Work-Study Research Assistant Program

Faculty Name: Haiying Tao

Faculty Department: Plant Science and Landscape Architecture

General Research Focus: 

We are studying the role of cover cropping in Connecticut cropping systems, such as silage corn in dairy farms. Example research focuses are how cover crop seeding rate and planting date can be optimized for the best production, how cover crops affect soil nutrient cycling, soil microorganism, weed suppression, and subsequent crop yields.

Brief Position Description:

The student will work with Dr. Tao and a graduate student for the following research activities: soil sample collection using soil probes and augers, soil preparation using grinders and ovens, sieving soils, weighing soils, measuring soil samples using analytical scales, and analyze samples for nutrient analysis using various equipment such as Carbon/Nitrogen Analyzer, Discrete Analyzer. The student will also assist with plant tissue sampling, harvesting, and preparation for chemical analysis. The student will shadow a PhD graduate student in learning how to use and maintain laboratory equipment commonly found in soil and plant laboratories. The student will be introduced to common laboratory practices and safety, such as washing dishes, waste glass handling, chemical handling etc. The student will be introduced to analyzing and organizing data using Excel and other programs relevant to soil science, such as SAS and R. 

The student will gain knowledge and experience in the identification of weed species, soil nutrient cycling, and the benefits of cover cropping in agricultural systems. The student will also learn how microbial communities are analyzed in soil and their role in soil health. Through this experience, the student will learn how to think about approaching research questions, designing and running robust field and laboratory experiments which appropriately answer those research questions, analyzing data and evaluating its quality, and presenting data in the form of a poster or lab report. The student will be encouraged to present at the UConn Frontiers Undergraduate Research Symposium in the spring to both share their findings with the UConn community and to gain experience communicating scientific results to individuals outside of soil science.

Job Description:

A Student Laboratory & Field Analysis Assistant - 203 will assist faculty in research efforts within a laboratory or other research-specific environment. A student in this position may:

• Take soil, plant, and water samples
• Process samples
• Maintain and clean lab environment
• Take measurements using basic lab equipment
• Code/plot and analyze data within guidelines
• Keep detailed records
• Organize, analyze, and communicate data