During the summer of 2019, I completed an National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF REU) at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Working under the direction of Dr. Virginia Jin, I completed a research project on carbon emissions of a corn-soybean rotation system under different tilling regimes. I did this by completing a Life-cycle assessment (LCA) that identifies the extent and hotspots of greenhouse gas impacts in agricultural systems. I found that the disk tillage system results in a larger carbon footprint than compared to a no-till system. Examining carbon footprints with an LCA can indicate more sustainable methods of farming. Results suggest that eliminating tillage would lead to a more sustainable farm system and likely decrease monetary farm inputs. I presented these findings at the University of Nebraska Summer Research Symposium where I won first place for my poster presentation. I also created and disseminated an infographic of my findings (which you can view below) to farmers and the general public.​

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Principal Investigator: Virginia Jin, Ph.D.

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