SU Senior Earns Portz Interdisciplinary Fellowship

SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University senior Christian Ciattei recently was awarded a National Collegiate Honors Council Portz Interdisciplinary Fellowship.

The Perry Hall, MD, native is no stranger to accolades as a recent DAAD Rise scholar and Barry Goldwater Scholarship recipient. He said this award challenged him to think about research in a new way.

 “I had to focus on the intersection of biology and geography, and that made me realize just how interdependent they can be,” said Ciattei, a geography major, focusing on ecotourism effects on climate and animals in Brazil with Dr. Andrea Presotto, assistant professor of geography and geosciences. “It did give me a new appreciation for my minor in biology because it is important to know principles in that field as well as  having the technological knowledge base that I've been building up to this point.” 

Assisting with Presotto’s research, Ciattei will analyze bearded capuchin monkeys in Brazilian areas where mangrove forests and other species have had to adapt to the presence of humans due to tourism growth. 

“Having Christian collecting capuchin and human interaction data is urgent because primate species are threatened with extinction globally,” said Presotto. “He is among the young scholars that might be one of the last to be able to see primates in the wild.” 

The distinguished scholarship, awarded to only 12 this year, was created for honors students who wish to undertake cross-disciplinary research to support creative and innovative endeavors that traverse boundaries. 

“It feels great to win this award to help with my research, and it’s an honor to represent SU’s Glenda Chatham and Robert G. Clarke Honors College,” said Ciattei. “I’m so grateful to honors instructor Dr. Lauren Hill for bringing the opportunity to my attention and for Dr. Presotto’s research guidance and support.”

For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU website.