College/Major: College of Agriculture, Agricultural Biology major concentrating in Entomology with a Certificate in Ethics and Society  

Biography: I grew up on a farm in Wisconsin tending to my lambs, catching bugs, and enjoying the outdoors. I have always wanted to do scientific research, so majoring in Ag Bio was an obvious choice for me. Outside of campus, you can find me reading, hiking, or trying a new recipe.  

Research Experience:  I currently work in the Nachappa Lab in the Department of Agricultural Biology. I have cloned hemp plants, cared for aphids, taken plant tissue samples, counted aphids, and done DNA extractions, PCRs, and CDNA. I am currently working on a project that hopes to find that Beet Curly Top Virus is seed transmissible. This is an exciting study because BCTV is only known to be phloem limited in hemp, so if we find that it is also seed transmissible, we will be the first lab to do so.  

Campus involvement: OURA Ambassador, Nutrien Scholar, Agronomy club member, and a student research assistant in the Nachappa lab. 

Post-graduation plans: I hope to get a master’s degree in pest management here at CSU then start a career in researching sustainable pest management options.  

Favorite part of research: My favorite part of research is working with plants and insects. Being able to see the samples I took turn into data that contributes to a much larger project is so rewarding. I really feel like I am contributing to something important.  

Advice for students interested in getting involved in research: If you are on the fence at all about whether you want to do research, just try it! You will learn so much about yourself and research whether you like it or not. Getting involved in research is by far my favorite thing I have done at CSU and that experience has really solidified my future career goals. Even if you decide research isn’t your thing, you have one less career path to consider, which narrows down what career you will be happy in the long term.