Pioneer

Research Project Evaluation Form

Student name: Rashi Watwani

Evaluator name and full title: Kathleen M. Susman, Professor and Chair of Biology on the J.P. Giraud, Jr.
Chair

College/university and department: Vassar College Department of Biology and Program in
Neuroscience and Behavior

Full educational background of evaluator: B.S. Biology College of William and Mary; M.S. Physiology
University of Wisconsin-Madison; PhD Physiology University of Wisconsin-Madison; Post-doctoral Fellow
Biological Sciences Stanford University

Pioneer Program title and Title of students research project topic: Program title: Environmental
Neurotoxicology. Research Project title: The effect of environmental lead on human physiology

Please briefly explain the nature and requirements of the research project and your interaction with
the student:
Following four group sessions that included lectures, discussion and homework assignments, students
conducted an independent investigation about a pesticides effects on behavior and nervous system
function by gathering the recent published scientific literature and writing a comprehensive review
article in the style of a current journal in Neurotoxicology. The project included the following
components: a proposal, an annotated bibliography, a final draft manuscript, a 20 minute research
presentation and a final, 15 page, review article paper. Rashi was prepared for all our sessions and was
an active participant and conscientious student. She demonstrated a keen ability to understand a
complex scientific literature on nervous system function, lead biochemistry and ecological chemical
distribution. Her final research paper was extensively researched and she created a final paper that
shows a level of mastery of biological concepts and critical thinking equivalent to my best first-year
undergraduate students. Rashis writing is highly sophisticated and really quite advanced. Her writing
ability and critical analysis ability is more equivalent to my senior level undergraduate students. She also
became a genuine expert in the area of lead toxicity.

Program grade__A____

Please rate the student in the following areas as compared to undergraduate students at your institution:
Excellent Good Average Below Average Poor

Ability to form original ideas XX

and concepts

Ability to communicate XX
thoughts in an effective and
articulate manner
Ability to synthesize and XX
organize information from
disparate sources
Level of students curiosity, XX
aptitude and industriousness

How would you rate this students potential for undergraduate level academic work at a top
college/university?
One of the best I have encountered, top 5% _XX__ Excellent, top 10%__
Very Good, top 25%___ Good, top 50%___
Below Average____

Describe some of the students strengths:
Rashi is one of those rare students who you will always remember as one of the very best. She ranks up
there as one of the very best five students I have taught in my 25 years as a college professor. She
approaches her work with enthusiasm and a desire to thoroughly and deeply understand it. She actively
contributes in class and provides insightful comments and questions that enhance the class discussion.
She sends emails and questions in-between class sessions that show she engages the course material
independently and willingly. And her written work is superb.

Describe some areas in which the student can improve:
Rashis abilities are already quite advanced. One area she can continue to improve upon is working with
sophisticated scientific sources and translating the evidence into her own words. This is a very tough skill
for undergraduate students.

While the second half of the research work was one-to-one with the professor, the first half involved
a small research cohort of 2-4 students. Describe the contribution that the student made to research
group discussion and learning: Rashi was the strongest student in this class of exceptional students. She
was always prepared for class, had interesting questions and comments ready to add in to our
discussion. She was the most active participant in the class and was always respectful of me and her
classmates.

Would you recommend this student to a college admissions officer at a top college or university? Why
or why not?
Rashi is a gifted and motivated, clear-thinking student with a terrific potential for a career in a scientific
discipline or policy/public health. She is very interested in neuroscience and the environment and is
looking for challenging opportunities in college. Rashi will excel at a top university or college- no
question about it. She is interested in challenging herself to learn new things and is willing to put in
considerable individual effort and time to master complex information. This class is similar to one I teach
to second/third year undergraduate students at a top college. Rashi performed at the level of the best of
my students, so she will most definitely excel in any top college or university.

Evaluator name (signed): ____ _______________

Evaluator name (printed): _____Kathleen M. Susman______________

Date: __7/20/17____________

Evaluator contact details (email and phone): _kasusman@vassar.edu; 1-845-437-7311___