niki cleary

In the summer of 2017 I worked in Dr. Steven Goldsmith's lab as an undergraduate research assistant at Villanova University. During this time I assisted in research that has been on-going in the Guanica Bay area in Puerto Rico. I analyzed hundreds of water samples from the Rio Loco for phosphate concentrations using a spectrophotometer, and also analyzed these samples for various anion and cation concentrations using an ionchromatograph.

As an intern at Marine Science Camp, I worked with children by administering lessons about the ocean and our environment, as well as performing tests and experiments such as water quality testing, acidification experiments, acid/base experiments, and shark/fish dissections. As part of my intern requirements, I was also able to organized and demonstrated my own lesson and activity regarding oil spills.

The Research Internship in Ocean Sciences (RIOS) through the Rutgers University Department for Marine and Coastal Sciences is a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). This program is supported by the National Science Foundation and allows students to conduct an independent research project with a mentor. Through this program I am worked with Dr. Daphne Munroe to conduct research and evaluate Atlantic horseshoe crab movement and interaction with aquaculture gear on the Delaware Bay shoreline. I was awarded the programs first place prize after final presentations, which is an all-expenses paid trip to attend and present at the 2019 ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting.

Gymnastics Unlimited provides gymnastics instruction that incorporates all of these essential elements whether children are just out of diapers or entering high school. Its state-of-the-art facility on a rural campus is located just minutes from downtown Flemington.It is here that for more than 30 years children have developed a lifetime appreciation for physical fitness, a focused and disciplined approach to tasks, and a character of hard work and confidence. Classes vary from one-hour beginner to advanced skill development for competition. Instructors and coaches are well-trained, not only in how to teach gymnastics skills, but in safety and class dynamics, making GU truly "a safe, fun place to learn."

Activities and Societies: National Honors Society, Spanish National Honors Society, Varsity Track and Field

Double minor in Sustainability Studies and Public Service and Administration Activities and Societies: NCAA Division I Track and Field: competing in the pentathlon and heptathlon, Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Villanova's Environmental Group (VEG)