Research fellow: Lauren Dansereau
Hometown: North Smithfield, RI
School: University of Rhode Island
Major: Biology
Mentors: Marta Gomez-Chiarri, Lindsay Green, David Rowley
Project: Allelopathic effects of macroalgae on shellfish larvae in RI under current and projected sea surface temperatures

Heading toward her senior year, Lauren Dansereau found herself thinking about research as a possible direction, but without any research experience, she says she was tentative about committing to that path.

As a junior, Dansereau took a class about the biology of algae, which fueled her interest in the field. She applied for and was offered a Rhode Island EPSCoR Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) — the chance to conduct full-time, hands-on research and get a taste of the scientist life.

“I was thinking about research, but I would have been nervous if I hadn’t had any experience,” Dansereau says. “Oh yeah, absolutely, this has confirmed what I want to do. Research.”

The main project she worked on this summer looked at whether the macroalgae Ulva produces a chemical that affects the mortality of oyster larvae, she explains. Dansereau also worked on her own project to present at the 9^th Annual RI SURF Conference Friday, July 29, investigating the impact of nutrient levels on the macroalgae.

“Initial results do show some effects,” notes Dansereau. “One species of Ulva has a similar effect on oyster larvae no matter what the level of nutrients. Another species, only under high nutrient conditions, produces a chemical compound that could kill shellfish larvae.”

She says the SURF program marks her first opportunity to conduct hands-on research, and she has gained a sense of independence in the lab, learning such skills as how to count under a microscope, culture algae with the types of nutrients they need to grow and survive, and identify local species of algae out in the field.

As the 10-week fellowship wraps up this week and she readies her SURF Conference presentation of research results, Dansereau notes that she is leaning toward working with microalgae, having discovered, “I like working with microscopes and watching things swim around.”

But, she adds, grinning, she’s glad she had the chance to learn about the larger seaweed species: “Next time I go to the beach, I’ll know what all this stuff is! Before, I used to be terrified of it.”

Story and photo by Amy Dunkle