CAS Undergraduate Research Fellowship

Faculty: M. Francesca Cotrufo
Project Mentor: Tayin Wang

Project Description

Tillage practice in agriculture can disrupt the physical structure of soil aggregates and reduce their capacity to store carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in soil organic matter (SOM). Although soil aggregation has long been recognized as an important mechanism of SOM stabilization, the temporal- and spatial-effects of tillage on aggregate-occluded SOM fractions, namely particulate (POM) and mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM), remain unclear and are underrepresented in soil biogeochemical models.

The objective of this project aims to better characterize how tillage influences the physical protection and persistence of POM and MAOM over space and time. We propose a novel physical fractionation approach that separates free POM and MAOM, located outside of soil aggregates, from those occluded within aggregates. By quantifying C and N stocks across these distinct SOM fractions, over repeated sampling during a growing season in a long-term tillage experiment in the Midwest corn belt, we will evaluate how different tillage management alters the distribution, protection, and persistence of C and N over time in corn-soybean systems.

Ultimately, this project provides insights into how tillage-induced disruption of soil structure regulates belowground C and N storage. The results will be used to develop the tillage module of the MEMS ecosystem model to improve predicting SOM dynamics in croplands.

Undergraduate Research Activities

The student will assist with the physical processing and fractionation of soil samples. Primary responsibilities include weighing, sieving and transferring of soils; preparing chemical reagents and lab materials; cleaning and maintaining equipment and glassware; and accurately recording and organizing experimental data.

The student will also assist with coordinating lab schedule and maintaining organized workflows to ensure that sample processing and analyses are completed efficiently and consistently.

Additionally, the student will be exposed to a vibrant working environment in the Soil Innovation Laboratory where this work will take place, and be invited to participate in our weekly lab meeting together with other undergraduates, RAs, GRAs, RSs, and faculty.

More information on the Soil Innovation Lab

Onboarding & Mentorship

The student will work as part of a collaborative team alongside other research staff and graduate students. Written protocols and step-by-step walkthrough training will be provided to ensure the student understands laboratory procedures, safety expectations, and the purpose behind each task. As they gain experience, the student will be encouraged to work more independently while receiving regular guidance, feedback, and opportunities to ask questions and connect their work to the broader goals of the project.

Faculty: Kelly Wrighton
Project Mentor: Sophie Jurgensen

Project Description

Enteric fermentation in domestic cattle is a significant source of atmospheric methane. This methane is produced by methanogenic microorganisms in the rumen, a complex anaerobic ecosystem where cattle convert complex plant matter from feed into bioavailable forms. Feed additives are one method of methane mitigation in these systems, but how they affect the rumen microbiome over time is not well characterized. The student in this position will assist with field collection of rumen and other microbial samples and conduct laboratory work to characterize the rumen microbiome under different methane mitigation treatments.

Undergraduate Research Activities

The undergraduate will assist with sample collection, including creating sample tracking sheets, microbiome sampling kits, sample collection and initial processing at the laboratory. In the laboratory, the student will perform nucleic acid extractions of collected samples. Additionally, they may assist with library preparation for 16S rRNA gene sequencing by performing PCR. The student may assist with set-up and maintenance of microbial reactors with collected sample material. Finally, the student will keep detailed records of sample collection and processing to ensure smooth data hand-off at the end of the fellowship period.

Onboarding & Mentorship

Dr. Sophie Jurgensen, a Research Scientist in the Wrighton lab, will directly mentor the undergraduate student. She has extensive teaching and mentorship experience from her time in graduate school and as a Research Associate at CSU. She will manage the undergraduate’s schedule, train them on all laboratory and field tasks, and meet with them weekly to ensure steady progress.

Faculty: Tanja Hess
Project Mentor: Tanja Hess

Project Description

Many barns use security lights, which may impact the sleep of horses. We will evaluate the impact of night lighting on behavior, physiological stress and sleep patterns in horses.

Undergraduate Research Activities

Student will set up a camera, analyze videos for abnormal behaviors in horses that have night lights versus no night lights.

Onboarding & Mentorship

Explaining how to analyze videos and setting up cameras and explain abnormal behaviors and the impacts of lack of sleep in horses.

Faculty: Leo Deiss
Project Mentor: Tess Thompson

Project Description

The Soil Health and Nutrient Management Laboratory is seeking a motivated undergraduate student to contribute to projects focused on soil health, nutrient cycling, and regenerative agriculture. This position provides hands-on experience in the field and laboratory activities related to environmental science, agronomy, soil science, nutrient management on crops and pastures, and collaborative research support.

