College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Fisheries and Wildlife

At a large university like Michigan State, students know that getting hands‑on experience during college can improve their job prospects after graduation, but finding the right opportunity can be difficult. With so many potential options for Spartans to explore, the biggest challenge can be figuring out where to start.

To make that first step easier, the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife launched the Glassen Undergraduate Experience (GUE) in 2021. Supported by the Hal and Jean Glassen Wildlife Conservation and Stewardship Endowment Fund, this opportunity gives students access to real‑world training and valuable professional connections early in their academic program. It also advances Michigan State’s broader strategic goals by helping students develop career-ready skills and the confidence needed to successfully launch into the workforce.

How the Program Works

The initial concept behind the Glassen Undergraduate Experience was simple: pair students with faculty mentors soon after they declare a major in the Fisheries and Wildlife program, offering them financial support to conduct a paid, mentored research project. As the program grew, the department formalized an application process where, twice a year, prospective mentors propose new projects and students submit one common application ranking the positions in order of interest. This allows students to weigh topics, types of work, and expected hours in their application. Program Coordinator Rose Stewart then matches top applicants to available projects. With this approach, students find an opportunity that aligns closely with their career interests and also suits their practical needs.

The first GUE cohort included seven students, known as Glassen Fellows, and enthusiasm for the program quickly grew. Over 70 Glassen Fellows and 25 faculty mentors have participated since 2021, and today the GUE supports 15–20 positions annually. Alumni of the program have gone on to present their work at conferences, co-author scientific manuscripts, and enter graduate school. Glassen Fellows may also use the experience to conduct an independent research project for experiential learning credit.

Dr. Stewart explains, “The energy surrounding the Glassen Undergraduate Experience has been remarkable. Faculty are eager to participate, and students who enter the program with limited experience gain professional skills and confidence that set them apart. Seeing that transformation is incredibly rewarding.”

Student Spotlight: From First Field Job to Future Herpetologist

Quinn Bozek was part of the first cohort of Glassen Fellows. A Fisheries and Wildlife major who transferred to Michigan State in fall 2021, Quinn was interested in conservation biology and eager to gain fieldwork experience. He was paired with Professor Gary Roloff and graduate student Trish Brockman on a project tracking wood turtles in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to better understand how private forest management affects their habitat.

“My Glassen experience was extremely impactful,” Quinn says. “It was my first field job and gave me a wealth of knowledge about professional conduct and the conservation field.”

Quinn completed his degree in 2023 and now works as a research trainee and crew lead at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia. He plans to start graduate school this fall and continue his work with turtles. Looking back on the experience, he shared: “The GUE was a launching pad for what is thus far a successful career in turtle conservation!”

Student Spotlight: Finding Her Voice in Science

Xochitl Gonzalez joined the fall 2023 GUE cohort during her first semester on campus. A Fisheries and Wildlife major and Business minor with a concentration in pre-veterinary studies, she was matched to a sea lamprey migration project with Associate Professor Michael Wagner. In her application, Xochitl explained that she was especially interested in the project because it focused on a well-known invasive species in her home state of Michigan.

Describing her time as a Glassen Fellow, Xochitl remembers how transformative the experience was: "This program gave me my first real opportunity to be involved in research, which completely changed my academic path.” Her work progressed quickly, and by spring 2024 she was presenting her findings at the International Association for Great Lakes Research Annual Conference in Windsor, Ontario, with both Dr. Wagner and her mom in the audience. Reflecting on that milestone, she shared, “Presenting my work at a professional conference was a pivotal moment that shaped how I see my place in science."

Dr. Wagner witnessed that growth firsthand: “I was amazed at Xochitl’s energy, thoughtfulness, and engagement throughout the project, and her remarkable speaking skills as she presented her results at (the) conference,” he said. “It has inspired me to continue to recruit Glassen Undergraduate Experience students into our lab.”

Now a research assistant in Michigan State’s P.I.G. Lab, Xochitl is on track to graduate in spring 2027 and plans to pursue veterinary school.

Student Spotlight: Building a Database to Support Lake Sturgeon Research

For Delsin Wright, a Fisheries and Wildlife major and Marine Ecosystem Management minor who transferred to Michigan State in fall 2024, the GUE opened a door to work with one of his favorite fish species. He had spent the previous summer working with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to rear juvenile lake sturgeon and saw the program as an opportunity to gain exposure to research efforts for this protected species.

Mentored by Assistant Professor Scott Colborne and Research Assistant Doug Larson, Delsin worked on a computer-based project to help organize extensive Black River lake sturgeon data encompassing demographics, genetics, tagging, and stocking activities. Speaking to Delsin’s role, Dr. Colborne shared, “Delsin took on a complex, large-scale data need and turned it into an opportunity to build skills in database design and implementation. By organizing more than 20 years of lake sturgeon data into a usable, well-structured system, his work created a resource that will support a wide range of research efforts at the Black River Sturgeon Rearing Facility going forward.”

After the database was developed, Delsin used it to explore long-term trends in the population. Reflecting on the experience, he said, “This program gave me an opportunity to immerse myself in research and feel more involved when I transferred to MSU. It’s helped me build relationships and make connections.” One of those connections was with other researchers at Michigan State’s Quantitative Fisheries Center and the sturgeon rearing facility, which ultimately landed Delsin a summer fieldwork job at the facility near Cheboygan, Michigan. He completed his GUE work in fall 2025 and will graduate next fall.

Expanding the Program’s Reach

The popularity of the Glassen Undergraduate Experience has underscored the need for more research opportunities for interested Fisheries and Wildlife students. In 2024, the GUE invited faculty to contribute matching support to help expand the program's capacity and reach more students. The match is optional, giving mentors the flexibility to propose an undergraduate research experience that aligns with existing funding or to develop an entirely novel, unfunded project that would not be possible otherwise.

“Faculty mentors in our department have really stepped up to offer outstanding projects with built-in flexibility,” says Dr. Stewart. “Interest in the program remains high, and our goal now is to expand it even further to reach as many students as possible.”

Support the Glassen Undergraduate Experience: Giving to FW

More Information about the Program: Glassen Undergraduate Experience

Explore the Benefits of Undergraduate Research: MSU Office of Undergraduate Research

Learn about an additional Glassen-supported program that offers summer internships to upper-level Michigan State students interested in natural resources and policy: Glassen Scholars Program