Lili Winkelman

My ten weeks with the Kravchenko lab at MSU and the GLBRC SURP program have been transformative for me as I prepare for a future career in plant and agricultural science. While I’ve been involved in plant research at my home institution, the large plant and soil science community at MSU this summer was a totally different world. The opportunity to be a part of this community and immerse myself in bioenergy research for the first time was very impactful for me as I approach my senior year of undergrad and decide on next steps for my career. 

My project this summer focused on mapping and quantification of enzyme activity in the rhizospheres of sorghum plants, an important bioenergy crop, in order to determine which soil conditions result in maximum nutrient cycling and biomass yield. I became well-versed in new skills, namely soil zymography and greenhouse work, neither of which I had any experience with prior to the program. I am immensely grateful for my mentors, Gokul and Maxwell, for helping me along the way, as well as everyone else in the Kravchenko lab for being so welcoming and letting me shadow and learn about their experiments as well. 

Beyond my time in the lab, I really valued the career workshops, research seminars, and professional development activities that I got to participate in as part of the Plant Genomics REU. They gave me the confidence and preparedness I needed to begin my applications to graduate school this coming fall. 

Outside of research, I had a wonderful time connecting with the other GLBRC and Plant Genomics REU students from all over the country. My favorite memories include swimming at Lake Lansing, going to a renaissance fair, taking a day trip to Detroit with the plant science graduate students, and of course, making many trips to the MSU Dairy Store.