Rice graduate students awarded NSF INTERN grants for real-world research opportunities

Rice University graduate students Eric Wuesthoff and Esther Jimenez are the recipients of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) INTERN awards, a program designed to support nonacademic research experiences and training.

INTERN complements the students’ Graduate Research Fellowships awarded by the NSF, providing supplemental funding to graduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The program offers experiential learning opportunities through research internships, helping students acquire professional skills essential for careers across various sectors of the U.S. economy.

By earning access to the INTERN program, Wuesthoff and Jimenez are breaking new ground at Rice. “Eric and Esther are the first graduate students with NSF research fellowships at Rice to win this internship,” said Seiichi Matsuda, dean of graduate and postdoctoral studies and the E. Dell Butcher Professor of Chemistry.

Wuesthoff’s conservation focus

Wuesthoff, a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology, will use his $45,252 award to work closely with the Houston Zoo, less than two miles from Rice, and partner organizations. His six-month internship will begin in early 2025, with four months spent at the zoo and two additional months in Madagascar during the summer. Wuesthoff will collaborate with conservation practitioners to advance interorganizational partnerships, engage the public in conservation efforts, and pilot community science projects in areas rich in primate biodiversity.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to work quite literally in Rice’s backyard, just beyond the hedges,” Wuesthoff said.

His work will include synthesizing stakeholder information to develop an educational workshop for Houston Zoo staff and leadership, focusing on the current state of conservation in Madagascar. Wuesthoff will also contribute to the zoo’s educational outreach through blog posts and public presentations.

In Madagascar, Wuesthoff will work with the Groupe d’Etude et de Recherche sur les Primates de Madagascar, a conservation organization partnering with the Houston Zoo. His efforts will include piloting community biodiversity surveys in protected forests, supporting local employment, and fostering connections between communities and the unique ecosystems of the island republic in the Indian Ocean.

“I am grateful for this opportunity,” Wuesthoff said. “I’m excited to further the connections between Rice and Houston Zoo. It is a wonderful opportunity to link the two Houston institutions.”

Jimenez’s industry innovation

Jimenez, a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in biochemistry and cell biology, has been awarded a three-month internship at Solugen, a Houston-based startup focused on decarbonizing the world by producing chemicals from renewable sources. Beginning next month, Jimenez will work with Solugen’s enzyme evolution team to develop an enzyme that will help manufacture a new low-carbon product using the company’s proprietary “chemienzymatic” process.

Jimenez’s work at Solugen will be supported by $13,227 from the NSF. This funding will allow her to gain hands-on experience at the cutting edge of sustainable chemical production, a field she says she is passionate about.

“I wanted to be part of a company making great strides in working toward a more sustainable environment,” Jimenez said.

In addition to her research, Jimenez will participate in mentorship sessions designed to provide insights into working as a researcher in a for-profit institution. These sessions will also focus on building leadership and teamwork skills.

Jimenez credits her time at Rice for helping her secure the internship. “Being at a renowned university like Rice helped increase my chances of getting this award,” she said. “I’m grateful for everyone who played a part in helping me get this internship.”