Individualized Learning Stories
My Summer as an LU-R1 Researcher
Evan Link '13
by Evan Link
Class of 2013
Biology Major
Summer of 2011
Wisdom is derived from the experiences an individual undergoes in his or her life. I kept that in mind when I visited Professor Maravolo’s office earlier this year to talk about being chosen for the LU-R1 program. I wanted to gain a better understanding of what a career in biology could be like, but at the same time I wanted to be a part of something that would benefit the scientific community and have an impact on the world. I told “Doc” I was interested in gaining experience working both in the field and in the lab during my LU-R1 program because it would give me a better idea of what it was that I wanted to do with my love for science.
Together we went through a list of potential supervisors—Lawrence alumni scientists—who were working in the field as well as lab settings. I eventually narrowed my decision down to Brock Woods ’73, who works at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Science and Operations Center on invasive plant species.
I moved into a house in Madison for the summer with three University of Wisconsin students who had lived there the previous year. These guys made my summer so much more fun than it already was and have become very close friends to me.
The social aspect of living on your own, away from home, cooking your own meals and working a full-time job matured me more than any other period in my life. I managed to have fun on the weekends or after a long day of incredible science, but I also became a much more responsible person, student and scientist.
After getting settled in, I began my work with Brock, which included a daily 40-minute bike ride to and from his office and did wonders for my conditioning. At the DNR science center, Brock and I discussed what the plan was and what my overall goals for the summer would be. I knew we would be working on Phragmites (or “Phrag”), an invasive species of reed grass known for its aggressive growth habits and cloning via underground rhizomes. Brock explained the challenges trying to fight these invasive pests if prevention is avoided. We scoured dozens of scientific research papers on invasive plant species, but every paper that I went through, none of them addressed the possible spreading of the plant through above ground stem fragments and nodes. In recognizing that missing part of information on the plant, I decided I could conduct some studies and tests that have never been done before. A possible scientific breakthrough!
I designed my own experiments, which involved going out into the field to collect Phrag samples, cutting the tall stems into pieces with one, two or three nodes and placing them into large tubs of water and on various soils. With the constant support of Brock, I was able to collect some very interesting data, most notably the stem fragments did in fact grow!
The high percentage of new root and shoot growth out of the cut stem segments was disturbing. One of the main control methods for Phragmites is in fact cutting the stems up into small segments through mowing. What my research and tests revealed is that this control method may in fact be spreading the plant, not containing it. Conducting the tests and documenting the results—as startling as they were—gave me an unbelievable feeling of accomplishment.
During my time in Madison, I had successfully propagated multiple Phragmites plants grown from cut stem segments. The next step in my research is to see if these new plants can survive the winter. The plants will be planted in the ground (on campus somewhere?) for the winter with a goal of determining if the threat of spreading Phragmites through stem segments is as high a priority as it seems.
Whatever the outcome, I hope to publish some sort of a research paper with Brock on my summer research. Brock will be presenting some of my data to the state in efforts to control this invasive pest.
Being selected as one of the students for the LU-R1 program for 2011 was an extremely high honor. The experience allowed me to grow as a responsible college student and as a budding scientist. The knowledge I’ve gained, the science that I took part of and the friends that I have made are all because of being a Lawrentian. I’m grateful to Lawrence and the LU-R1 program for providing this opportunity and making me all the wiser. It’s a summer I will never forget and one I will always wish hadn’t ended.
Watch a video about what other Lawrence students and their alumni mentors think about the LU-R1 program.
