REEU: Fostering the Next Generation of Agricultural and Natural Resources Professionals through Experiential Learning in Research, Education and Extension

Engage in the research and the application of plants and soil to impact food production and the environment

Pending funding approval.

For information contact

Martha Mamo

Leah Sandall

See Projects

Applied Plant Systems students at the end-of-summer banquet.
Applied Plant Systems students at the end-of-summer banquet.

Who should apply


Related fields

  • Plant Breeding
  • Plant Production and Management
  • Rangeland Ecology
  • Soil Management
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Microbiology
  • Agricultural Technology
  • Environmental Horticulture

Eligibility

Participation in the Nebraska Summer Research Program is limited to students who meet the following criteria:
  • U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
  • Current undergraduate with at least one semester of coursework remaining before obtaining a bachelor's degree

See Eligibility for more information.

How to apply

Follow the application steps to submit the following materials.

About the Program

The goal of this program is to prepare students with both knowledge and skills necessary to address the grand challenges of food production and the environment. Participating students will conduct a summer experiential internship related to his or her career interests and goals, choosing from a variety of programs in the applied plant, soil, and environmental sciences available through a network of collaborators. The students will also work with their program peers and a team of faculty mentors to engage in activities related to teamwork, decision making, systems thinking, and translating their summer work into learning objects for science literacy.

Stipend is $5000, plus $1000 for translating summer experience into learning objects working with UNL science literacy team.

Applied Plant Systems students in the field.
Applied Plant Systems students in the field.

See more at: https://agronomy.unl.edu/applied-plant-systems 

Benefits

  • Competitive stipend: $6,000
  • Suite-style room and meal plan
  • Travel expenses to and from Lincoln
  • Campus parking and/or bus pass
  • Full access to the Campus Recreation Center and campus library system
  • Wireless internet access

Learn more about academic and financial benefits.

Events

  • Department seminars and presentations
  • Professional development workshops (e.g., applying to graduate school, taking the GRE)
  • Welcome picnic
  • Day trip to Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
  • Outdoor adventures
  • Research symposium

Mentors and Projects

Dr. Stacy Adams Agronomy and Horticulture

Hydroponics as a food production system

Introduce, explore, and experience hydroponics as a food production system for urban agriculture and develop educational outreach materials.

Dr. Silvia C. Córdova Martinez Agronomy and Horticulture

Predicting soil carbon trajectories in agricultural systems

Students will participate in a project assessing a suite of indicators to predict soil carbon trajectories in agricultural systems.

Dr. Aaron Daigh Agronomy and Horticulture

Water quality in agricultural landscapes

The work will focus on water quality and vadose zone processes in agricultural landscapes to protect the quality of major aquifer.

Dr. Katherine Frels Agronomy and Horticulture

Resistance in grain quality traits

Students will participate in activities related to disease resistance screening, pest resistance, fall drought tolerance, and phenomic selection for grain quality traits.

Dr. Amit Jhala Agronomy and Horticulture

Reproductive biology of weeds

Evaluate the reproductive biology of weeds and confirm, characterize, and manage herbicide-resistant weeds in agronomic crops in Nebraska. In addition to participating in this research, students will also participate in extension activities. 

Dr. Virginia Jin Agronomy and Horticulture

Soil greenhouse gas emissions

Measure and evaluate soil greenhouse gas emissions from conventional and alternative management systems used for food and biofuel production.

Dr. Marty Schmer Agronomy and Horticulture, USDA-ARS Research Agronomist

Sustainable cropping systems

The students will be engaged in sustainable cropping systems and monitoring greenhouse gas emissions from different management systems.

Laura Thompson Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Digital technologies and production systems of contemporary agriculture

Engage in research and extension activities conducted through UNL’s Nebraska On-Farm Research Network. The students will select a project from a broad range of topics and learn about the digital technologies and production systems of contemporary agriculture.

Dr. Daniel Uden Agronomy and Horticulture

Rangeland ecology and management experiments

Participate in a collaborative adaptive management project at UNL’s Barta Brothers Ranch in the Nebraska Sandhills. The students will collaboratively design and implement rangeland ecology and management experiments with stakeholders and monitor ecological, economic, and social variables.

Jennifer Weisbrod Agronomy and Horticulture

Integrated pest management

The students will work on projects related to integrated pest management, pesticide safety, human health, pesticide risk, agrochemical water contamination, and public outreach.

Dr. Sam Wortman Agronomy and Horticulture

Novel production systems and technologies

The students will contribute to research and development of novel production systems and technologies that reduce labor and plastic waste and increase water and nitrogen efficiency on urban food production.