2019 REU Fellows
Name: Cháylee Arellano
University/College: Louisiana State University
Year: 4th Year
A bit about me: Hello interwebs. I am from an African-American military family and grew up in various parts of the United States. I am the eldest of five children and have been part of a growing team since birth. Most of my siblings, and my father, share a love of video games with me. We would spend hours exploring new worlds and trying to clear a stage or level before the others. I guess you could say I grew up in a competitive environment. In my slower hours, I enjoy knitting, crocheting, video games (again), reading, and binging my favorite shows through various streaming services. I have seen the mountains of Colorado, experienced snow in Kansas for the first time, spent many holidays with extended family in Texas, lived in Hawai’i for roughly 10 years, and now find myself in Louisiana where I study anthropology at LSU.
I decided to attend this REU as I am fascinated with bioarchaeology and skeletal remains. The opportunity to study a past civilizations instills me with a sense of curiosity and adventure that I cannot ignore. After attending this REU and finishing undergraduate studies, I aim to attend graduate school to obtain a Master’s degree in bioarchaeology, biological anthropology, or forensic anthropology.
“I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race — that rarely do I ever simply estimate it."
— Markus Zusak, The Book Thief
Fun fact: I was drum major of my high school marching band while also playing clarinet and bass clarinet.
What is your favorite bone, and why?: The phalanges are my favorite type of bone because I have much appreciation for them. Without these wonderful little bones, I would not be able to do the things I the many things I greatly enjoy doing.
Name: Quentin Burke
University/College: Quinnipiac University
Year: Class of 2020
A bit about me: I grew up in the Dallas, Texas area but moved to Connecticut when I was in the 8th grade. When I first started at Quinnipiac, I was a pre-med biology major who was incredibly interested in human anatomy, but I eventually found anthropology. After taking a cultural anthropology course I was hooked and ready to learn more about what anthropology is all about! Now that I am going into my senior year of college I am strongly considering going to graduate school to study bioarchaeology. For me, bioarchaeology offers the perfect mixture between what I love about biology, and what I love about anthropology!
Fun fact: Last summer I spent two weeks in Peru with the Albert Schweitzer Institute (a humanitarian organization) from Quinnipiac! We got to stay with host families in the city of Ollantaytambo and the town of Patacancha, where we were able to assist in the building of a playground at a local school, and also the building of a restaurant. It was also amazing getting to see many different Inca sites, notably Machu Picchu.
What is your favorite bone, and why?: My favorite bone is the sphenoid, because it is shaped like a bat – which I love because bats are the only mammal that can truly fly.
Name: Victoria Calvin
University/College: University of South Alabama
Year: Senior
A bit about me: Hello, I’m Victoria and I am from Franklin, Tennessee. I currently attend the University of South Alabama as an anthropology major, and plan to attend graduate school in the near future. I love music, dancing, reading, and hanging out with my friends. I have two cats and a dog who I love almost as much as I love bones. My future career path is in biological anthropology, which is why I chose this REU program. I would love to eventually work for a museum while excavating archaeological sites, which is why my mom gave me the nickname Indie-Annie Jones.
Fun fact: I play guitar and write music.
What is your favorite bone, and why?: My favorite bone is the humerus, because it’s funny.
Name: Charlie Downey
University/College: Albion College
Year: Senior
A bit about me: I was born in Bamberg, Germany, but now live in Tecumseh, MI. I am an Anthropology and German double major. Outside of class, I enjoy playing video games and listening to metal music. My favorites are Skyrim and Cradle of Filth respectively. I am also a huge fan of the old Star Wars extended universe. The new movies are not good. I was interested in the REU because I have been interested in examining bones since I took a forensic anthropology class at Albion. It is very interesting to me how much we can learn from bones.
Fun fact: I know how the Stargate functions.
What is your favorite bone, and why?: I like the atlas because it holds up our head, and thereby our personal worlds.
Name: Rachel Heil
University/College: California State University, Fullerton
Year: Junior
A bit about me: I am from Orange County, California, and grew up in Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach. My interests include drawing and painting, working out, and playing with dogs. I love learning about the natural sciences which is how I became interested in human osteology leading to bioarchaeology. I hope to learn a lot about the application of osteology in a bioarchaeological setting, along with the public outreach that is incorporated into the REU. In the future, I plan to use this experience for graduate school.
Fun fact: I have dislocated my shoulder more than twenty times.
What is your favorite bone, and why?: My favorite bone is the sphenoid in the skull because it resembles a bat and has many irregular structures compared to post-cranial bones.
Name: Alyssa McGrath
University/College: University of Notre Dame
Year: Junior
A bit about me: Hi everyone! My name’s Alyssa, and I’m incredibly excited to be a part of the Bioarchaeology of Bronze Age Social Systems REU! I was born in New York, but I was raised in San Francisco. I first discovered my passion for archaeology during my freshman year, and it has since taken me to eastern Hungary, Albuquerque, and now here in Mobile. I was interested in this REU because I wanted to learn more about osteology and bioarchaeology, having only worked on ceramic analysis thus far. Outside of the classroom and lab, I love to hang out with my family and friends (and dog!), go for runs, travel to new places, and read. After I graduate from Notre Dame, I plan to attend grad school for archaeology.
Fun fact: While I’ve had multiple surgeries, torn a ligament, and dislocated my jaw, I have never actually broken a bone.
What is your favorite bone, and why?: My favorite bone is the atlas because I am a huge mythology nerd and like being able to move my head.
Name: Silvio Ernesto Mirabal Torres
University/College: College of Southern Nevada
Year: Sophomore
A bit about me: I grew up in Jaguey Grande, Cuba, and moved to Las Vegas in February of 2018. I am enrolled as an Associate of Arts in Anthropology while also doing a Certificate in Forensic Anthropology. I plan to transfer to a four-year institution to finish my bachelor’s and go to graduate school in anthropology as soon as possible. I am a member of the Archaeo-Nevada Society and the CSN Anthropology Club. I am interested in bioarchaeology and human osteology because bones are the written record of a person’s life story.
Fun fact: I learned how to write and read in Spanish by myself at age 5, before going to school.
What is your favorite bone, and why?: My favorite bone is the hyoid bone because it allows humans to speak.
Name: Jeremy Simmons
University/College: The College of William and Mary
Year: Senior
A bit about me: Hi, I’m Jeremy and I’m from Gloucester, Virginia. I’m a double major in Anthropology and Kinesiology & Health Sciences. I’m really interested in forensic anthropology and the human skeleton which is why one of my professors referred me to this opportunity. Given the research goals associated with this REU, it really suited my interest, especially in getting hands-on experience with human remains and showcasing the different connections the remains will be able to make through examination of them. I plan to attend graduate school for forensic anthropology after my undergraduate studies end. Besides bones and anthropology, I really enjoy photography as a creative outlet in my spare time. I also enjoy coffee shops because I like coffee and the environment is lively
Fun fact: A fun fact about me is that I sometimes sound like a dolphin when I laugh apparently and my friends never let me live it down.
What is your favorite bone, and why?: My favorite bone in the human body is the scapula because it’s just so cool to me with all the different features and the muscle attachments as well as its shape.