Hi! My name is Aparna, and I am a PhD student at City University of New York's Graduate Center. I work in the Primate Molecular Ecology Lab at Hunter College, and I am raising funds to support Mauricette, a Malagasy doctoral student from the University of Antananarivo, during her one-month stay in New York City.
Mauricette has been invited to our lab for intensive training in wet-lab genetic methods and bioinformatics. This training is not only essential for her dissertation, but it also represents an important step in building scientific capacity in Madagascar—ensuring that advanced conservation tools are accessible to Malagasy researchers themselves.
About Mauricette
Mauricette’s PhD project is nothing short of amazing. She’s trekking through Madagascar’s rainforests, studying five different lemur species across the Andasibe region. Her goal? To compare habitat quality at each site and uncover how these environments shape lemur populations through a comparative genetics study.
And here’s the coolest part: Mauricette has already collected over 200 lemur poop samples —yes, poop! Why? These samples are goldmines of DNA, providing the genetic clues she needs to unlock how lemurs survive, adapt, and thrive in Madagascar’s rapidly changing forests.
She previously completed her Master’s research on sifaka behavior, and is now eager to learn the wet-lab genetic methods necessary to complete her doctoral work. This training in New York is a crucial step toward that goal.
Why I Am Asking for Support
We already have secured funding to cover her:
Round-trip travel to and from Madagascar
Visa and administrative costs
Laboratory expenses for her genetic work
What is missing is living support during her time in New York. This includes:
Rent: $1,250
Local transportation: $132
Meals & daily expenses: $2,500
Return cab fare to JFK: $40
Total need: $3,922 (rounded to $4,000).
Why This Matters
Madagascar is one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in the world. Yet, Malagasy scientists often face enormous barriers to training, funding, and research opportunities. With international grants increasingly under threat and first to face cuts, opportunities like this one are becoming harder to sustain.
By supporting this campaign, you are not just helping Mauricette—you are helping to strengthen local conservation leadership in Madagascar, where the future of lemur conservation depends on in-country expertise.
Every Dollar Helps
Your support ensures Mauricette can focus on her training without worrying about the high cost of living in New York City.
$40 covers a week of subway rides.
$100 covers three days of meals.
$1,250 covers her housing for the entire month.
How You Can Help
Donate what you can—every contribution matters.
Share this campaign with friends, colleagues, and anyone who cares about science, education, or conservation.
Together, we can make sure Mauricette receives this training and brings the knowledge back to Madagascar—where it is needed most.