Stephanie Sexton ’27 has always felt a strong connection to the outdoors. Inspired by hiking and backpacking in the Adirondack Mountains during middle and high school, she arrived at Franklin & Marshall College clear on her path.

“I knew that I wanted to study environmental science and engage in work with real-world application,” said Sexton, a double major in earth and environmental science and environmental studies with a minor in mathematics.

This summer, Sexton turned that ambition into action, helping drive cutting-edge initiatives in F&M’s backyard while contributing to a multi-year research project abroad.

Sexton began her summer in Lancaster working alongside F&M post-doctoral researchers Joe Galella and Julia Carr to analyze the overall impact of local stream restoration techniques. On the ground with Galella, Sexton collected water and soil samples and digitally mapped streams to locate natural filtering zones and denitrification hotspots. She then took to the skies with Carr, piloting heat-sensing drones to track stream temperatures from above. By gathering data from these distinct vantage points, the team could assess how effectively restoration strategies improve nutrient cycling and keep water temperatures stable.

After completing her research in Lancaster, Sexton joined Janet Fischer, Dr. E. Paul & Frances H. Reiff Professor of Biology, and Mark Olson, professor of biology, in researching the effects of climate-driven glacial loss on greenhouse gas emissions from mountain lakes in the Canadian Rockies. She traveled to Banff and Yoho National Parks in Canada, where she conducted on-site field work, gathering samples at lakes across the region for analysis. She is continuing this work through a for-credit independent study project this fall.

“I enjoy how hands-on the research is for students at F&M,” Sexton said. “I get the opportunity to handle equipment and actively engage in a way that is rare for undergraduate researchers, especially at smaller schools.”

Sexton’s summer field projects built upon an already expanding international research portfolio. Prior to her work in Lancaster and Canada, Sexton studied abroad in Chilean Patagonia, immersing herself in winter ecology, glacier science, and climate change impacts. 

“Participating in research has helped me develop the technical skills, field experience, and research perspective I will need to succeed in graduate study and a career in ecological fieldwork and monitoring,” she said.

Sexton credits F&M’s commitment to accessible undergraduate research for also helping her build relationships with professors who provide critical guidance on graduate school and career pathways.

“I really enjoy the relationships I’m able to form with my professors, and that through research, I’ve found academic mentors that care about my success at F&M and beyond,” she said.