Gabrielle Mostow is a junior from Adams House concentrating in Human Evolution Biology. This past summer, Gabrielle completed an eight-week internship with Field Projects International in the Peruvian Amazon, where she assisted in research on the behavior and ecology of two tamarin species.
What did you do during internship?
I learned how to conduct behavioral follows, collect biological samples, identify primate species by sound, navigate off-trail terrain, and handle wild animals.
Among the many highlights of my time this summer, one which stands out to me is my first behavioral follow. I spent the entire day running through off-trail terrain as part of the process to habituate a group of saddleback tamarins. The task was both physically and mentally taxing, due to both the skittishness of the monkeys and my own insecurities as someone who would not have described herself as “outdoorsy” in the slightest just eight weeks ago. The practice, however, of taking on a task of which I had previously thought myself incapable – and following through despite the difficulties and discomforts – brought me a newfound sense of confidence. Through many similar challenges, I was able to build a feeling of security in myself and an ability to embrace activities which do not come naturally to me.
What was your biggest takeaway from the experience?
While I have dreamt of becoming a primatologist since early childhood, I lacked crucial exposure to what field work actually entails. As I continued on an academic track towards primatology, it therefore became essential for me to enter the field – not only for practical skill development, but also for the purpose of deciding whether I am truly suited for a career in fieldwork. I am confident to say that I have now developed the technical skills which initially drew me to the program. I also discovered what it is truly like to live and work in the field, both through my direct experience and from the career field researchers whom I met at the station. I can now confidently commit to pursuing a future in fieldwork.
How did you find this research assistantship opportunity, and how did you fund your experience?
I approached several primatologists who I knew through my research and asked for their advice on finding summer opportunities that would provide me with an initial field experience. Through these conversations, I learned how to target my search and identify key qualities in potential programs. I discovered this specific
opportunity with the help of a researcher I had met during my first year of college. Together, we conducted web searches and found a program that aligned perfectly with my goals, and she was also kind enough to write my letter of recommendation. To fund my participation, I applied for support through the MCS Fund for Third-Party Internship Programs Outside the U.S. I was very fortunate to receive funding through the Weissman International Internship Program. I am profoundly grateful to the Weissman family for their generous support which made this transformative summer experience possible, as well as to my academic advisor and the researchers in my department for their support throughout this process.
