Elise Lankford

    So far, my internship has been a rewarding and educational experience. I’m grateful to be part of UME and have already gained knowledge and hands-on skills I would not have learned in a classroom. I've also met great people and have found myself genuinely motivated to show up each day, even for early morning fieldwork. That alone says a lot about how meaningful this opportunity has been.

    Last Monday, I was introduced to hoeing for the first time. We had to remove oats that had been misplanted by a drone in the alleyways between Kurt’s watermelon trials. The oats, intended as cover crops, unfortunately ended up in the wrong location. Because this is a weed management study, they needed to be removed to avoid interfering with the research. It was physically demanding work in the heat, and although not particularly enjoyable, it taught me about the labor that goes into agricultural field maintenance, and research.

A photo of me terminating incorrectly located oats.

    I also worked on preparing pesticide mixtures, which continues to test my attention to detail. I take this task seriously, knowing how crucial accurate measurements are for both safety and data integrity. Additionally, I had the opportunity to transplant a large number of pepper plants and help plant watermelon seeds. I enjoyed learning how to transplant plants because its something I never thought about how it happened, and now I can say that I have done it.

Planting watermelon seeds for Kurt’s watermelon trial.

    This week’s Career Readiness Theme was Communication. While I haven’t been asked to give formal presentations, I use communication skills regularly in more subtle but important ways. I often ask for clarification when I’m unsure about a task or need instructions repeated. Even though my mentors are clear and thorough, I’ve learned that confirming my understanding helps ensure the work is done correctly. Asking questions has been one of the most consistent and important forms of communication in my internship so far.

    Our guest lecture by Michele Walfred this week also emphasized the importance of communication, especially in terms of online presence. She highlighted that all of us, knowingly or not, are building a personal brand. That idea stood out to me and made me more conscious of how I present myself in both professional settings and online spaces. This week made me reflect on how scientists and researchers communicate with the public. While researchers and farmers often understand agricultural practices like pesticide use, the general public doesn’t always receive the same information. There’s a communication gap, and that lack of transparency can lead to misunderstanding or mistrust. Bridging that gap through effective, accessible communication is essential if we want to build public confidence.

    Week 3 emphasized that communication takes many forms: asking thoughtful questions, writing clearly, listening carefully, and presenting ourselves intentionally. These are all skills I’m continuing to develop throughout this internship.