2024 IPREFER Undergraduate Research Experience

We enrolled 10 interns in our 2024 IPREFER internship class. Our program goals were: to help students gain technical skills and interdisciplinary competencies, which will equip them for work on bio-based solutions to food, energy, and environmental challenges. Once again, the interns were able to present their research at the Year 5 IPREFER Annual Meeting.

You can learn more about our 2024 internship class’s summer experiences and research projects in the sections below. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in intern projects were those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Stephanie Castillo, IPREFER Intern

Abigail DeJong
Geneva College

Evaluation of Pennycress Response to Varying Spring Application Rates of Nitrogen*

My name is Abby. I am a first semester senior at Geneva College studying Environmental Science and Biology. I am always excited to get outdoors in my major and spend time inside what I am learning about. Outside of school, I enjoy various media of art, hiking, reading, and traveling.

I applied for the internship because I have always had an interest in agricultural ecosystems, especially with a focus on sustainability. I would like to explore more in-depth what field research looks like with the idea of further education in this field.

IPREFER Mentor: Win Phippen, Western Illinois University

*De Jong, Abigail A., Wesley, Tad L., Phippen, Mary E., & Phippen, Winthrop B. (2024, Jul 29-31). Evaluation of Pennycress Response to Varying Spring Application Rates of Nitrogen [Meeting session]. IPREFER Yr. 5 Annual Meeting, Normal, IL, United States. https://www.iprefercap.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Abigail-DeJong-Poster-FINAL.pdf

Jemisen Cendana, IPREFER Intern

William Gregory
University of Minnesota, Twin Cites

 

Multi-Location Comparison of Pennycress Pod Size and Seed in Advanced Yield Trial Lines*

Hello! My name is William Gregory and I am a student at the University of Minnesota going for a major in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. I work on campus at the Pennycress Breeding and Genetics Lab, where we are doing research to make pennycress into a stable commercial crop! I applied for the internship because I want to learn about the research process and working in a lab, but also I want to make meaningful connections to mentors and other helpful people!

The most important thing I learned in my REU/RET experience was …how connected everyone’s research really was. When working in the internship program, I worked with many different people from multiple different disciplines. Their research and perspective on the project formed new ideas and helped us better understand a lot of the issues or problems that we would like to overcome in the future. Everyone’s research builds off each other, and we use all of it to further innovate and make problem-solving solutions.
 

Mentor: Julia Zhang, IPREFER, University of Minnesota

*Gregory, William E., Gjesvold, Serena, Korth, Sarah, & Zhang, Julia X. (2024. Jul 29-31). Multi-Location Comparison of Pennycress Pod Size and Seed in Advanced Yield Trial Lines [Meeting session]. IPREFER Yr. 5 Annual Meeting, Normal, IL, United States. https://www.iprefercap.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/William-Gregory-Poster.pdf

Jayda Collins, IPREFER Intern

Mila Kocic
Emory University

Impact of Sulfur Fertilization on Sinigrin Levels in Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.)*

I am a chemistry major and environmental science minor at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. I am interested in the ways the Earth behaves as a chemical system. After graduation, I plan to pursue a career in sustainable agriculture or biogeochemistry. Outside of academics, I like to read, make hyper-specific Spotify playlists, and go for long walks in the woods. I applied for the Internship because it is a chance to contribute to efforts to make our current agricultural system more sustainable while prioritizing interdisciplinary communication and collaboration. I’m also looking forward to getting hands-on experience with fieldwork and analytical chemistry.

The most important thing I learned during my internship …  was that research is unpredictable. No matter how well you plan, equipment will malfunction unexpectedly, or the weather will change at the last minute, so you have to be flexible, adaptive, and willing to improvise.

 

Mentor Win Phippen, IPREFER, Western Illinois University

*Kocic, Mila I., Phippen, Mary E., Wesley, Tad L. & Phippen, Winthrop B. (2024, Jul 29-31). Impact of Sulfur Fertilization on Sinigrin Levels in Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) [Meeting session]. IPREFER Yr. 5 Annual Meeting, Normal, IL, United States. https://www.iprefercap.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Kocic-IPREFER-poster-FINAL.pdf

riley Ellaarson, IPREFER Intern

Gabrielle Kwiecien
Trinity College Dublin, Univerisity of Dublin

Variability of Germination and Vigor of CoverCress® Under Differing Conditions of pH, Light Duration, and Plant Density *

My name is Gabi, and I am in my third year of university studying genetics at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland. I enjoy studying plant and evolutionary genetics, exploring new countries, and going on hikes. I am beyond thrilled to be a part of the IPREFER Project and work with such skilled individuals this summer.