Undergraduate Research Activities

• Assist in sample preparation, processing, and analysis for soil physical and chemical properties (e.g., drying, sieving, weighing, labeling).
• Support faculty, graduate students, and visiting researchers with laboratory and field-related tasks.
• Help maintain lab organization, equipment, and supplies, ensuring a clean and safe workspace.
• Enter and manage research data, check for accuracy, and assist with data organization and backups.
• Participate in team meetings and project discussions, as appropriate.
• Follow all safety protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for lab and field activities.

Onboarding & Mentorship

The student will gain experience in soil science and agronomy methods, data management, and collaborative research. The lab encourages professional development and supports students in building technical and scientific skills relevant to future academic or professional goals.

Faculty: Jennifer Bousselot
Project Mentor: Jennifer Bousselot

Project Description

Saffron is an herbaceous perennial crop that produces the most expensive spice in the world. It is historically cultivated in countries such as Iran, India, and Spain where they harvest this spice during the late fall between October and November. Over the past two decades saffron production has declined in these countries due to increasing droughts and climate change.

There currently exists little current research on saffron cultivation in North America and in different types of agricultural systems such as green roofs, agrivoltaics, and even controlled environment agriculture. Given Colorado’s semi-arid climate with high elevations, hot summers, cold winters, and decreasing global production of saffron, we are uniquely positioned to produce saffron on a local, national, and international level. Providing a high value-low input crop to extend the growing season for Colorado farmers, in a variety of agricultural systems.

Our two-year study investigates the efficacy of cultivating saffron in green roofs and agrivoltaics systems. Specifically, we are studying how shade, irrigation, and cultivation methods affect the yield and quality of saffron harvested. Ultimately providing farmers, researchers, and the public alike with a comprehensive overview of saffron production in the state of Colorado across different agricultural systems.

Undergraduate Research Activities

We will be working on green roof and field research sites in the Denver Metro area at the CSU SPUR campus and the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield Farms. Harvesting and taking data on flower and stigma yield, post-harvest processing of saffron flowers, assisting with irrigation, and weeding plots throughout the year.

Onboarding & Mentorship

This intern will work under a graduate student throughout the 2026/27 school year. The intern will gain hands-on experience in the specialty crop, and horticultural aspects of rooftop agriculture. They will also gain experience in data collection, field research methods, and UV-Vis Spectrophotometry. Additionally, the intern will interact with professionals and gain experience in the areas of horticulture and green roofs.

Faculty: Vamsi Nalam
Project Mentor: Vamsi Nalam

Project Description

This project will investigate the role of an alternative splice variant of soybean PAD4 in plant growth and responses to biotic stress. The soybean PAD4 gene and its alternative splice variant have been introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana. Transgenic plants will be screened to confirm the presence of the transgenes. Positive plants will then be evaluated for vegetative growth and their effects on green peach aphid performance. These studies will help determine how the soybean PAD4 splice variant contributes to plant development and defense against aphids.

Undergraduate Research Activities

• Perform aphid performance assays that include choice and no-choice tests.
• Perform confocal microscopy to determine subcellular localization of the splice variant.
• Take measurements of plant growth and development during its lifetime.

Onboarding & Mentorship

A graduate student mentor will be assigned to the student who will guide the student in day-to-day activities in addition to regular weekly meetings with me.

Faculty: Punya Nachappa
Project Mentor: Venkatesh Padimi

Project Description

The wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae), is a major pest of wheat in the U.S. Great Plains. While populations of the larval parasitoids Bracon cephi and B. lissogaster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) are abundant in wheat-growing regions of some states, they remain consistently low in Colorado. To determine whether reduced parasitism reflects parasitoid population genetic differentiation or ecological constraints, we propose greenhouse parasitism assays with mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI)-based population genetic analyses of sawflies and Bracon spp. collected from Colorado, Nebraska, and North Dakota.

Undergraduate Research Activities

The undergraduate student will conduct independent research in conducting greenhouse assays and molecular assays such as DNA extraction, PCR and sequence analysis.

Onboarding & Mentorship

I will use a scaffolded mentoring approach, pairing the student closely with a PhD student, Venkatesh Padimi, who will provide day-to-day guidance and demonstrate techniques, while I provide regular oversight, feedback, and scientific mentorship. As the student gains confidence and competence, responsibilities will gradually increase toward greater independence. The student will also participate in lab meetings and opportunities to present their research, supporting both scientific and professional development.

Faculty: Devan Catalano
Project Mentor: Devan Catalano

Project Description

Accurate weight estimation is important for many aspects of horse husbandry. Many papers have investigated accuracy of various weight estimation equations and tools, but all focus on the estimation being done precisely and correctly. The goal of this project is to understand how accurate weight prediction tapes are when used without instruction and on a variety of horses. This project will be hands on with horses, but we welcome anyone interested in horses even if they do not have horse handling experience.

