Michelle Klein

Mertztown, PA

What has been your favorite class at COA? Why?
I've enjoyed all my classes, but I really liked Marine Biology because I learned how to identify many marine organisms and understand the natural history and ecology of the marine flora and fauna of New England, especially the rocky intertidal of Mount Desert Island. This course also gave me the opportunity to get off campus and explore and learn about various locations on Mount Desert Island and within Acadia National Park, which I really enjoyed.

What classes have you taken at COA?
Human Ecology Core Course
Marine Biology
Global Environmental Politics: Theory & Practice
Two-Dimensional Design I
Introduction to Keyboard/Piano
Biology I
Biology II
Geographic Information Systems I: Foundations & Applications
Climate Science
Ecology
Organic Chemistry I
Marine Mammal Biology I

What was your favorite lesson/lecture/discussion/project at COA? Why?
It's a toss up between doing seal necropsies (or dissecting any other dead animal) and a Biology II lab we did last spring during which we learned about renal physiology by monitoring urine production. We measured how much urine we produced and examined how that was influenced by what we were eating and drinking.

What is your dream occupation?
I would like to either teach marine biology and other related topics at the college/university level or do marine-related field research for a marine science lab or a governmental agency such as the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the US Geological Survey, or the Environmental Protection Agency.

Do you work on or off campus? If yes, where?
I'm a resident advisor for Peach House and work for the Admission Office as a student tour guide. In my free time I also volunteer with Allied Whale. This winter I'll be a teaching assistant for Biology I.

What do you see yourself doing after COA?
I plan on going to grad school to get a Master's degree in either Marine Biology or Marine Ecology, specifically focusing on ecosystem management/marine conservation biology and learning how marine policy is derived and implemented. I would eventually like to work on a PhD dissertation.

What country or state would you like to visit? Where would you love to live?
I would love to travel everywhere in the world, but I'd really like to see the rainforests of South America (and hopefully a three-toed sloth in its natural habitat), visit a friend of mine who lives in Madrid, Spain, and go scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef. I'd also like to see the western coast of the United States; I've been in every state on the east coast, but have never been west of the Mississippi. I'm not sure that I could pick one place where I'd want to live for the rest of my life, but I'd be content somewhere that's warm year round with a view of the ocean.
What is happiness to you?
My chemistry teacher in high school once told me that I was 'quite the comedian.' I know when to be serious (for the most part), but I'd like to think that part of that statement holds true. I love to laugh and make people laugh, so anything that involves either of the two makes me happy.

Have you had an internship? If so, doing what? Where? If not, what are your plans, if any, for your internship?
I have not done an internship yet, but I'm currently looking at REU programs for this summer. I'm specifically looking at doing cichlid fish research at La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica or marine mammal research (possibly with sharks or manatees) at Mote Marine Lab in Sarasota, Florida.

What are your ideas for your senior project? If you have already done one, what did you do?
I haven't really put much thought into what I'd like to do for my senior project. It will most likely be some sort of research project involving marine mammals or marine ecology, which may evolve from work I do during an internship.

What is your favorite food to eat? What is your favorite thing to cook?
I really like french fries and pierogies. Basically, any fried version of the potato.

What is/are your favorite color(s)?
I really like polka dots, but I've been informed numerous times that polka dot is a pattern, not a color.

What is/are your favorite animal(s)?
I like three-toed sloths, seals, sea lions, manatees, dugongs, anteaters, and cats.

What is the motto you like to live by?
'The true biologist deals with life, with teeming boisterous life, and learns something from it, learns that the first rule of life is living.' The Log from the Sea of Cortez by John Steinbeck

Why did you choose to come to COA?
I chose to come to COA because of the small, close-knit community of students and faculty, and all the resources that are available to me here. I enjoy being able to have lunch with my professors in the dining hall, and being able to get involved with research initiatives so early in my college career. Last year, as a first year student, I was able to get directly involved doing marine mammal research at Allied Whale (the marine mammal research organization located here at COA). This year I have the unique opportunity to meet many influential marine mammalogists at the Society for Marine Mammal Biology's Biennial Conference in Quebec.

What do you like to study?
I'm a science geek, but I also love music. I like that I can meld the two at COA.