Taking a small amount of initiative outside of class has paid off academically for senior biology major Kelsey Hampton. Hampton has been selected to present her research on the morphology of fiddler crabs at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Utah, held at Weber State University from March 29 through March 31.

While working with Carl Thurman, a professor in the biology department, Hampton and several other students have been studying the effects of various conditions such as climate change and environmental damage from oil spills on two separate populations of crabs in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.

Were using Brazilian fiddler crabs as a model organism to observe relationships among species, Hampton said. Were watching evolution happen right now.

In the summer of 2011, Hampton, Dr. Thurman, and other students collected field data on the crabs along the Gulf Coast between Panama City, Fla., and Galveston, Texas.

The trip last summer was my favorite part of this project, Hampton said. We met a lot of new people from different schools and programs, and collecting information in the field was just really fun.

Hampton primarily attributes her success to good old-fashioned hard work and dedication, but also commends the UNI biology departments accessibility to students.

I really feel like the smaller class sizes make it easier to talk with professors and ask questions, as well as just getting to know everyone better, she said. Early on in college I was nervous about asking to take part in research, but all you really have to do is go in and talk to the professors. A lot of it is just taking that initiative.

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Undergrad researcher makes her mark in UNI biology department