Undergraduate Research Activities

Handling horses, weighing horses, working with other students, data entry, data analysis, manuscript preparation.

Onboarding & Mentorship

My current graduate student and I will onboard the student to lab policies and expectations. The student will receive regular guidance and mentorship from myself and my graduate student. The student is not expected to understand statistics or to have previously written a scientific paper – rather, this is an opportunity to expose them to both aspects (along with research overall) while they build their resume.

Faculty: Ruth Hufbauer
Project Mentor: Emma Frederiksen

Project Description

In the context of insect declines worldwide, we are studying how warming and variation in climate affects insects. We use a model laboratory system, red flour beetles, for this work.

Undergraduate Research Activities

The students would work directly with a graduate student mentor, and with the faculty member, to conduct experiments on the effects of temperature and temperature variability. This work entails censusing (counting beetles, lots of little beetles!), managing experimental growth chambers with respect to temperature and humidity, and prepping for and cleaning up after experiments. There will also be data entry, data analyses, graphing, presenting to the lab group, and ideally also CURC or MURALS.

Onboarding & Mentorship

Emma and Ruth would work side-by-side with the student on this project, along with other graduate students and an undergraduate working in the lab. We’ll communicate via text and emails as needed, and of course in person. We would strive to give the student responsibility for independent aspects of the project, and provide options for additional entirely independent work.

Faculty: Sastry Jayanty
Project Mentor: Santosh Lavhale

Project Description

This proposal outlines the implementation of a low-cost passive solar drying system to process potato culls, followed by a feasibility study of phytochemical extraction.

Undergraduate Research Activities

Identifying phytochemicals in dried potato culls.

Onboarding & Mentorship

We are looking for students interested to learn biochemical laboratory methods and assays. An undergraduate student will be recruited and integrated into the project through a structured onboarding and mentoring plan designed to provide hands-on experience in postharvest technology, sustainable agricultural practices, food chemistry, and research methods.

During the first 1–2 weeks, the student will receive training in laboratory safety, chemical handling, sample preparation, data recording, equipment operation, and basic principles of solar drying and postharvest quality. The student will work directly with the PI and project personnel and will receive regular guidance and feedback throughout the project.

The student’s initial activities will include collecting and preparing potato cull samples, slicing and weighing samples, loading solar-drying trays, monitoring environmental conditions, and recording changes in sample weight and moisture content. The student will learn how temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, airflow, and slice thickness influence drying efficiency. The student will participate in both summer and winter drying trials and help evaluate the performance of the passive solar dryer under San Luis Valley conditions.

As the student gains experience, responsibilities will expand to include preparation of dried samples for laboratory analysis, extraction of phytochemicals using food-grade solvents, measurement of total phenolics and other selected bioactive compounds, organization and statistical analysis of experimental data, and comparison of fresh and dried potato samples. The student will be encouraged to develop an independent research question related to drying efficiency or phytochemical retention.

The student will meet with the PI weekly to review progress, discuss results, troubleshoot experimental challenges, and develop research skills. The student will maintain a research notebook and learn proper documentation, quality control, data interpretation, and scientific literature review. At the end of the project, the student will prepare a short research presentation and contribute to the project report submitted to CPAC. Where appropriate, the student will also be encouraged to present findings at an undergraduate research symposium or professional meeting.

Expected Student Learning Outcomes

By completing the project, the undergraduate student will develop practical skills in:

1. Sustainable postharvest technology
2. Experimental design and data collection
3. Food and agricultural laboratory techniques
4. Phytochemical extraction and analysis
5. Statistical/data interpretation
6. Scientific communication

This experience will provide a strong foundation for further education or careers in agricultural science, food science, engineering, sustainability, and related fields.

Suggested Timeline

• Weeks 1–2: Orientation, laboratory safety, literature review, training on dryer and instruments — Research safety and fundamentals.
• Weeks 3–6: Potato cull preparation, slicing, weighing, drying trials, environmental monitoring — Experimental methods and postharvest principles.
• Weeks 7–10: Moisture determination, drying-rate calculations, comparison of drying conditions — Data analysis and interpretation.
• Weeks 11–14: Preparation of dried samples and phytochemical extraction — Laboratory and analytical skills.
• Weeks 15–18: Phenolic/phytochemical analysis and data organization — Food chemistry and quantitative analysis.
• Weeks 19–20: Data analysis, interpretation, report preparation — Scientific reasoning.
• Final weeks: Poster/oral presentation and contribution to CPAC report — Scientific communication and professional development.

Faculty: Jessica Prenni
Project Mentor: Jessica Prenni

Project Description

Flavan-3-ols are a class of dietary polyphenols associated with beneficial cardiometabolic effects and potential reductions in cardiovascular disease risk. These compounds occur naturally in foods such as tea, apples, pears, berries, and chocolate, but their concentrations can vary substantially among plant varieties. Understanding this natural variation is important for identifying nutrient-dense foods, informing crop-breeding priorities, and supporting future research on relationships between food composition and human health.

