Dara Bloom

NC Extension Master Food Volunteer Program

Join Dr. Dara Bloom and a national team of research and extension specialists to conduct a needs assessment of family & consumer sciences (FCS) focused Extension Master Volunteer programs around the country related to food, cooking, nutrition, health, and wellness (ex Master FCS Volunteers, Master Food Volunteers, Master Health Ambassadors, etc). These Master Volunteer programs all share the goal of training community members to support FCS programming at the local level, and each is designed differently to respond to state context. A group of FCS-focused Master Volunteer program leaders have been meeting regularly to compare program management, current needs, and future opportunities, and have identified a research opportunity to conduct a formal landscape/needs assessment of these programs in order to catalogue benefits, challenges, and opportunities moving forward. Dr. Bloom led the development of the North Carolina (NC) Extension Master Food Volunteer program, and is currently the program director, in addition to her role as Associate Professor, Local Foods Extension Specialist, and Assistant Director of CEFS at NC State University. The research team also consists of Morgan Marshall, NC EMFV Program Manager at NC State, Lester Schonberger, Associate Extension Specialist and Master Food Volunteer Program Manager at Virginia Tech, and Karen Blakeslee, Extension Associate and Master Food Volunteer Program Manager at Kansas State University. We will provide the student with training and support in social science approaches to research, including qualitative methods, so that they can conduct interviews with these Master Volunteer program managers across the country. 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 be disseminated nationally in order to contribute to improvements in program implementation.

The student will meet regularly with members of the research team, both virtually and in-person, with the expectation that the interviews will be conducted remotely.

Amanda Avila Cardoso

The Cardoso Crop Physiology Lab

• “Assessing the resistance of C3 and C4 grasses to drought and heat stress in combination
• Drought and heat are extreme conditions that considerably impair plants. These conditions frequently occur in combination as elevated air temperatures result in increased evaporation from soils and thus in drought events. The increases in frequency and intensity of hot and dry conditions driven by climate change and the watering restrictions of landscape environments in the US and throughout the world call for urgent research to minimize climatic challenges to the crop systems. In summary, the overarching goal of this project is to assess the resistance of C3 and C4 grasses to drought and heat stress in combination. C3 and C4 grasses used as turf and lawn will be selected for this project.
• Through this project, the student will learn theory and methods of agronomy, plant sciences, and plant physiology. The methods and theory learned in this project can be applied to other plant species and crops. The student will also learn how to analyze the data as well as prepare figures, abstracts, and posters for presentation, which is important in any scientific field. I hope that this data can be presented next year at the CANVAS 2026 (https://www.sciencesocieties.org/canvas), which is the most important conference for agronomists in the US.”
• The student will help with: plant cultivation in the greenhouse, data collection in growth chambers, using a computer to analyze the data, prepare figures, and write a final report to be submitted to CANVAS 2026.

Learn more about Amanda at https://amandaavilacardoso.wixsite.com/ecophyslab

Mallory Choudoir

Soil Microbiome Extension Program

• The goal of our applied research program is to evaluate and develop microbiology-centered solutions for sustainable agriculture and climate resilience. One example of this is evaluating how beneficial microbes could enhance crop growth under nutrient limiting conditions or other environmental stressors. This research project typically involves traveling to field locations to collect plant and soil samples for analyses that may include measuring soil biogeochemical characteristics, extraction DNA for microbial analyses, or isolating bacterial strains for trait analysis.  
• The student researcher will spend some of the time in the field collecting plant and soil samples, which will require working outdoors in high temperatures and humidity. Most of the time the student will spend time in the lab or greenhouse, engaging in microbiology or molecular biology methods. 

Learn more and follow Mallory at https://www.malloryjchoudoir.com/

Hannah Dankbar

• The Extension Local Food Program promotes the production, marketing, and consumption of food produced within the state. Over the summer we will be working on analyzing, summarizing, and visualizing a couple of data projects. One focuses on visualizing federal data (Census, Agriculture Census, etc) into an online data dashboard for county offices. Another project will evaluate the Local Food Program over the past ten years using Extension Agent survey results. The last optional project may include creating outreach materials based on the 2025 Farmers Market Census report and helping finish the report as needed.
• This student will spend a significant amount of time on a computer analyzing, summarizing, or visualizing data. At least one day per week will be with the mentor (Dr. Dankbar), and other days of the week will be independent work or meeting as needed. This student is expected to have strong time-management skills, be highly organized, and able to complete tasks independently.

Mark Hoffman

Very Berry Lab

• Our lab specializes in small fruit production. This project is to assist in tasks directly related to viticulture pest and disease management research. Specifically, we are are researching how growers can better manage for Pierce’s disease. This will include insect vector trapping, identifying symptoms, and applying treatments in field. In the lab we will identify vectors, process tissue samples, and work in the greenhouse. There will be opportunities to learn and assist in strawberry production, greenhouse maintenance, and extension. 
• This student researcher will spend at least one day a week traveling to vineyard field sites to collect insect traps, conduct disease ratings, and collect tissue samples. The remaining time will be spent in lab processing data from field, greenhouse maintenance, and entering data.

Learn more about Dr. Hoffman’s program: smallfruits.cals.ncsu.edu

Stephanie Kulesza

Manure Management Lab

• The Manure Management Lab focuses on the use of manure generated on livestock and poultry facilities as a fertilizer in crop production. We conduct studies to help producers manage manure to comply with regulations, maximize crop production, and minimize environmental impacts. 
• The student will conduct a lab project on the effectiveness of ammonia control measures on volatilization from poultry litter. This will be a 5-week study, with the first day having the most intensive sampling. After the project is completed, samples will be analyzed for ammonium, and data will be used to generate a poster presentation.

