Catherine Chappell

In the May-July of 2025, I was lucky enough to partake in a summer internship hosted by Michigan State University. Based on my research interests, I was placed in a lab associated with the GLBRC and did some really exciting research involving sorghum as a bioenergy crop. 

This 10 week internship left me with some invaluable experiences and takeaways. For example, I really enjoyed my cohort. Spending time with and getting to know such similarly motivated undergraduates from across the country (and world) was so special. I hope to stay in contact with these people as we all grow into the professional world. 

Another takeaway has to do with the GLBRC. Going into the internship, I really had no clue what this organization was. After learning their mission, getting to help with their research, and being lucky enough to visit the Kellogg Biological Station, I gained a very positive view of the GLBRC and could see myself working with them in the future. I really enjoy doing research with a tangible real-world impact. 

A third big thing I gained from this internship is a new research interest. Previously, I had only done research regarding plant morphology. After spending time in my internship lab (the Brandizzi Lab) working hands on with cell wall research, I realized how much I like it. When I return to my home institution, I plan on taking more cell and molecular biology classes. Beyond that, I plan on pursuing this area of plant science in grad school. 

Overall I could not have asked for a better internship experience, and feel incredibly thankful for the personal and professional growth I was able to make over this past summer.