1 Maine-eDNA project provided support to 32 undergraduate interns this summer. Working up and down the coast and into the interior of Maine, these interns made meaningful contributions to the project by helping advance efforts like Maine-eDNA’s Index Site Sampling project. The interns used eDNA […]
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by Stefania Irene Marthakis Daniel Hayes, University of Maine (UMaine) Associate Professor of Geospatial Analysis & Remote Sensing and the Director of the Barbara Wheatland Geospatial Analysis Laboratory, teaches undergraduate courses in Remote Sensing (i.e., acquiring information from a distance) and Geospatial (i.e., maps) Science as well as graduate courses in Ecology in the School […]
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By Stefania Irene Marthakis “Maine-eDNA was one of my main inspirations to continue to study Zoology at the University of Maine, Decorey Bolton Jr. said. “I’m especially interested in animal’s behavioral patterns, how different environmental factors are affecting their movement patterns, and their interactions with other animals.” DeCorey Bolton Jr. is an alumni and now […]
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By Evan Bartow, Writing Intern Located across the many aquatic enviroments of Maine, harmful algae blooms (HABs) are caused by algae that can grow uncontrollably, and cause the production of naturally produced toxins. These toxins negatively impact other organisms within the aquatic ecosystems. Robin Sleith, who started as a postdoctoral scientist at Bigelow Laboratory for […]
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By Evan Bartow, Writing Intern Assisting in the development of new environmental genomics research, Dave Ernst (postdoctoral scientist at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences) works to develop the research tools that leverage environmental RNA (eRNA) as part of the NSF EPSCoR RII Track-1 Maine-eDNA grant. The use of eRNA detection tools can help expand the […]
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By Ilaria Bardini, Writing Intern Natural ecosystems, including Maine’s plants and forests, are increasingly being impacted by pollution and climate change. Mycorrhizal fungi, fungal communities that have often unseen symbiotic relationships with the roots of plants, are vital to forest communication and their consequent growth and success. The build-up of toxic chemicals and pollutants in […]
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By Ilaria Bardini, Writing Intern Alewife, an anadromous species of herring, spawn in freshwater systems along the coast of Maine. As an ecologically, economically, and culturally significant fish, their decline over the last two centuries is a crucial area of interest and study. With the development and use of environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques, researchers are […]
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By Evan Bartow, Writing Intern For some researchers, environmental DNA (eDNA) based research is limited and underutilized due to its, at least perceived, cost and ease of use. A major part of the NSF EPSCoR RII Track-1 Maine-eDNA grant is focused on the development and creation of advanced eDNA collection technologies and strategies. As eDNA […]
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