Hannah Levenson

Specialty Crops Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management Lab

• Dr. Hannah Levenson is a community ecologist interested in investigating how humans impact the environment and exploring ways to mitigate those impacts. She uses integrated pest and pollinator management principles to research (1) ways to make management of an invasive fruit fly more sustainable in berry crops and (2) ways to better protect pollinators in human modified landscapes, such as agricultural fields. To conduct this work she visits sites across North Carolina to collect specimens and data; she then uses the information from this data to identify areas where field-realistic updates to current management practices can be made.
• This student researcher will spend a significant amount of time traveling to field sites (some sites may be a 3 hour drive away) and conducting field work at those sites. Field work can include collecting fruit, collect plant samples, and collecting insect samples. This will require working outdoors in high humidity and high temperatures, at times. The student will also spend some time working in the lab processing the collected field samples. This work can include evaluating fruit for pest damage, processing plant samples for lab analyses, and identifying insects under the microscope.

Learn more about Hannah at cals.ncsu.edu/entomology-and-plant-pathology/people/hklevens

Reid Longley

Longley Lab

• The Longley Lab focuses on interactions between microbes and interactions between microbes and plants in agricultural settings. This project will focus on characterizing the microbiomes of soybean roots and nodules to try to understand how planting date impacts the microbiome. The role of the summer research student would primarily be to culture and characterize microbes from soybean roots to develop a complete picture of the microbiome.
• The student will be involved in some field work which will consist of outdoor work in high humidity and high temperatures. However, the primary research setting will be in a laboratory environment.

Zhe Lyu

• “In the Lyu Lab, we aspire to define the roles of methanogenic archaea (methanogens) in various contexts including food and agriculture. Specifically, rumen methanogens in cows divert about 10% of feed energy away from milk and beef production to instead produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Therefore, it is of great importance to understand how rumen methanogens mediate feed digestion for a more productive and sustainable food and agriculture system. In this summer project, we welcome ASPIRE researchers to join us and identify how fermentative bacteria enable the growth of rumen methanogens under different feed conditions. This will be conducted with a novel anaerobic assay recently developed in our lab. ASPIRE researchers will learn a variety of anaerobic microbiology techniques and collaborate with two graduate student mentors to adapt this assay for rumen microbiome samples.”
• This student researcher will spend the majority of his or her time in a lab environment.

Debjani Sihi

Sihi Biogeochemistry Lab

• “Our lab investigates how regenerative agriculture and different land use and land cover types influence soil carbon stability and overall soil health. We study the biogeochemical processes that govern soil carbon cycling, aiming to understand how management practices can enhance soil carbon sequestration and promote climate resilience.
• During the summer, students will work closely with a graduate student on projects examining how land cover (e.g., forests, croplands, grasslands) and management practices (tillage, cover crops) affect soil carbon dynamics. They will gain hands-on experience in biogeochemical and soil science techniques, including soil sampling, laboratory analyses of carbon and nutrient pools, and data interpretation related to soil health and carbon cycling. This experience will provide a strong foundation in understanding how soil systems respond to human and natural drivers within the context of regenerative agriculture.”
• There will be opportunities for fieldwork, particularly in collecting soil samples from diverse ecosystems, but a significant portion of the work will take place in the laboratory. The student will gain experience in analytical techniques for measuring soil carbon and nutrient pools, conducting lab experiments, and performing data analysis and interpretation. Ths ASPIRE fellow will gain hands-on training in soil biogeochemistry, regenerative agriculture, and soil health assessment.

Felipe Silva

• Our lab works with reproductive biology and physiology in beef cattle. During the summer our goal is to investigate the effects of heat stress in early embryonic development, uterine function, and embryo-maternal communication
• We work mostly outdoors collecting samples such as blood samples, uterine samples, soil and forage samples, and working the animals on a daily basis. There is also lab work involved to process the samples.

Emmanuel Torres

Precision Horticulture Lab

• My laboratory focuses on vegetable production, primarily tomatoes, peppers, and broccoli. Our work centers on irrigation and fertilization management, as well as developing prototypes to reduce labor dependency. In the summer of 2026, we will be working on bell pepper production under both conventional and organic systems, along with compact growth habit tomatoes, evaluating new cultivars and production practices.
• The student researcher will gain hands-on experience working in both greenhouse and open-field environments, focusing on bell pepper and tomato production systems. Their responsibilities will include collecting and managing plant growth and performance data, such as biomass accumulation, pest and disease incidence, yield measurements, and aerial imagery using drones. Through this work, the student will develop a strong understanding of data collection protocols, experimental design, and production practices for both conventional and alternative systems.
• In addition, the student will learn how plants are cultivated under different production systems, from transplanting to harvest, and will participate in routine crop management tasks. They will also receive training in data analysis, including organizing datasets, performing basic statistical evaluations, and interpreting results to support research objectives. This combination of fieldwork, greenhouse activities, and data analysis will provide the student with a comprehensive research experience in vegetable production systems.

Alex Woodley

Sustainable Soils Lab

• This research program is focused on building stronger sustainable agricultural systems through improved soil productivity. Research initiatives include mitigation of soil greenhouse gas emissions, soil carbon sequestration, building system resilience through soil health and nutrient management of fertilizers, organic amendments and cover crops.
• 30% field based research, 50% lab based research, 20% greenhouse.

Learn more about Dr. Woodley and his team at: sustainablesoils.wordpress.ncsu.edu/research-group