We are very pleased to introduce you to some exceptionally talented student researchers!  They are the recipients of the Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CW CESU) research fellowships that support internships on National Park Service CESU projects.

Receiving a fellowship allows students to expand their research experience and skills while also benefitting National Park Service (NPS) projects. The students were nominated for fellowship funding by leaders of projects in National Capital Region parks.

Allison Kitchel

Allison Kitchel is an undergraduate student at Frostburg State University majoring in wildlife and fisheries with minors in both cultural anthropology and plant science. For the past three semesters she has been working with Ms. Clara Thiel to analyze seed bank viability and composition at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park (CHOH). The park was once home to rich and diverse native plant communities, including rare plants species that are currently in long-term decline due to browsing pressure from white-tailed deer and competition from invasive species.

With fellowship funding, Allison plans to expand the current CHOH seed bank project by studying how seed germination patterns differ between an outdoor garden and a greenhouse. Results from her study will improve understanding of best cultivation and out-planting practices for rare plants of CHOH and the larger National Capitol Region (NCR).

In addition to strengthening Allison’s professional and technical skills, the fellowship will support her scientific communication skills by covering the travel to present her findings at a regional wildlife conference. During her time at FSU, Allison has participated in other research projects at CHOH, including carnivore camera trapping, for which she received an award at the Wildlife Society 2025 Southeastern Conclave meeting.

Jordan Edlich

Jordan Edlich is a master’s student in environmental science and policy at George Mason University with Dr. Andrea Weeks. Dr. Weeks is monitoring the outcomes of eastern grassland restoration and rehabilitation at Manassas National Battlefield Park (MANA) to improve ecosystem health.

Jordan will develop an inventory of all the plant species present in Manassas grasslands (a floristic baseline) that will serve as a starting point for measuring future changes in vegetation. This research will allow for improved ecosystem health tracking, better understanding of climate and development impacts, and will inform short- and long-term park management decisions. In addition to ecological benefits, grassland restoration activities at MANA are expected to enhance visitor experiences and recreation opportunities.

Jordan plans to pursue a career in natural resource management and has expressed interest in native plant restoration research.

Kristen Caldwell

Kristen Caldwell is working towards a master’s in recreation, park, and tourism management from the Pennsylvania State University. She is advised by Dr. Derrick Taff. Kristen’s research focuses on understanding the relationships between sustainable lighting infrastructure, visitor experiences, and wildlife wellbeing in national parks.

Over the past three years, Kristen has been a key contributor to a Penn State University project at Grand Teton and Acadia National Parks that is supported by the NPS Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division (NSNSD). This project has advanced understanding of how different lighting strategies influence both visitor experiences and the fitness of wildlife.

Most recently, Kristen led social science data collection at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, gathering input from park employees and campground visitors while simultaneously examining ecological indicators associated with the implementation of new sustainable lighting at park maintenance facilities and campground restrooms. These results aligned with earlier findings from Grand Teton and Acadia, suggesting that visitors and park staff are supportive of reducing human-caused lighting issues and helping protect fragile ecosystems.

With this fellowship, Kristen will have the opportunity to pursue further collaborative analyses of the Great Smoky Mountains data—working with ecologists to deepen the understanding of how lighting infrastructure shapes the coupled human-ecological system—and to collect data at Death Valley National Park, a designated Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park.

This research is the first of its kind to evaluate lighting infrastructure, visitor experiences, and behaviors and focused on reducing human-caused lighting issues within a concessionaire-operated lodging facility. Findings from both the Great Smoky Mountains and Death Valley research have the potential to inform NPS management guidance and policy around sustainable lighting, promote positive visitor experiences, and protect wildlife.

About the Fellowship

This was the third and final round of student research fellowships offered through the Chesapeake Watershed CESU to increase student engagement. The fellowship program was directly advertised to principal investigators (PIs) of active CW CESU projects. PIs were asked to submit a nomination for any student with whom they wanted to work. The nomination supplied information about the work that a student could perform, as well as their academic and professional history. Due to the funding source, projects from the National Capital Region were assigned priority in the selection process.