Especially evident during the summer field season, collaborators from across the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), as well as external partners, bring a myriad of research projects to the fields, ponds, and woodlands of The Ohio State University South Centers.
Student colleagues are among key collaborators and provide value to the South Centers community in multiple ways. Congratulations are in order for Breh Ruger (CFAES Entomology), who conducted large-scale watermelon trials in Piketon last season, and Nicole Volk (CFAES Agriculture Communications, Education, and Leadership), who facilitated a farmers’ listening session this spring, as they both recently passed their PhD candidacy exams. Catherine Mwanjisi (CFAES Plant Pathology) is continuing her second season of data collection for her Master of Science project studying downy mildew in cucurbit crops in addition to assisting with tomato disease trials located at South Centers. Kenya Castillo (CFAES Entomology) is including zucchini plots supplemented with bumble bees as part of her Master of Science research with a statewide scope.
To facilitate project installation, maintenance, and data collection, undergraduate student assistants are essential. This season, South Centers staff are joined by eight undergraduate Student Assistants: Landon Williams (OSU, Agribusiness), Madilen Day (OSU, Architecture), Khloe Case (Morehead State University, Agribusiness), Kelsey Helphenstine (Shawnee State University, Education), Garrett Cody (Cedarville University, Mathematics), Aubrey Quillen (Marshall University, Medical Imaging), Dawson Cody (Eastern High School/ University of Rio Grande, Chemistry), and Gray Smith (University of Rio Grande, Wildlife Conservation). Some Student Assistants use their time at South Centers as an internship to hone skills and explore additional career options through authentic, experiential learning.