Nicole Bender
Grad program: Ecology and Evolution
Undergrad: BA in Applied Mathematics, Marist College
Hometown: Warwick, NY
Advisor: Heather Lynch
How does it feel to earn an NSF GRF?
Surreal! Last year I received an Honorable Mention, so to receive the award this year is so exciting! I’m so proud to be one of the select few chosen by the NSF to receive this award.
What will this award allow you to do that you might not have done without it?
This award will give me the flexibility to fund my dissertation research in any way necessary, which is a luxury I definitely didn’t have before.
What will you research and how might it benefit the world?
My research will focus on understanding the spatial ecology of penguin colonies on the Antarctic Peninsula through the analysis of satellite imagery. This research will hopefully advance our ability to assess the health of penguin colonies that may be in danger of local extirpation through their unique spatial patterning and can help inform policy makers in making important decisions.
What sparked your interest in your research, or science in general?
I have been interested in the natural world from a young age and I became exposed to research science through the many opportunities afforded to me during my undergraduate career.
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