Nelly Koz, an environmental science major at Kennesaw State University, has accepted a competitive internship at Freiburg University in Germany, according to a Mar. 17 announcement from the university.
The opportunity is part of the DAAD Rise (Research Internships in Science and Engineering) Germany program, which connects undergraduate researchers from the United States, United Kingdom, and Ireland with professors and researchers in STEM fields at German universities. Koz was selected as one of 350 recipients from more than 3,000 applicants for her work on sustainable forest management strategies in the Black Forest.
Koz said she looks forward to learning about climate change impacts in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley. “So much of what I’ve done so far has led me to this internship, and it’s just a natural progression for my interest in the environment,” she said. Her previous projects include starting a community garden while still in high school and leading a successful petition to eliminate plastic confetti at KSU graduation ceremonies.
Karen Kornweibel, dean of KSU Journey Honors College, praised Koz’s initiative: “Nelly represents the KSU Journey Honors College and the PEGS cohort well, and this internship will provide her an incredible opportunity to expand her knowledge of ecology and her skills as a researcher.” Heather Koopman, dean of the College of Science and Mathematics, also highlighted how Koz’s experience demonstrates the value of hands-on learning opportunities available at KSU.
Koz credited KSU’s Office of Prestigious Undergraduate Awards (OPUA) for helping guide her through the application process. “It was kind of intimidating to just apply for this scholarship and a couple of others on my own without any guidance,” she said. Jamie Elliott, associate dean for academic affairs in the Honors College, said that Koz’s achievements serve as inspiration for other students: “This experience will open even more doors for Nelly while also inspiring fellow KSU students to pursue their academic interests with confidence.”
During her time in Germany, Koz will be involved in field research activities such as maintaining forest plots and measuring tree vitality. She also plans to create a short documentary about her experiences using her camera skills developed during previous projects at KSU. Reflecting on her journey so far, Koz said: “College is what you make of it. KSU has so many resources and so many different opportunities. All you have to do is ask the right questions to the right people.”