As part of the NIH-funded BlueBiome project at Colorado State University, our research team is conducting a comprehensive analysis of approximately 150 genetically diverse blueberry varieties. The broader study will characterize variation in blueberry chemical composition and biological activity. This undergraduate research project will focus specifically on quantifying flavan-3-ols across the blueberry collection using high-performance liquid chromatography with UV-visible detection (HPLC-UV/Vis).

The resulting data will help identify blueberry varieties with distinctive or elevated flavan-3-ol concentrations and contribute to a broader understanding of how blueberry genetics influence nutritional and functional qualities. The student will participate in a collaborative research program at the intersection of analytical chemistry, food science, plant diversity, and human health.

Undergraduate Research Activities

The undergraduate researcher will receive hands-on training in the analytical workflow used to measure flavan-3-ols in blueberry samples. With guidance from the project’s postdoctoral scientist and laboratory research staff, the student will:

• Organize, label, and track blueberry samples and associated metadata.
• Prepare samples and perform standardized flavan-3-ol extractions.
• Prepare analytical standards, calibration solutions, blanks, and quality-control samples.
• Analyze blueberry extracts using an established HPLC-UV/Vis method.
• Learn the fundamental principles of chromatographic separation and compound detection.
• Process chromatographic data, including reviewing peak integration and calibration performance.
• Quantify individual flavan-3-ols and evaluate data quality, reproducibility, and potential analytical problems.
• Maintain accurate laboratory records and follow established protocols for data organization and research reproducibility.
• Summarize and visualize results to evaluate differences among blueberry varieties.

As the student gains experience, they will be encouraged to work with increasing independence and participate in interpreting the findings within the broader goals of the BlueBiome project. When appropriate, the student will also have opportunities to share their work through a laboratory presentation, undergraduate research symposium, poster, or other scientific forum.

Onboarding & Mentorship

The undergraduate will receive structured, team-based mentoring designed to support both technical learning and broader professional development. A postdoctoral scientist working on the BlueBiome project will serve as the student’s primary day-to-day mentor, with additional training and support provided by experienced research staff in the Prenni Laboratory. This structure will give the student ready access to guidance while also exposing them to multiple scientific perspectives and career paths.

Initial onboarding will include required laboratory safety and responsible-conduct training, an orientation to laboratory procedures and expectations, and an introduction to the scientific goals of the BlueBiome project. Training will follow a scaffolded approach: the student will first observe each procedure, then perform it with direct supervision, and ultimately work more independently after demonstrating proficiency. Written protocols, example datasets, and quality-control criteria will be provided to reinforce learning and promote reproducibility.

At the beginning of the appointment, the student and mentoring team will establish individualized learning goals based on the student’s experience, interests, and career aspirations. I will meet with the undergraduate and postdoctoral mentor every two weeks to review progress, discuss results, address challenges, and ensure that the student is receiving appropriate training and support. Informal feedback will also be provided throughout the student’s daily laboratory work, with emphasis on creating an environment in which questions and troubleshooting are viewed as essential parts of the research process.

The student will be invited to participate in laboratory meetings and relevant BlueBiome project discussions so that they understand how their work contributes to a larger interdisciplinary research effort. Mentoring will extend beyond technical instruction to include scientific communication, data integrity, teamwork, problem-solving, and exploration of graduate education and research careers. By the end of the experience, the student should be able to explain the scientific rationale for the project, perform the analytical workflow with increasing independence, evaluate the quality of the resulting data, and communicate the significance of their findings.

Faculty: Steven Fonte
Project Mentor: Aaron Prairie

Project Description

Soil fauna influence nutrient cycling and plant growth, but their contribution to crop productivity is often overlooked. This project is part of a larger USDA-funded greenhouse study investigating how soil fauna influence the fate of plant-derived carbon in soil. The undergraduate researcher will lead a focused project examining whether differences in soil-fauna communities affect wheat growth, biomass production, root allocation, and nutrient uptake.

By comparing wheat grown in soils with different fauna treatments, the student will test whether soil animals influence plant performance and how plants allocate biomass above and belowground.

Undergraduate Research Activities

The student will contribute to the greenhouse experiment primarily during harvest and post-harvest processing. They will help separate shoots and roots, wash roots, dry and weigh plant biomass, grind plant material, and prepare samples for carbon and nitrogen analysis. Using these measurements, the student will calculate above- and belowground biomass allocation and nutrient uptake across soil fauna treatments.

With mentorship, they will analyze treatment differences, create figures, interpret the results, and prepare a poster presenting their focused research question. The student will also learn about stable isotopes and have the opportunity to learn about identifying soil mesofauna.

