Elise Lankford

     I’m halfway through my internship with UME. I’ve become much more comfortable asking questions, something that didn’t come naturally in the beginning. Early on, I didn’t know what I didn’t know. But as I’ve gained more knowledge and hands-on experience, I’ve started to identify gaps in my understanding and feel more confident seeking clarification.

    One of the most memorable learning experiences so far involved a cover crop study where we noticed something unusual with a few pepper plants. A few plants had a strange discoloration near the base of the stem. We brought samples back to the lab and, after examining them under the microscope and referencing a textbook, we believe the plants may have been affected by anthracnose, a disease likely caused by the Colletotrichum pathogen, possibly originating from the soil. While we aren’t a diagnostic lab, it was exciting to investigate a real-world issue and work through the identification process.

Looking through the microscope / What we found on the pepper stem

  Week 5 was especially busy. We attended two field days. One hosted by Virginia Tech on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Then the next day we attended the University of Delaware in Georgetown. Later that same day, we helped set up and attend our own field day. It was insightful to see how other institutions approach research.

Kurt, Shelby, and I at Virginia Tech.

    One of the most challenging aspects of this experience has been learning to advocate for myself. It’s not always easy to ask questions when you’re afraid you’re supposed to already know the answer. My academic background isn’t in agriculture, so I’ve sometimes felt behind. But I’ve learned that it’s better to ask than to stay silent, especially after a situation where I realized a set of pesticide bottles may have gotten out of order while we were prepping for two different studies. I was nervous to say anything, but I knew I had to. Nothing had been applied yet, but the experience reminded me of the importance of attention to detail and speaking up, even when it’s uncomfortable.

    One strategy that’s helped me stay grounded is maintaining a clear separation between work and home. During our Week 5 professional development session, we discussed the importance of setting boundaries between personal and professional life, and I’ve really taken that to heart. I try to finish everything work-related while I’m in the field or office.

    One specific area I’m continuing to work on is weed identification. Since my mentor, Kurt, specializes in weed management, some of our tasks involve recognizing different weed species. It’s sometimes tough, especially because weeds can look very different at each growth stage. For instance, the seed leaves of a morning glory don’t resemble the ivy-shaped leaves seen on more mature plants. Even though it’s challenging, I’ve started to recognize patterns and ask more informed questions as I go.

           

Cotyledons versus developed morning glory leaves

     Overall, I’ve grown more confident and more detail-oriented. Kurt has been a huge part of that growth, he’s a patient mentor who is always willing to explain the purpose behind our work and answer questions. I’m excited to continue learning through the rest of the summer.