DSU students Meredith Rice (L) and Janne Bodemer have been selected for prestigious international research internships.CLEVELAND, Miss. — Two exceptional students from Delta State University’s Division of Mathematics and Sciences have been selected for competitive international research internships, further showcasing the University’s commitment to academic excellence and global engagement.
Janne Bodemer, a rising senior from Muenster, Germany, will spend seven weeks this summer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, conducting polymer research at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). A double major in Chemistry and Mathematics, Bodemer is no stranger to international travel, but this will be her first time in Brazil.
“I’ll be working with professors on a polymer science project, which will be more experimental than my previous, more theoretical, honors research,” she said. “I’m also excited to experience Brazilian culture and try speaking Portuguese.”
Bodemer, a student in DSU’s Honors Program and a standout student-athlete, recently received the 2024–2025 Lady Statesmen Award for the Women’s Swim and Dive Team and earned second team All-American honors at the 2025 NCAA National Championships. She also presented her poster, “Polyethylene Terephthalate and Corresponding Enzymes That Break It Down,” at the 2025 Mississippi Academy of Sciences conference. In recognition of her academic achievements, she received the Dr. Joe C. Greever Organic Chemistry Award and the Rose Strahan Scholarship for Mathematics. She also works as a math tutor in the Student Success Center.
Meredith Rice, a May 2025 graduate from Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, will begin a nine-month internship this fall at the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation on the island of Samos, Greece. As part of the Marine Mammal Conservation Research Unit, Rice will study dolphin populations in the Mediterranean Sea.
“I chose this internship for two reasons,” she said. “First, I’ve always been passionate about marine science and see this as a great opportunity to build on my previous research experiences and prepare for graduate school. Second, my mother is from Greece, and I want to connect with that part of my heritage.”
Rice graduated with honors from Delta State with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science (concentration in Wildlife Management) and in General Biology. A four-time President’s List scholar and recipient of the 2024 NCAA Division II ADA Academic Achievement Award, she served as president of Delta State’s TriBeta Biological Honor Society chapter. At the 2025 Mississippi Academy of Sciences conference, she presented two research posters: “Effects on Bacterial Competition by Tailocin Fiber Mutation and Anatomical Features of Taraxacum officinale (Common Dandelion).” Rice also completed previous research internships at Savannah State University and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and was a member of the swim and dive team while an undergraduate at DSU.
Dr. Joe Bentley, Interim Chair of the Division of Mathematics and Sciences and Professor of Chemistry, praised the students’ accomplishments.
“The selection of Meredith and Janne for prestigious international research positions reflects both the strength of our academic programs and their outstanding personal commitment,” Bentley said. “Their ability to balance demanding athletic schedules with academic excellence speaks volumes about their dedication and discipline.”
To learn more about Delta State University’s degree programs in mathematics and sciences, visit www.deltastate.edu/nursing-health-sciences/mathematics-sciences.