Onboarding & Mentorship

The student will work closely with faculty, graduate students, and a postdoctoral researcher to learn about all aspects of this research and will have the opportunity to participate in weekly lab meetings.

Faculty: Daniel Burcham
Project Mentor: Sarah Wilhelm

Project Description

Manzanitas (Arctostaphylos spp.) are attractive woody shrubs native to the western US. Containing over 100 species, the group mostly consists of evergreen broadleaf shrubs with white or pink urn-shaped flowers, stiff sculptural branches, and red exfoliating bark. While most species occur in the mild maritime climates of California, several grow in interior continental climates of the western US similar to Colorado.

Several varieties have been successfully introduced into commerce, but they are typically difficult to propagate by seed or cuttings. In the Heritage Arboretum, we are developing a new collection of manzanitas and madrones to evaluate and showcase members of the heath family adapted to the western US, and we are running a germination experiment to develop improved sexual propagation protocols for five manzanitas: A. nevadensis, A. patula, A. pringlei, A. pungens, and A. xcoloradensis. The species all require a combination of seed treatments for germination, and we will assess a range of combinations to determine the optimal treatment for each taxon.

Undergraduate Research Activities

The undergraduate student will assist with maintaining and monitoring the germination experiment, and they will help record outcomes of the various treatments. They will also assist with maintaining and analyzing observation records. They will spend time in growing environments and offices working with plants and computers.

Onboarding & Mentorship

The student will be mentored by faculty, staff, and peer students already working on the project. As part of the team, they will learn about manzanita ecology and cultivation, and they will learn to follow experimental protocols and scientific methods. They will assist with data management and analysis to make clear recommendations to other growers and gardeners interested in propagating manzanitas by seed.

Faculty: Eduardo Gutierrez Rodriguez
Project Mentor: Eduardo Gutierrez Rodriguez

Project Description

Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) systems provide highly managed conditions for crop production, but microorganisms can still enter through water, air, people, equipment, and other environmental sources and subsequently move or persist within the production environment. Understanding these contamination pathways is essential for developing effective environmental monitoring programs (EMPs). Our previous work has established a framework for identifying where contamination enters, moves, and persists within CEA systems and for using risk-based monitoring to identify locations where contamination may reach the crop.

This project will use a controlled Bib lettuce production system to establish baseline airborne and environmental microbial conditions and then evaluate how those conditions change during defined contamination events. Three air samplers positioned at different locations within the production environment will be used alongside targeted environmental sampling to track the spatial and temporal movement of microorganisms. The study will include Listeria monocytogenes, Listeria innocua, and selected microbial indicators, with samples also collected for potential DNA-based microbial community analysis.

The undergraduate researcher will lead the air-monitoring component, including sample collection and processing, microbiological analyses, data organization, and interpretation. Results will be used to evaluate whether air sampling and microbial indicators can help identify contamination events, potential contamination hotspots, and movement or persistence within CEA systems, ultimately contributing to the development of science-based environmental monitoring strategies for CEA production.

Undergraduate Research Activities

• Prepare the NFT hydroponic system and grow Bib lettuce plants under controlled greenhouse conditions.
• Assist with preparation of microbial cultures and inoculation of designated plants according to established research and biosafety protocols.
• Monitor plant growth and maintain experimental records throughout the production cycle.
• Operate three air samplers positioned at defined locations within the CEA environment and collect air samples before, during, and after defined contamination events.
• Collect selected plant and environmental samples to evaluate contamination movement within the production system.
• Harvest Bib lettuce plants at designated experimental time points and process samples for microbiological analysis.
• Perform culture-based detection and enumeration of target microorganisms, including Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria innocua, under appropriate supervision and established laboratory protocols.
• Extract DNA from collected samples and conduct PCR-based analyses to prepare selected samples for sequencing.
• Organize, label, preserve, and submit selected samples for sequencing. Advanced bioinformatic analysis will be conducted with support from the research team.
• Maintain sample records and organize experimental and environmental-monitoring data for subsequent analysis.
• Participate in interpretation of results to determine where contamination entered, moved, and persisted and whether air sampling contributed useful information to the environmental monitoring program.
• Clean and sanitize the greenhouse and experimental equipment following each study and at the completion of the experiment using established sanitation and verification procedures.
• Assist with analysis and visualization of the resulting data and preparation of a research poster for presentation at an undergraduate research symposium.

Onboarding & Mentorship

The undergraduate researcher will be integrated into the laboratory team and mentored through a combination of structured training, hands-on research, and regular meetings. At the beginning of the project, the student will complete required laboratory training and receive project-specific instruction in CEA production, microbiological methods, air and environmental sampling, molecular methods, data management, and greenhouse sanitation. Laboratory personnel will provide hands-on training and supervision until the student demonstrates competency with each procedure.

