Welcoming the 2026 SOAR REEU cohort
May 29, 2026
This summer, the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) is thrilled to welcome a new cohort of ambitious undergraduate researchers to campus for the 2026 Sustainability Opportunities in Agricultural Research (SOAR) Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU) program.
Running from June 1 through August 7, 2026, the 10-week immersive program offers undergraduate students from across the country a hands-on introduction to real-world research in sustainable agriculture, food systems, and plant and soil science. Over the course of the summer, these students will work directly alongside experienced CFANS faculty mentors and dedicated research teams. Together, they will develop independent research projects, collaborate on critical scientific objectives, and present their findings at a professional summer symposium.
The SOAR REEU program is designed to be a transformative experience — one that closes the opportunity gap in agricultural sciences, deepens students’ understanding of complex environmental and food systems challenges, and helps them build the confidence, professional networks, and foundational skills necessary to thrive in future STEM careers. Beyond the laboratory and the field, students will engage in weekly professional development seminars and experience the vibrant culture of the Twin Cities through community-focused field trips, ranging from urban farms and incubator hubs to a grand finale riverboat tour down the Mississippi River.
We are incredibly grateful to the many CFANS faculty members, graduate students, researchers, and support staff who are dedicating their summer to mentoring these students. Your commitment to inclusive excellence, education, and scientific discovery is what makes the SOAR program possible. Thank you for helping us foster an enriching, welcoming environment for the next generation of scientists and changemakers.
If you see our SOAR REEU students around campus, in the labs, or out in the field this summer, please join us in giving them a warm CFANS welcome!
2026 SOAR REEU Cohort
Leslie Arredondo
- Home Institution: Grinnell College, IA
- Mentor: Logan Rodewald
- Faculty Mentor: Laura Shannon
Dara Carneol (she/her)
- Home Institution: University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Mentors: Herika Paula Pessoa
- Faculty Mentor: Brandon Miller
Brianna Colborn (she/her)
- Home Institution: University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
- Mentor: Xin Xin
- Faculty Mentor: Dominic Petrella
Ophira Harpster
- Home Institution: Oregon State University
- Mentor: Ann Piotrowski
- Faculty Mentor: Bryan Runck
Allan Jeandron Jr. (he/him)
- Home Institution: Louisiana State University
- Mentor: Seth Wannemuehler
- Faculty Mentor: Julie Grossman
Melissa Martinez (she/her)
- Home Institution: CSU Monterey Bay (California)
- Mentor: Amelia Johnson
- Faculty Mentor: Nathan Eylands
Jordan Moudry
- Home Institution: Smith College (Massachusetts)
- Mentor: Ben Tanner
- Faculty Mentor: Julie Grossman
Koda Ramos (they/them)
- Home Institution: University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley
- Mentor: Will Pradel
- Faculty Mentor: Mary Rogers
Arabelle Rohs (she/her)
- Home Institution: Grinnell College (Iowa)
- Mentor: Gabe Olson-Jensen, Kate Fessler
- Faculty Mentor: Matt Clark
Caitlyn Taylor (she/her)
- Home Institution: Whitman College (Washington)
- Mentors: Jasper Tao
- Faculty Mentor: Megan McCaghey
