Meet the third cohort of SPARCnet RaMP Participants! As the group moves through their year with us, we will update this page with information on their research projects.
Melanie Almanza
she/her
Mentor: Stephanie Coster at Randolph-Macon College
I'm from Fort Myers, FL and got my bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in Genomics and Bioinformatics at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. I love going to the beach, birding, skateboard cruising, playing fetch with my dog Dexter, and binging a new show. In the future, I hope to pursue a career in wildlife conservation and management.
Alehna (Lanie) Crowe
she/her
Mentor: Elizabeth Bastiaans at SUNY Oneonta
I spent my youth hunting for lizards, frogs, and snakes in the woods of my Florida hometown before heading off to Chicago in pursuit of big city adventures. Ten years on, I returned to college and completed a B.S. in Biology at the University of Illinois Chicago. Outside of academia, I enjoy woodworking, watercolor, and outdoor adventures.
Genevieve (Genna) Feltmeyer
she/her
Mentors: Evan Grant and Elise Edwards at USGS
I grew up in northwest Pennsylvania and love amphibians! In my free time, I like to hike, run and swim. I love trying new foods and have recently been trying to cook new recipes.
Siena Guttormson
she/her
Mentors: David McLeod and Kadrin Anderson at Mary Baldwin University
I graduated from Juniata College with a degree in Environmental Science and minors in Biology and Chemistry. I love to stay busy and learn new things…running, scuba diving, sewing, and hiking are just a few of my favorite activities! I was born in Colorado Springs, CO, but spent some time in NH and PA, studied abroad to New Zealand, and look forward to exploring and learning more about our beautiful world.
Yen Chun Kuo
she/her
Mentors: David Miller and Carli Dinsmore
I am from Pennsylvania and got a degree in applied math from Johns Hopkins one year ago. I like ducks, drawing, and drawing ducks. My recent life goal is to finish reading the first LOTR book after four years.
Shawn Perkins
he/him
Mentor: Angela Burrow at Michigan State University
I was born in Detroit, MI and attended Central Michigan University for my biology degree. I have a leopard gecko named Toast, who's been with me since 2020. I love Pokémon, collecting plushies and playing basketball.
Destanie Pitt
she/her
Mentor: Dave Miller and Carli Dinsmore at Penn State University
I spent most of my life moving around --I've lived in the Midwest, East Coast, Bay Area, and down South. I earned my bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Auburn University. Outside of research you can find me fishing, reading, or hiking!
Landon Schuster
they/them
Mentor: Brandon Hedrick at Cornell University
I grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee and completed bachelors degrees in both Biology and Environmental Science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. You're just as likely to see me outside hiking and rock climbing as you are to find me inside baking, playing video games, or running a DnD campaign.
Kalen Strunk
he/him, they/them
Mentor: Alexa Warwick at Michigan State University
I am from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and earned my degree in Microbiology from Oklahoma State University. I am passionate about biodiversity, ecology, and exploring the natural world, and I enjoy spending time outdoors documenting wildlife through photography and iNaturalist. In my free time, I also enjoy traveling and learning new languages, which has allowed me to connect with different cultures. perspectives and media from around the world.
Lorenzo Tovanche
he/him
Mentor: Kristine Grayson at University of Richmond
I'm from Cleveland, OH and I graduated from Allegheny College in 2026 with a degree in Environmental Science & Sustainability. My senior thesis was focused on how contemporary salamander populations respond to historical land-use and legacy effects. In my free time I love to read, play soccer, or just hang out in nature. My favorite animal as of now is the Eastern Hellbender but I'm always wanting to learn more about interesting animals.