The student will work closely with laboratory personnel and a visiting scientist, to be identified, who will provide day-to-day support during experimental activities. Dr. Gutierrez-Rodriguez will provide overall scientific direction and mentorship. Regular meetings will be held to review experimental progress, troubleshoot challenges, discuss results, and connect individual activities to the broader research questions and environmental monitoring framework.

As the semester progresses, the student will be encouraged to take increasing ownership of the project, particularly the air-monitoring component, data organization, and interpretation of results. Mentorship will emphasize technical skills, experimental design, critical thinking, scientific integrity, teamwork, and scientific communication. The student will also participate in interpretation of the findings and preparation of a research poster for presentation at an undergraduate research symposium.

Faculty: Dawn Thilmany
Project Mentor: Martha Sullins

Project Description

This project will allow the student to investigate the factors that determine effective beginning farmer programming in Colorado and the implications for supporting this program with other educational and technical assistance. This online educational program (and earlier in person trainings) is comprised of a series of 8 evening classes designed to help new farmers and ranchers explore farming as a business and leverage tools and ideas to refine and enhance their business management, production, and marketing skills.

Based on CSU hosting one of the longest established beginning farmer programs in the U.S., the project will survey program participants who attended between 2016 and 2026 to understand the intermediate and long-term impacts of the program on their desired business outcomes, and if we can secure more resources, we may reach back to program graduates from as early as 2005. The project work will result in a quantitative evaluation of these outcomes and content that can be used to develop a paper or journal article.

Undergraduate Research Activities

1. Review the previous 2016 survey instrument and evaluate potential updates.
2. Discuss survey administration with research team and making any adaptations needed.
3. Submit and follow an IRB research protocol.
4. Administer the survey to approximately 200 former participants in the Colorado Building Farmers and Ranchers course (from 2016-2026).
5. Build a database and analyze the data collected based on prior methodology. Compare the results for significant differences between the first study and this current one.
6. Help the research team draw inferences about how beginning farmer programming might be adapted to meet changing ag business context and the additional supports that could be implemented to help program participants achieve their desired business development outcomes.
7. Publish a potentially peer-reviewed paper discussing the two study periods, detailing how the results have changed over time, and describing possible education or experiential interventions that will help new and beginning farmers develop sustainable business models.

Onboarding & Mentorship

After an initial onboarding to learn about the program and past evaluations with Thilmany and Sullins, the student will have weekly meetings with at least one member of the project team. We will assure she has access to the previous survey and summary analyses, as well as the journal article published about this work. The student will also have the opportunity to audit some of the current year (2027) Colorado Building Farmers and Ranchers classes to better understand the participants and the online learning environment.

Faculty: Peipei Zhang
Project Mentor: Peipei Zhang

Project Description

Drains can serve as important reservoirs of bacteria in meat processing facilities. Bacteria can establish residency in drains because these environments are difficult to access and may not be adequately reached by routine cleaning and sanitation practices. Once established, drain-associated bacteria may be dispersed into the processing environment through aerosols generated during production or cleaning and sanitation, potentially contaminating meat products. Such contamination may contribute to meat spoilage when spoilage microorganisms are involved or pose food safety concerns when pathogenic bacteria are present.

Previous studies have investigated the microbial composition of drains in meat processing facilities and identified dominant bacterial genera. However, the biological characteristics of bacteria, including their persistence, biofilm formation, and tolerance to environmental stresses, can vary substantially at the species and even strain levels. Despite this, drain-associated microbial communities remain poorly characterized at species and strain resolution. This knowledge gap limits our understanding of which bacterial populations establish residency and persist in drains and may hinder the development of targeted strategies to control microbial contamination in these environments.

The aim of one of our planned projects is to investigate the microbiota of drains in meat processing facilities at the species and strain levels. For this project, drain samples will be collected from different functional areas of 10 meat processing facilities, with each facility sampled twice at a three-month interval. The total bacterial load of each sample will be determined using culture-based enumeration. Bacterial community composition will be characterized at the genus level using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. In addition, 10 bacterial isolates will be recovered from each sample and subjected to bacterial typing using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR. Isolates representing unique RAPD profiles within each sample will subsequently undergo whole-genome sequencing for species- and strain-level characterization. Comparison of isolates recovered across sampling times and locations will be used to identify bacterial species and strains that are repeatedly recovered from processing-facility drains.

The information generated from this project will provide new insights into the bacterial species associated with drains in meat processing facilities and identify bacterial populations that may persist over time. These findings will help identify species and strains of concern that can be prioritized when developing targeted intervention strategies for drain sanitation, ultimately contributing to improved microbial control, meat quality, and food safety.

