Applied Plant Systems

REEU: Fostering the Next Generation of Inclusive Agricultural and Natural Resources Professionals through Experiential Learning

Engage in the research and the application of plants and soil to impact food production and the environment.


Description

research scholars on a tractor

The goal of this program is to prepare students with both knowledge and skills necessary to address the grand challenges of food production and the environment. Participating students will conduct a summer experiential internship related to their career interests and goals, choosing from a variety of programs in the applied plant, soil, and environmental sciences available through a network of collaborators. The students will also work with their program peers and a team of faculty mentors to engage in activities related to teamwork, decision making, systems thinking, and translating their summer work into learning objects for science literacy.

Stipend is $5000, plus $1000 for translating summer experience into learning objects working with UNL science literacy team.

See the list below for associated mentors and projects.

Want to know more?

Visit: https://agronomy.unl.edu/applied-plant-systems 

 

Benefits

  • Competitive stipend: $6,000
  • Suite-style room and meal plan
  • Travel expenses to and from Lincoln
  • Campus parking and/or bus pass
  • Full access to the Campus Recreation Center and campus library system
  • Wireless internet access

Learn more about academic and financial benefits.

Events

  • Department seminars and presentations
  • Professional development workshops (e.g., applying to graduate school, taking the GRE)
  • Welcome picnic
  • Day trip to Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
  • Outdoor adventures
  • Research symposium

 

Questions about this program?

Please direct any questions related to this program to:

Martha Mamo: 402-472-1555mmamo3@unl.edu

Leah Sandall: 402-472-9295lsandall5@unl.edu

 

 

 

Who Should Apply

Applied plant systems students at banquet
Related Fields of Study
  • Plant Breeding
  • Plant Production and Management
  • Rangeland Ecology
  • Soil Management
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Microbiology
  • Agricultural Technology
  • Environmental Horticulture
Eligibility

Participation in the Nebraska Summer Research Program is limited to students who meet the following criteria:

  • U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
  • Current undergraduate with at least one semester of coursework remaining before obtaining a bachelor's degree

See Eligibility for more information.

Mentors and Projects

MENTORSPROJECTS
Dr. Stacy Adams

AGRONOMY AND HORTICULTURE

Hydroponics for a resilient food production system

Participants are introduced to hydroponic production approaches with direct experience managing crops using various systems. A hydroponic prototype is developed and tested for crop productivity to meet need. Extension or other educational outreach materials are developed.

Dr. Guillermo Balboa

AGRONOMY AND HORTICULTURE

Digital Agriculture Technologies to Improve Nitrogen Management

Students will engage in research activities related to developing novel nitrogen management decision-support systems for Nebraska using digital agriculture technologies. They will also have the chance to participate in experiments with UNL’s Nebraska On-Farm Research Network evaluating different innovative digital agriculture nitrogen management approaches.

Dr. S. Carolina Córdova

AGRONOMY AND HORTICULTURE

Soil Health Assessment and Carbon Stocks Quantification

Students will engage in a project focused on evaluating key indicators of soil health and quantifying carbon stocks to understand their relationships and implications for sustainable agricultural practices.

Dr. Ariel Freidenreich

USDA-ARS RESEARCH SOIL SCIENTIST, AGRONOMY AND HORTICULTURE

Soil health and nutrient cycling

Students will learn to quantify dynamic soil health indicators to compare management practices in organic and conventional agroecosystems.

Dr. Katherine Frels

AGRONOMY AND HORTICULTURE

Genetic improvement of grain quality traits

Students will participate in activities related to disease resistance screening, pest resistance, fall drought tolerance, and phenomic selection for grain quality traits.

Dr. Amit Jhala

AGRONOMY AND HORTICULTURE

Reproductive biology of weeds

Evaluate the reproductive biology of weeds and confirm, characterize, and manage herbicide-resistant weeds in agronomic crops in Nebraska. In addition to participating in this research, students will also participate in extension activities. 

Dr. Virginia Jin

USDA-ARS SUPERVISORY RESEARCH SOIL SCIENTIST, AGRONOMY AND HORTICULTURE

Soil greenhouse gas emissions

Measure and evaluate soil greenhouse gas emissions from conventional and alternative management systems used for food and biofuel production.

Dr. Marty Schmer

USDA-ARS RESEARCH AGRONOMIST, AGRONOMY AND HORTICULTURE

Sustainable cropping systems

Students will explore how different crops and management impact soil responses, nutrient availability, and yields. Measurements collected in the field will be used to determine how sustainable existing and alternative practices are.

Dr. Christian Stephenson

INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Integrating ecosystem services with local food production

Plants serve important functions including food production, support of pollinators and other wildlife, improvement of water quality, and mitigation of climate change. In this project students will engage with mixed production of food, ornamental, and pollinator plants to assist in determining how these plants achieve these critical ecosystem functions.

Dr. Daniel Uden

AGRONOMY AND HORTICULTURE

Rangeland ecology and management experiments

Participate in a collaborative adaptive management project at UNL’s Barta Brothers Ranch in the Nebraska Sandhills. The students will collaboratively design and implement rangeland ecology and management experiments with stakeholders and monitor ecological, economic, and social variables.

Dr. Sam Wortman

AGRONOMY AND HORTICULTURE

Local food production systems and technologies

The students will contribute to research and development of novel production systems and technologies that reduce labor and plastic waste and increase water and nitrogen efficiency on urban food production.

Funding

Funding for this research program was generously provided by grants from:

  • NIFA - National Institute of Food and Agriculture
  • USDA - U.S. Department of Agriculture

FUNDING SOURCE:

USDA NIFA 2023-08728/2024-67037-42708