Jenny Burgman, an environmental dynamics doctoral student, has been awarded a National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Research grant. The award is valued at nearly $20,000.

As part of her dissertation research, Burgman is examining rodents' teeth and stomach contents to construct a profile of their diets. Gleaning information about the rodents' eating habits will help Burgman and other researchers gain a better understanding of Earth's past climates.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for a great student," said Peter Ungar, Burgman's mentor and director of the environmental dynamics program. "She'll be adding to an important body of knowledge that helps us understand the conditions under which specific patterns of microscopic tooth wear form. This allows us to use dental microwear of fossil rodents to better reconstruct habitats of the distant past."

Burgman, who is also a recipient of a University of Arkansas Doctoral Academy Fellowship, is currently in South Africa studying rodents, as part of an environmental assessment project at Kolomela Mine.