Undergraduate Research Activities

The undergraduate student will work alongside another undergraduate student and a graduate student currently in the PI’s research program. The student will participate in sample collection at meat processing facilities, bacterial enumeration and isolation from collected samples, and DNA extraction from recovered bacterial isolates.

Onboarding & Mentorship

The undergraduate student will be introduced to the research program and current research personnel through in-person meetings. Before beginning laboratory work, the student will complete all required biosafety training and laboratory orientation. Hands-on training in the laboratory procedures described in the proposed project will be provided by Dr. Peipei Zhang, Dr. Gina Geornaras, and/or current undergraduate and graduate students in the research program. Training and supervision will continue until the student demonstrates competency and is comfortable conducting assigned research activities independently.

In addition, Dr. Peipei Zhang will meet with the student weekly to review research progress, discuss results, address questions or challenges, and provide guidance on upcoming research activities.

Faculty: Jenny Bennett
Project Mentor: Jenny Bennett

Project Description

Agricultural literacy among the public is increasingly important as agriculturists work to address major challenges facing food and fiber production (Vidgen, 2016). As agriculture and food systems become more complex, understanding what college students know (and do not know) about agriculture can help identify important gaps in agricultural literacy. Increased agricultural literacy has been associated with greater trust in scientists and research findings (Funk & Kennedy, 2016), less negative or reactionary responses to agricultural messages (Specht et al., 2014), and greater interest in agricultural careers that may help address workforce shortages (Cosby et al., 2022). This study will provide baseline data on Colorado State University students’ knowledge of agriculture and food production and help identify opportunities for future education, outreach, and curriculum development.

Undergraduate Research Activities

Data collection, data analysis, literature review, and synthesis of findings.

Onboarding & Mentorship

Undergraduate researchers will be organized into small teams focused on specific components of the project, such as literature review, data collection, data analysis, and synthesis of findings. Each team will be paired with a graduate student mentor who will provide day-to-day guidance and support.

I will train the graduate student mentors on the project goals, research procedures, expectations, and effective mentoring practices so they are prepared to guide the undergraduate researchers. Using a peer-teaching model, graduate mentors will then help train undergraduate students in the research skills needed for their assigned tasks. I will remain actively involved through regular team check-ins, mentor meetings, and project milestones to ensure consistency, provide feedback, and support both undergraduate and graduate student development.

Faculty: Carleigh Fedorka
Project Mentor: Carleigh Fedorka

Project Description

We aim to assess various therapeutics on breeding outcomes in the mares. While the majority of animal work will be completed by October 1st, we will need to analyze samples in the laboratory for the remainder of the semester.

Undergraduate Research Activities

RNA isolation, PCR, multiplex immunoassays.

Onboarding & Mentorship

We have mentored countless undergraduates in the lab, and utilize this infrastructure to mentor others. We will join incoming students with a mentor who will assist with all techniques.

Faculty: Meagan Schipanski
Project Mentor: Aviyan Pandey

Project Description

Nitrogen is often the most limiting nutrient in U.S. crop production systems. Within semi-arid systems, water is the primary limiting resource for crop production systems, and its availability largely determines nitrogen (N) requirements. In reality, N and water are co-limiting resources in production systems.

Our goal is to identify plant traits and microbially-mediated mechanisms that can optimize both N and water use efficiency within water-limited cropping systems. We will focus on sorghum as our model crop. This project will lead to new fundamental knowledge of root traits and plant-soil-microbial interactions that foster drought tolerance and regulate soil N mineralization to inform crop breeding priorities and management, and provide applied tools to improve the sustainability of production systems in water and N co-limiting conditions.

Undergraduate Research Activities

Plant and soil analysis in the greenhouse and laboratory, including soil nitrogen extractions, root washing, and other related tasks.

Onboarding & Mentorship

We will provide an overview of the project, clarify their interests and our expectations, meet with them regularly, and include them in team meetings and discussions where relevant.

Faculty: Rebecca Cleary
Project Mentor: Rebecca Cleary

Project Description

This project will be a systematic review or literature review of the existing measures of dietary quality and the associations found with specific health outcomes.

Undergraduate Research Activities

Helping to design the systematic review protocol, reading and summarizing papers.

Onboarding & Mentorship

There will be a two-hour kick-off meeting to introduce the student to the goals of the project; weekly meetings thereafter.

Food spoilage can cause food waste and economic losses. Ground beef is a very popular protein source in the United States. The shelf-life of ground beef is generally shorter than other beef products, which is attributable to its non-intact nature and consequently a relatively higher bacterial load in it than other beef products. Pseudomonas is the leading bacterial agent causing meat spoilage. Meat production environment, such as meat cutting and grinding room, is an important source of bacteria including Pseudomonas contaminating ground beef. In a separate project, we recovered various Pseudomonas isolates from ground beef products collected in seven grocery stores in Fort Collins. The present project intends to explore the factors contributing to the survival of Pseudomonas in meat processing environments. The findings generated from this study will help us to develop more effective measures to control Pseudomonas in meat production environment, which will potentially lead to extended shelf-life of ground beef.

