CEFS Agroecology Scholars Program in Research and Extension (ASPIRE)
for Community College Students
Research Areas
- Students will be matched with research mentors based on their interests and will work with their mentors to develop an individual research plan.
- Students will be trained in scientific communication and will have the opportunity to present their research at regional and national scientific research conferences.
2024 Research Areas
Ag-Eco-Evo Lab
Faculty mentor: Mallory Choudoir
Graduate student or Postdoc mentor: Co-mentored by Mallory and Research Technician (TBD)
Lab Name: Ag-Eco-Evo Lab
Introduction and Proposal: Mallory is an Assistant Professor and Soil Microbiome Extension Specialist in the Dept. of Plant & Microbial Biology. Her group uses microbial ecology methods and molecular sequencing technologies to study the ecological and evolutionary processes shaping crop-soil-microbiome interactions in agroecosystems. The goal of her program is to translate microbiome science to sustainable agriculture in North Carolina by optimizing beneficial microbiome functions targeting crop health and climate change resilience. Research partners include growers, NC Extension Agents, and the ag biotech industry. The lab’s research and engagement ethos aligns with environmental, social, and climate justice goals. Learn more about the Ag-Eco-Evo group at choudoirlab.com
Typical work and research environment: The student will spend most of their time conducting microbial ecology work in the wet lab, with occasional field trips throughout the summer to collect samples and/or additional field data. The student will collaborate on research projects characterizing soil and crop-associated microbiomes and may use methods such as microbial isolation and genotyping, DNA extraction from soils, preparation of sequencing libraries, and functional analyses of microbial communities.
Controlled Environment Horticulture
Faculty mentor: Ricardo Hernandez
Graduate student or Postdoc mentor: TBD
Lab Name: Controlled Environment Horticulture
Introduction and Proposal: Controlled Environment Horticulture involves cultivating specialty crops in indoor production systems such as greenhouses, vertical farms/plant factories, tissue culture, and post-harvest facilities. These environments leverage advanced technology for precise control over factors like light, temperature, humidity, air circulation, and CO2 levels. This optimization leads to improved crop yield, phytochemical content, and flavor. Research within this domain directly influences indoor production methods in greenhouses, high-tunnels, tissue culture labs, and plant factories/vertical farms. The ultimate objective is to advance indoor horticultural production techniques while fostering the sustainability of existing systems.
Typical work and research environment: The work environment encompasses research in greenhouses, growth chambers, and laboratories, with no field research expected.
NC Extension Master Food Volunteer (EMFV) Research
Faculty mentor: Dara Bloom
Graduate student or Postdoc mentor: N/A
Lab Name: NC Extension Master Food Volunteer (EMFV) Research
Introduction and Proposal: Join Dr. Dara Bloom and a team of research and extension specialists to study the NC Extension Master Food Volunteer (EMFV) program. The EMFV program engages residents in food and nutrition programming in their community and trains volunteers to broaden the reach of NC Cooperative Extension. EMFVs work closely with their Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) Agent, to expand and build upon programs that serve families at risk of food insecurity, teach how to cook nutritious, low cost meals at home, and increase the availability of local foods. Dr. Bloom led the development of the EMFV program, and is currently the program director, in addition to her role as Associate Professor, Local Foods Extension Specialist, and Assistant Director of CEFS. The research team also consists of Morgan Marshall, EMFV program manager, Dr. Harriett Edwards, Professor and Volunteerism Specialist, and Hannah Dankbar, Local Food Program Manager for NC State Extension. Our research question revolves around asking what factors lead to successful program implementation, and what barriers need to be addressed. We will provide the student with training and support in qualitative methods, so that they can conduct and analyze interviews with FCS agents and focus groups with EMFV volunteers. The research team will share their expertise with the student about qualitative methods, as well as about Extension programming and volunteerism, and the results of the research will have a direct impact on how the EMFV program is implemented across the state.
Typical work and research environment: The student will meet regularly with members of the research team, both virtually and in-person, with the expectation that the interviews and focus groups will be conducted remotely.
The NCSU Poultry Welfare Lab
Faculty mentor: Allison Pullin
Graduate student or Postdoc mentor: TBD
Lab Name: The NCSU Poultry Welfare Lab
Introduction and Proposal: In the Poultry Welfare Lab, we aim to understand how farmed chickens and turkeys are physically and mentally coping with the conditions in which they live. To assess coping, we collect behavioral and physiological data from poultry under different management strategies to identify best management practices. For this project, we aim to understand how broiler breeder pullets are affected by feed and water provision practices. A researcher in this position will work on a team to learn how to use technology to analyze animal behavior, as well as collect blood and fecal samples from chickens.
Typical work and research environment: Work will occur in a poultry house at the NCSU Chicken Education Unit as well as in a laboratory setting on main campus. Researchers will gain skills in animal handling, analyzing animal behavior with RFID equipment and BORIS (Behavioral Observation Research Interactive Software) for video recordings, and developing research protocols.
The NCSU Phytobacteriology Lab
Faculty mentor: Alejandra Huerta
Graduate student or Postdoc mentor: TBD
Lab Name: The NCSU Phytobacteriology Lab
Introduction and Proposal: The research in the Phytobacteriology lab entails work with plant pathogenic bacteria and the viruses that infect them (called phage). In the lab we characterize phage for Xanthomonas pathogens that infect peach and pepper. The position requires skills in bacterial and phage isolation and bacterial and phage characterization.
Typical work and research environment: A researcher in this position will learn a diversity of technical molecular skills including but not limited to daily work in a laboratory setting and a lot of pipetting, PCR, Gel electrophoresis, plant inoculation, media preparation, and science communications, DNA isolation, and DNA sequencing. Here researchers will also learn multitask, develop research protocols, work independently and in teams, and carry out experiments and data collection.
NC State Soybean Extension Program
Faculty mentor: Rachel Vann
Graduate student or Postdoc mentor: TBD
Lab Name: NC State Soybean Extension Program
Introduction and Proposal: The NC State Soybean Extension Program conducts applied research to generate data-driven recommendations for soybean farmers in NC. This applied research occurs in plots across the state and is executed by a team of technicians, graduate students, and undergraduate students.
Typical work and research environment: The scholar would have the opportunity to travel across the state to help with data collection from research trials and would also have the opportunity to interface with graduate students, farmers, and Extension Agents. I would also invite the scholar to spend a few days over the summer at beneficial soybean outreach events and events associated with the N.C.Plant Sciences Initiative. Work at field sites may be hot.