This summer, Biology major Mary Gomulak ’27 joined Dr. Courtney Fitzpatrick’s lab for a field-based research experience at the Southwestern Research Station in Portal, Arizona. Under the mentorship of graduate student Brittany Cornell, Mary became a key member of a team investigating the evolutionary significance of female ornamentation in the striped plateau lizard (Sceloporus virgatus).
Each day, Mary and the team trekked into the field to locate previously marked lizards, recording behavioral observations with a focus on mating dynamics. After the breeding season concluded, they collected gravid females to incubate and hatch offspring—work that will provide critical data for understanding the role of female ornamentation in reproductive success.
Mary’s experience extended well beyond lizards. At the station, she contributed to projects involving owls, hummingbirds, bats, and additional lizard species, gaining wide-ranging exposure to field biology. “I got lots of hands-on experience and learned so much that I do not believe I am capable of learning in a classroom,” she reflected.
The setting itself left a lasting impression. Surrounded by the rugged Chiricahua Mountains and an extraordinary diversity of wildlife, Mary found her passion for biology reaffirmed. “The beautiful scenery, along with the plentiful and diverse wildlife, truly inspired me to keep pursuing this career path,” she shared.
Looking ahead, Mary will continue with the Fitzpatrick Lab this fall, supporting data analysis efforts, and she plans to return to the field next summer. With every step, she is building the skills, confidence, and perspective that undergraduate research provides—an experience that is shaping her both as a student and as a future scientist.