It’s often said, “Colorado runs on water.” Unfortunately, our state, along with neighboring regions, is confronted with critical water resource challenges. With approximately 75% of Colorado’s direct water usage allocated to irrigation, the need to enhance irrigation management and water productivity is crucial.

Fortunately, new developments in sensor technology, data science and AI can help us address water issues. In late 2024, our team developed an innovative prototype sensor: a wireless soil moisture probe that combines research-grade precision with cost-efficiency, priced between $10-$15. This compact, hand-sized sensor avoids the traditional, cumbersome wired systems that are unpopular among growers due to the necessity of signal cables connected to dataloggers. Instead, it allows for immediate, hassle-free deployment—users can insert the sensor directly into the soil and access real-time data through a simple QR code scan, linking directly to cloud-based storage. Once a mini network of these sensors is installed, they could provide critical data to power AI-assisted irrigation decisions, enhancing water use efficiency significantly. This leads not only to water conservation but also to improvements in crop productivity and plant quality. Our goal is to make this sensor design open-source, enabling it to be continuously enhanced and mass-produced at a minimal cost. This strategy would allow our sensors to be shared globally in many regions of the world that struggle to optimize irrigation but also have limited economic resources for ag technology.

Our project is ready for a larger-scale trial. Each fall, Colorado State University’s Horticulture Center utilizes an entire greenhouse range to cultivate thousands of poinsettias under drip irrigation as part of a Greenhouse Practicum course in Horticulture. This greenhouse study provides an ideal test bed for our new soil sensors, aligning academic research with practical application and student engagement.

Moreover, this project offers an exceptional opportunity for an undergraduate research fellowship. The selected student will gain hands-on experience in IoT sensor technology within a real-world use case. They will conduct comparative analyses of water usage and plant health between areas using traditional timer-based irrigation systems and zones utilizing our sensor-driven irrigation scheduling. This direct involvement in assessing our technology not only enhances their learning but also contributes significantly to our understanding of how this sensor technology can be applied to other use cases.

This project has strong linkages to several Nutrien Showcase priorities, including: Precision Agriculture & Digital Solutions, and Sustainable Agriculture & Environmental Solutions.

Grain crops like wheat and corn derive about half of their nitrogen from soil organic matter each year, even when fully fertilized. We lack soil tests that can predict the capacity of different soils to supply nitrogen via nitrogen mineralization. The student in this position will conduct laboratory and greenhouse assays to assess their potential to predict soil nitrogen availability across different soils.

This project will advance soil science by uncovering how soil fauna influence soil organic matter (SOM) stabilization in integrated crop-livestock (ICL) systems. Using innovative methods, including stable-isotope tracing and microbiome analysis, it will reveal biological mechanisms that enhance carbon sequestration and soil health. Findings will inform sustainable agricultural practices and climate resilience strategies while providing hands-on research experience to an undergraduate assistant. Results will be shared through scientific publications, conferences, and outreach events, contributing to national efforts to promote regenerative agriculture.

Erratic weather patterns and extreme conditions driven by increasing global temperatures cause prolonged droughts, heat waves, or excessive precipitations. These conditions pose significant challenges to crop production around the world affecting not only plant yield, but also nutritional content and ability to withstand pest and pathogen pressure. One strategy to mitigate this burden is the development of enhanced crop varieties that can better adapt to future environmental changes. Our research focuses on understanding plant genetic diversity and stress adaptation pathways that can be used to naturally enhance plant protection. We aim to identify and characterize genes involved in defense responses against pathogens as well as high temperatures using genetics, bioinformatics and molecular biology approaches. Current projects include the identification of DNA regulatory elements and transcription factors that drive gene activation during stressful conditions and the development of assays to measure gene activity. Our overarching goal is to provide crop breeders with information and tools that can be applied to select more robust climate-ready crop varieties.

Using resources more efficiently in livestock production systems is a focal point of our laboratory. Copper sulfate is widely used in footbaths to help prevent lameness in dairy cows. Typically, used footbath contents are discharged into the premise lagoon. High levels of copper have been reported to inhibit lagoon microorganism function. Furthermore, copper can accumulate in soil and plants in areas where the lagoon effluent is applied. We have developed a laboratory scale system to remove copper from the used footbath solution and convert the extracted copper back to copper sulfate to be reused in subsequent footbaths. We are currently evaluating the efficiency of our current system and will further investigate techniques for recycling other metals in footbath waste.