Growing people and forests: The power of undergraduate research

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — In the fall of 2015, Alex Storm, an undergraduate forest ecosystem management major in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, set out to broaden his horizons by delving into the world of research.

He discovered a like-minded mentor in Laura Leites, research professor of quantitative forest ecology and now the college’s assistant dean for access and equity. She welcomed him into her lab as her first undergraduate researcher and had him join a research project investigating oak regeneration success across the commonwealth.

“I was fortunate as an undergraduate student to have been approached by Laura to work in the quantitative forest ecology lab,” he said. “As a mentor, she encouraged and guided me through the process of pursuing a graduate degree, which I hadn’t considered before joining her lab. Had I not had this experience, I wouldn’t be in my current position.”

His work as the coordinator of the forest technology associate degree program at Penn State Mont Alto has been a full-circle moment, bringing him back to his roots and allowing him to work alongside his former mentor.

Together, they are working to create valuable undergraduate research opportunities that enhance knowledge, facilitate students’ transition between campuses, and strengthen connections with state and federal agencies — all while advancing the study of climate adaptation in forest tree species.

Storm explained that students in Mont Alto’s two-year forest technology program receive thorough training in the practical applications of forestry. Still, finding ways to engage them in meaningful undergraduate research before they graduate can be challenging.

He added that about 40% of forest technology graduates at Mont Alto choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree at University Park.

“The transition from a Commonwealth Campus to University Park can be difficult, and having familiar faces can make a huge difference for those students to feel a sense of belonging,” he said.

With that in mind, Storm approached Leites about collaborating on a research project to provide students with meaningful research while easing the campus transition.

“We believe this first collaboration effort can serve as a model for future initiatives within our departments and beyond,” Storm said.

Leites said students also benefit by contributing to research that “expands our knowledge of how forest tree species will fare under a changing climate and how we can manage forests so they remain adapted, healthy and productive.”

Leites and graduate students in her lab, Mary McCafferty and Nathan LaDuke, are studying forest tree species’ adaptation to climate. This project is supported by the U.S. Forest Service’s southern and eastern regions, the service’s southern and northern research stations, and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry.

In the fall of 2023, Leites’ lab established the first common garden for Quercus alba, or white oak, a species of significant ecological and economic value. The research site is located at the Bureau of Forestry’s Mira Lloyd Dock Resource Conservation Center in Spring Mills. The goal is to investigate the species’ geographic variation in response to climate and evaluate its potential for assisted migration.

“We are very grateful to Nursery Operations Manager Annetta Ayers and her team for supporting this project and providing the site and resources,” Leites said. “We could not have done this otherwise. It is heartwarming that one of the people on her team who has helped us the most is also a Penn State graduate from our forest ecosystem management program.”

This past fall, Leites and Storm established a second common garden of white oak on the Mont Alto campus. Their objectives are to replicate the one established in Spring Mills and allow first- and second-year students at Mont Alto to contribute to the research. McCafferty and LaDuke are training the Mont Alto students in data collection.

“Working with undergrads is such a fun part of research,” McCafferty said. “Students ask fascinating and thought-provoking questions. My undergraduate research experience led me to pursue grad school, and I am so excited to be part of this hands-on learning opportunity for students.”

If the Mont Alto students transition to University Park, they can join the Leites lab and complete their research experience.

“I have witnessed firsthand the incredible impact that undergraduate research has on our students,” Leites said. “For many, it paves the way to graduate school, and for all, it deepens their understanding of science and enhances their appreciation of its impact on society.”

Leites and Storm also aim to create opportunities for students to engage with professionals and scientists, helping them build valuable connections for their future careers.

“It’s great to see this important research on an iconic forest tree of the eastern U.S. being integrated with undergraduate mentoring and training,” said Dana Nelson, research geneticist at the U.S. Forest Service Southern Research Station.

Kevin Potter, research ecologist at the Southern Research Station, agreed.

“Conserving forests and the critical services they provide depends on people with hands-on experience working with trees and data to understand how tree species respond to climate change and other threats,” he said. “Dr. Leites and her team are training a new generation of forest scientists who can help steward our forest resources in a changing world.”