A summer of growth: SOAR-REEU students present research highlights
The students will present their research at the Summer Undergraduate Research Expo on Thursday, August 6, 2026.
August 4, 2026
This summer, the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) welcomed a dynamic cohort of undergraduate researchers to the University of Minnesota for the 2026 SOAR-REEU program. Working side-by-side with experienced CFANS faculty and research teams, these emerging scientists spent ten weeks developing independent research projects focused on real-world solutions in agriculture, plant life, and soil science.
The culmination of their summer research will be featured at the Summer Undergraduate Research Expo on Thursday, August 6, 2026, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Memorial Hall of McNamara Alumni Center. Beyond laboratory experiments and field trials, the program provided a transformative experience through professional development seminars, community exploration, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Explore a summary of their innovative projects below.
2026 SOAR-REEU Student Research Projects
Pollen viability in wild potato relatives (Solanum spp.) reveals reproductive potential
Leslie Arredondo, SOAR-REEU student from Grinnell College, mentored by Logan Rodewald; faculty mentor: Laura Shannon
Evaluating yellowbud hickory by-product as mulch in container plantings
Dara Carneol, SOAR-REEU student from University of Wisconsin–Madison, mentored by Herika Paula Pessoa; faculty mentor: Brandon Miller
Effects of GA₄₊₇ and KNO₃ seed priming on Kentucky bluegrass germination and establishment
Brianna Colborn, SOAR-REEU student from University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, mentored by Xin Xin; faculty mentor: Dominic Petrella
Beneath the turf: Water storage and dry-down in native and USGA rootzones
Ophira Harpster, SOAR-REEU student from Oregon State University, mentored by Ann Piotrowski; faculty mentor: Bryan Runck
Developing a quantitative foliage color classification system for Weigela florida Thunb.
Allan Jeandron Jr., SOAR-REEU student from Louisiana State University, mentored by Seth Wannemuehler; faculty mentor: Julie Grossman
The effects of growing zinnia (Zinnia elegans) and snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) in an agrivoltaic east-west fixed solar panel array
Melissa Martinez, SOAR-REEU student from California State University, Monterey Bay, mentored by Amelia Johnson; faculty mentor: Nathan Eylands
Soil fertility beyond the harvest: Potentially mineralizable nitrogen as a means to explore long-term impact of cover crop cycles within high tunnels
Jordan Moudry, SOAR-REEU student from Smith College, mentored by Ben Tanner; faculty mentor: Julie Grossman
Assessing pest infestation rates on collard greens in relation to plant phenotypic traits
Koda Ramos, SOAR-REEU student from University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley, mentored by Will Pradel; faculty mentor: Mary Rogers
Evaluating germination protocols for strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa)
Arabelle Rohs, SOAR-REEU student from Grinnell College, mentored by Gabe Olson-Jensen and Kate Fessler; faculty mentor: Matt Clark
A fight of blight: Varying irrigation regime impacts on early blight, Alternaria solani, incidence in Dakota Russet and Russet Burbank potato varieties
Caitlyn Taylor, SOAR-REEU student from Whitman College, mentored by Jasper Tao; faculty mentor: Megan McCaghey