I applied to this program because it provides a culmination of hands-on research in the field and lab, offers a unique ability to connect with peers at conferences, and the research being conducted will genuinely aid farmers and the environment. I hope to gain a stronger understanding of penny cress and its underlying functions, perfect basic lab practices, and learn effective and concise scientific communication. 

The most important thing I learned during the internship… was the importance of asking questions. By asking questions, I was able to not only learn new information but also partake in various experiments in the lab, which I would have not been able to do if it weren’t for me inquiring about what else was going on in the lab.

Mentor: Krishnan Rai, CoverCress, Inc.

*Kwiecien, Gabrielle, Child, Macy, Rai, Krishan, & Chopra, Ratan. (2024, Jul 29-31). Variability of Germination and Vigor of CoverCress® Under Differing Conditions of pH, Light Duration, and Plant Density. [Meeting session]. IPREFER Yr. 5 Annual Meeting, Normal, IL, United States. [Meeting session]. IPREFER Yr. 5 Annual Meeting, Normal, IL, United States. https://www.iprefercap.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/G-Kwiecien-Revised-Poster.pdf

Arianna Gonch, IPREFER Intern

Adalee Lynch
Johns Hopkins University

Adalee Lynch

I am a rising fourth-year undergraduate student at Johns Hopkins University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. My research interests are in the exploration and implementation of sustainable practices in agriculture, which promote positive feedback loops and increase the population’s access to real, unprocessed food. In the future, I hope to become a professor where I can inspire and influence future generations to confront exigent climate-related issues in different fields and industries.

Why did you apply for to the Integrated Plant System – Undergraduate Research Program with the IPREFER Project? What do you hope to gain? … I was intrigued by the multifaceted exploitation of pennycress in US agriculture and excited at the chance to contribute to the extensive, diverse efforts of many different researchers. I hope to gain experience in ecological field and lab work to enhance my knowledge of plants and the influence of human actions on isolated ecosystems.

Mentor: Mark Bernards, IPREFER, USDA-ARS

Devon Jonaus, IPREFER Intern

Dara Mandell
Tulane University

Golden Pennycress Response to the Desiccants Diquat and Saflufenacil*

I am currently a junior at Tulane University in New Orleans, studying Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. I work in a plant genetics lab at Tulane, analyzing the genetic and phenotypic basis of Mimulus guttatus. In my free time, I rock climb, hike, and cook with friends. In the future, I would like to pursue a career in sustainable agriculture.

I applied for the IPREFER Project because IPREFER’s mission to optimize pennycress oilseed production addresses a crucial need in agricultural sustainability that resonates deeply with my values. Focusing on this specialized domain enables interns to be a part of groundbreaking research and development. Moreover, the prospect of working collaboratively with both producers and mentors provides an atmosphere conducive to my personal growth.

The most important thing I learned in my REU/RET experience was…how to conduct my own research and problem solve.

Mentor: Mark Bernards, IPREFER, USDA-ARS

*Mandell, Dara E., & Bernards, Mark, L. (2024, Jul 29-31). Golden Pennycress Response to the Desiccants Diquat and Saflufenacil [Meeting session]. IPREFER Yr. 5 Annual Meeting, Normal, IL, United States. https://www.iprefercap.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Dara-Mandell.pdf

Ann Kennedy, IPREFER Intern

Jnnea Nobal
Western Illinois University

Optimizing plant density for maximum seed yield in golden pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.)*

As a senior at Western Illinois University, my name is Jnea Nobal. I’m originally from the quiet community of Grande Riviere Dennery in St. Lucia. Growing up on a farm sparked a deep enthusiasm for agriculture in me. It makes sense for me to get an undergraduate degree in agriculture science as it will enable me to further my knowledge and commitment to this area. Gaining a master’s degree in agriculture with a focus on agronomy and research is one of my future goals in order to further my knowledge and make a significant contribution to the industry.

I applied for the internship when I became interested in genetics and plant breeding after taking courses with Dr. Phippen. I considered the Undergraduate Research Program with the IPREFER Project internship as an opportunity to expand my knowledge in this area and get practical experience that would help me comprehend the process of doing research when I found out about its availability. I’m also really interested in the concept of producing oil seeds from a crop like pennycress.

The most important thing I learned… during my internship was how research is conducted in a professional setting. I gained valuable insights into research methodologies, data collection, and analysis, which significantly enhanced my understanding of the research process.

