Kartikey Sharma: Comparative Analysis of Feather Carotenoid Distribution in Different Parulidae Species

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In this project, Kartikey studies feather pigment in different species of Warbler birds using both field work and lab methods. Here is what Kartikey had to say about the experience:

What I Did:

For my project, I researched the distribution of feather pigments in different species of Parulidae family birds, commonly known as Warbler birds. This project included sample collection from the field, processing them in the lab and then analyzing data using different tools. The results produced from this project reveal the different pigments responsible for the vibrant coloration of the feathers, something that we did not have much information about before. I am particularly proud of the haplotype networks that I created for the bacterial families. Throughout this project, I was also simultaneously working towards generating a poster. I gave a PowerPoint presentation on my project at the STEM for Everyone event organized by the WiSE Network and was awarded the first place prize in the undergraduate category. I then presented my poster at the SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference at SUNY Binghamton on 28th April, 2025.

What I Learned:

Working on this project equipped me with extensive wet lab experience, field experience, and biological data analyzing skills which includes using data analysis tools like FigTree, PopART, and introductory R language. I have gained experiences in different parts of research like fieldwork, lab work, and literature review. This opportunity taught me how to present a big project which took months to work through in a short 5 minute or less presentation for people from different backgrounds. Each part of the experience has taught me various skills and given me the chance to improve on them.