Hello, I'm Greg Clements. I'm a senior at UNL from Blair, Nebraska, pursuing a fisheries and wildlife major in the School of Natural Resources.

At the moment, though, I'm not enrolled in any classes. Instead, I have taken a semester off to devote my time entirely to my UCARE research project. UCARE stands for Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experiences. It is a program that creates intellectual partnerships between UNL faculty and undergraduates and funds undergraduate research.

My UCARE study has explored the habitat selection of whitetail deer in the Missouri River valley. I captured and radio-collared deer, tracked their movements, and analyzed the data to learn more about their ecology, which will improve deer herd management. In the end, I hope to detail deer movements, home range size and habitat selection.

The roots of my research reach back to my sophomore year, when I learned about a deer study that Dr. Scott Hygnstrom was conducting. Dr. Hygnstrom's research used radio telemetry to track deer in the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge. The project immediately sparked my interest so I volunteered over spring break to assist with the study. My spring break work gradually blossomed into a year's worth of volunteering. Then my UCARE grant gave me the chance to branch off of Dr. Hygnstrom's study and begin my own related research.

Working with professionals, devising my own proposals and managing my own fieldwork have given me practical experience that I probably wouldn't have received anywhere else.

When I arrived at UNL, my first impressions bolstered my confidence that I made the right decision in coming here. The campus nurtures a collegial environment where I feel comfortable and at home. The classes are exceptional, and, as the account of my research experiences attests, the school gives you the chance to get involved in interesting, important studies.