Mentor: Win Phippen, IPREFER, Western University University

*Nobal, Jnnea C., Phippen, Mary E., Wesley, Tad L., & Winthrop B. Phippen. Optimizing plant density for maximum seed yield in golden pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) [Meeting session]. IPREFER Yr. 5 Annual Meeting, Normal, IL, United States. https://www.iprefercap.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Jnnea-Nobal-Poster-FINAL.pdf

Nicholas Lee, IPREFER Intern

Andrea Padilla
Western Illinois University

Maturity Group Considerations for Soybean and Pennycress Crop Rotation*

I am currently studying agricultural science with an emphasis on plant breeding and genetics at Western Illinois University. After graduation, I hope to complete a master’s program in horticulture. In the future, I would like to be involved in sustainable agriculture. I applied for the internship… I wanted to participate in agricultural research and gain experience with genetics and the breeding of plants.

The most important thing I learned in my internship… was adaptability. I learned how to be comfortable in an environment that I was unfamiliar with. I learned how to adapt to new ideas when things didn’t plan out as I hoped they would and embracing the perseverance necessary for that. I learned how to adapt to different audiences when speaking about my research and encouraging feedback and using it for the better. And I learned to be generous with what I have to offer as a participant and how important it is to surround yourself with collaborators who put forth the same effort because accomplishing a goal, particularly in research, cannot be achieved without a team effort.

Mentor: Win Phippen, IPREFER, Western Illinois University

*Padilla, Andrea, Wesley, Tad L., Bernards, Mark L., & Phippen, Winthrop B. (2024, Jul 29-31). Maturity Group Considerations for Soybean and Pennycress Crop Rotation [Meeting session]. IPREFER Yr. 5 Annual Meeting, Normal, IL, United States. https://www.iprefercap.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Padilla-poster-FINAL.pdf
Caleb Mahr, IPREFER Intern

Ellinor Sheik
Vassar College

Pollen Loads on Insects Caught Amongst Flowering Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.)*

Ellie Sheik is a rising senior at Vassar College, majoring in environmental studies. She is interested in sustainable agriculture and food systems and enjoys farming, singing, and traveling! She recently participated in a multi-country food studies program!

I applied to the IPREFER project because I was interested in studying the benefits of pennycress. This project is especially interesting to me as it aims to provide farmers with a sustainable cover crop option that also yields an economic return. I hope to gain hands-on experience working in the field, develop practical research skills, and meet many wonderful people along the way!

The most important thing I learned in my internship experience was… the value of collaboration in agricultural research to deliver high-quality, effective solutions to farmers. Additionally, I learned the importance of approaching scientific research from a place of humility, curiosity, and open-mindedness.

Mentor: Mark Bernards, IPREFER, USDA-ARS

*Sheik, Ellinor, Bernards, Mark, L., Zavada, Michael, & Forcella, Frank. (2024. Jul 29-31). Pollen Loads on Insects Caught Amongst Flowering Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) [Meeting session]. IPREFER Yr. 5 Annual Meeting, Normal, IL, United States. https://www.iprefercap.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Sheik-2024-Poster.pdf

Jayleen Perez, IPREFER Intern

Rachel Weber
University of Missouri – Columbia

Method development to assess gRNA efficiency and ability to impact gene expression via protoplast transformation*

This fall, I will be a junior majoring in biochemistry at the University of Missouri-Columbia (Mizzou).  My freshman year I was selected to participate with the FRIPS (Freshman Research in Plant Science) cohort and joined the Barros Laboratory researching lignin biosynthesis.  I continue to work in the Barros Lab and am investigating the roles of phenoloxidases in lignin formation. At Mizzou, I am also involved in CAFNR Ambassadors, as well as a community choir here on campus. After graduation, I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in plant science with the goal of working in plant research focused on agriculture and sustainability.

I applied to the IPREFER project because I wanted to gain experience in a new research area focused on sustainability. Along with this, I hope to gain insight into research in industry.

The most important thing I learned through the IPREFER internship was the value of understanding both the research that goes into developing pennycress as an oilseed, but also the application of this research from a commercial perspective.

Mentor: Krishnan Rai, IPREFER, Covercress, Inc.

*Weber, Rachel, Codjoe, Jenny, Rai, Krishnan, & Chopra, Ratan (2024. Jul 29-31). Method development to assess gRNA efficiency and ability to impact gene expression via protoplast transformation [Meeting session]. IPREFER Yr. 5 Annual Meeting, Normal, IL, United States. https://www.iprefercap.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Rachel-Weber-Poster.pdf