The expression "Time and tide wait for no man" took on a new meaning for 14 students one day this summer. The undergraduates, from a variety of institutions, found themselves forsaking sleep as they waited at the College's harbor near Lewes, Del., for high tide--the only time when UD's 120-foot research vessel, Cape Henlopen, can safely clear shallow areas there.

On that July day, the research vessel was scheduled to leave at 4 a.m. The students began arriving an hour earlier, armed with their backpacks and favorite pillows, to embark on a three-day research cruise on the Delaware Bay. Once the crew and students were stowed safely onboard, the engines roared to life, and the Cape Henlopen slipped out of its moorings and out to sea.

This was just one of many experiences awaiting students who participated in a 10-week undergraduate internship program the College offers in Lewes. During their summer of science, the students conducted research alongside marine scientists to gain experience not available in the typical classroom setting. Held every summer since 1987, the program is sponsored by a grant from the National Science Foundation, with additional support from the U.S. Department of Energy and UD's Science and Engineering Program.

The intern program has helped many aspiring scientists gain insight and experience as they are guided in individual research projects by faculty advisers and mentors. For many students, it was the first time they had conducted research in a project of their own design, complete with the inherent challenges that occur when doing research in "uncharted waters."

"I am excited about being director," says Ana I. Dittel, a research scientist in marine biology-biochemistry, who took over the helm of the internship program from Jonathan H. Sharp last year. "It gives me the opportunity to interact with outstanding undergraduates from a variety of academic programs who are interested in conducting research in marine science."

During the first week, faculty advisers assist the interns in developing a research project. The students work on their project throughout the summer, gaining both practical and theoretical experience. At the end of the program, they present their results during a mini-symposium and also write up the results in the form of a scientific paper.

"This was the first time I was able to design my own experiment," Colleen Butler, a senior majoring in biology and ecology at Boston University, says. Her research project focused on Phragmites australis, a plant that has the tendency to invade and dominate area salt marshes.

"It was a bit stressful when I was trying to learn enough background information so that I could actually design an experiment," Butler says. "But, once I had my project up and running, it was exciting to see the patterns I could pull from my data."

The research projects not only provide the students with hands-on experience, but also yield information about marine-related issues throughout the Delaware Bay and other areas. This year, projects encompassed such topics as global climate, invasive species and fisheries.

One student, Cheryl Cannon, had the opportunity to learn about what is happening in the waters of her hometown. A native of Lewes, she currently lives in Dover, Del., where she is a senior with a double major in biology and chemistry at Delaware State University.

Under the guidance of Prof. Charles Epifanio, Cannon investigated whether adult Asian shore crabs (Hemigrapsus sanguineus) secrete chemicals that encourage larvae to settle in a habitat favorable to their development. The crab is an invasive species in the Delaware Bay that is competing with the native mud crab for habitat.

In addition to their individual projects, the interns participated in weekly seminars conducted by UD faculty and staff, as well as the three-day research cruise to demonstrate the wide variety of techniques oceanographers use when conducting research at sea. For example, the students learned how to use a conductivity-temperature-depth sounder and a secchi disc--equipment that is used to measure water conditions.

"These undergraduate students were taught within six hours how to run a demanding and complex science program," says Andreas Münchow, an associate professor of physical ocean science and engineering, who helped organize the research cruise. "They validated my trust and expectation in their abilities. After less than 12 hours on the ship, I felt redundant."

The research cruise is one of the highlights of the program. "It was my favorite part of the program," Butler says. "I got on the ship with no expectations. My only hope was that I wouldn't spend the time throwing up. It was such a great experience. I loved using all the scientific devices and seeing graphs of the data we collected."

Why would these students give up their summers to do research? Most cite the opportunity to get a head start on their future careers.

"I know that having this experience will help me get in and do well at graduate school," says Nathan Krueger, a senior majoring in biology and environmental studies at Washington College in Chestertown, Md. "It allows me to experience grad school before actually going."

UD biology major Jillian Walker, AS 2003, also is looking to the future. "I applied for this program because I have a strong interest in marine studies and wanted to get some experience in the field before applying to graduate school," she says.

For now, the students are back in school for another year. Cristin Ashmankas will graduate next year from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla. Summing up her intern experience, she says, "For 10 weeks, I had the opportunity to live with future researchers, scientists and teachers. It was a unique experience."

--Kari Gulbrandsen