BotanyThomas Chapin
2019 The Joan K. Hunt and Rachel M. Hunt Summer Scholarship in Field Botany
.jpg)
Thomas Chapin is a senior studying geography and environmental systems at the University of Maryland. He will be conducting research at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center where he will attempt to sequence, isolate, and culture endobacteria (family Burkholderiaceae) from orchid mycorrhizal fungi, collecting root samples from the eld for initial isolation and culture. This will aid in efforts to reintroduce endobacteria (which dies out over time) to the Smithsonian’s entire collection of orchid mycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhizal fungi, containing healthy endobacteria, is essential for the germination of many North American orchids.
The Joan K. Hunt and Rachel M. Hunt Summer Scholarship in Field Botany
To promote the importance of botany to horticulture by encouraging young students to study field botany in the U.S., and to offer an opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in the field beyond the regular course of study.
Learn more See all recipients