The research project was a collaboration with Cleveland Metroparks, fellow students and a key faculty mentor.
Skyanne Melton '25 will graduate in December with a rare achievement for an undergraduate student. The biology and environmental science double major was recently published in the international journal Plant Ecology.
The original research, titled "," is especially impressive because of where Melton's name appears — as "first author."
"It is unusual for an undergraduate to be a published author at all, and to have a first-authored paper before graduation is a very rare achievement," notes BW Professor of Biology Dr. Kathryn Flinn. "This means she was involved in the project from start to finish and really led the writing of the paper."
BW student Zachary R. Hughes '24, ecologists Sarah R. Eysenbach and Constance E. Hausman, and Flinn also contributed and are named as collaborators, but Melton led the way.
The Middleburg Heights, Ohio, native and Berea Midpark High School graduate worked on the project for two years, collecting data during her summer job with the Metroparks and then working with her fellow authors to analyze the data, generate figures and write the manuscript.
She calls the experience a "little surreal."
"There were two years of work and writing, then back and forth with edits, and suddenly the paper is accepted, published, and out of your hands. Once it had sunk in, though? It felt great."
Melton, who aspires to continue doing fieldwork and scientific research, credits BW with providing the hands-on education that has made all the difference in getting her career-ready.
"Real-world connection, incredible field trips and experiential learning opportunities, where we get a hands-on experience in the various natural science fields, have been a highlight of my time here at BW," Melton says.
She also values the unwavering support and mentorship of the faculty, especially from Flinn. "She guided and helped me push through the highs and lows of writing and publishing a paper. In the end, I had the opportunity to present my research at a conference, present at Ovation, and write and publish my first-ever manuscript, all things I don't think I could have done without her help and commitment."
"I saw Skyanne go through a huge learning curve to reach the point where she is contributing to the greater scientific conversation, and I can't wait to see what she does next," Flinn says.
At the end of the day, Melton has one big takeaway to guide her after graduation: "I should always seize an opportunity to pursue my ambitions, no matter how intimidating and challenging it may seem."
