My time as part of the Dairy Ecology Lab in the ARS sector of the USDA includes primary tasks such as soil sampling and processing for carbon and nitrogen analyses, forage biomass collection for quality analysis, and plant and pollinator species identification for a pollinator study relating to crop yields. In addition, I have been able to strengthen problem solving skills and adaptability to completing work efficiently in response to sudden weather changes. During the school year I maintain this role part-time in the lab, where I support projects such as biomass and soil processing, rapid particle size analysis, and carbon concentration analysis. These tasks contribute to long-term studies on perennial forage systems.

For the past three years, I have worked as an undergraduate research assistant in the UW Grassland Ecology Lab. Primary duties include sieving soil, assisting with graduate student projects, general lab organization, individual research projects, and maintenance tasks during the growing season. Additional projects have included two independent research projects on soil health metrics, assisting with farmer-led interviews, and an ongoing literature review on the social repercussions of perennial agriculture.

Organized employee schedules, produce orders, and customer service, in addition to daily tasks. Daily tasks included but were not limited to harvesting, cleaning, and packing produce while fertilizing, trimming, and generally caring for greenhouse tomato plants. Worked weekly to maintain vegetable fields, flower fields, and other areas, including but not limited to harvesting, weeding, watering, and general maintenance.