Student summer research lays path for future scientists

When Michael Belfer '28 was seven years old, he visited a military clinic that specialized in creating prosthetics for servicemembers who had lost limbs. He felt he had found his calling. Now a biological sciences major, Belfer spent the summer doing research under the guidance of Jed Sparks, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, and Allasandra Avril Valdez, a Ph.D. candidate in Sparks' lab. Valdez is studying strategies to reduce methane emissions in livestock pastures, and Belfer and fellow undergraduate Eli Barrett-Learn '28 spent the summer taking samples at an experimental cattle ranch in Florida.

"In the future, I want to do research developing better prosthetics, and this summer has really laid the foundation I need to do my own research," Belfer said. "Ally told Eli and I that research is 90% failure and 10% success. And that we shouldn't be discouraged, but embrace the failure to learn how to complete successful research. That helped me push through barriers when data I collected wasn't satisfactory, and it's one of my biggest takeaways from this summer."

Belfer's summer research experience was made possible by a Summer Undergraduate Mentored Research Grant from the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability. This summer the grants supported three other research projects exploring manure storage additives to reduce methane, food security in Hawaii, and atmospheric changes caused by increasing sea surface temperatures.

In her doctoral studies, Valdez is exploring differences in methane emissions in cattle-grazed pasturelands at the Archbold Biological Station Buck Island Ranch in Lake Placid, Florida. Methane emissions from cattle themselves have received considerable research interest and attention; this project focuses on methane emissions from the soil itself. Researchers are exploring differences in methane emissions in pastures based on soil type and planting type: semi-native grasses vs. pastures planted to Bahiagrass, a non-native grass that's nutritionally superior for cattle. The work required taking thousands of samples of soils and emissions.

"Everyone knows the scientific method, but you never get so deep into the context until you're actually living it," said Barrett-Learn, a biological sciences major. "One of the things Ally talked about with us a lot is the function of science. What makes things easier vs. what preserves scientific validity. That was groundbreaking for me in understanding how experiments should be run."

Though he's still keeping an open mind, Barrett-Learn said his summer research experience was so impactful, this type of work "is a top contender for a career."

Joel Tinoco Valarezo, a master's student in the lab of Jason Oliver, dairy environmental systems engineer, served as the graduate student mentor this summer for his project, which studied different additives to reduce greenhouse gas and other emissions from dairy farms' manure storage. Tinoco and his undergraduate advisee, Emilia Gli Perez '27, who is studying biological engineering and sustainable food and agriculture systems, evaluated how additives, such as the bacteria Bacillus and the mineral gypsum, perform in minimizing climate-warming methane.

"Working with Emilia was a valuable experience for me because I learned a lot about how to communicate science more effectively and convey the importance of our work to motivate others," said Tinoco, who hopes to be a professor someday. "And she, based on what she achieved, learned how to apply classroom theories to a bigger scale research project and see that the work she was doing could be applied in reality for a farmer. It was exciting for both of us, I think, to be involved in this project."

Another summer research project, led by Steven Mana'oakamai Johnson, assistant professor of natural resources and the environment, sought to support food security in Hawaii, where 90% of food is imported. Graduate student mentor Aspen Russell, a Ph.D. student in information science, and undergraduate students aided community monitoring of water bodies and community storytelling, to strengthen "human-enviornment connections, and integrate traditional knowledge into adaptation strategies."

Flavio Lehner, assistant professor of earth and atmospheric sciences, and graduate student mentor Yan-Ning Kuo, a Ph.D. student in Lehner's lab, oversaw the final project, which sought to understand how climate change and higher sea surface temperatures are impacting atmospheric rivers - streams of water vapor that move water from oceans and warm, tropical areas to colder, more-arid regions. Students used climate model simulations to assess future variability on rainfall forecasts, which impact regional drought and flood risks.

Verne Thalheimer, associate director of Cornell Atkinson, said the Summer Undergraduate Mentored Research program benefits undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty advisors.

"This experience can help open undergraduates' eyes to the possibility of a research-focused career. At the same time, the graduate student builds important, practical management skills which can help prepare them for a future role leading their own research team," Thalheimer said. "It's a program which provides very applied benefits for all involved."

Krisy Gashler is a writer for the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability.