Cristian Solano (‘27), a double major in Materials Science and Engineering and Economics, conducted research on the environmental impact of fertilizer use with mentorship from Dr. Samantha McBride (Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mathematics). This research was supported by the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program.
The research I performed this summer focused on fertilizer dissolution and transport within the soil. While fertilizers are an essential part of global agriculture and provide many benefits, they can be harmful to local ecosystems if excess nutrients are washed away into nearby water sources. Consequently, investigating how to control fertilizer dissolution via watering practices is important for minimizing waste and environmental harm. Growing up in a coastal city with an abundance of local wildlife and beautiful ecosystems, I developed a sincere love for the environment. As a result, contributing to ecological preservation is very important to me. Performing research this past summer on a topic that directly related to protecting sensitive ecosystems was extremely rewarding. While I’m still examining whether academic research will play a role in my future career, having this opportunity was extremely valuable for understanding the different ways I can promote environmental sustainability.
The most challenging aspect of the PURM program for me was managing my time appropriately. When I started the program, the project I was involved in was at its beginning stages and there was no clear end goal. At first, this was difficult, as I felt lost without strict expectations. However, this forced me to be self-motivated, create deadlines, and become more independent. I know that pursuing research as a career involves a lot of independence, so learning to manage my time was an important skill to develop early on.
Research can be intimidating, especially without very direct instruction, so having a source of support was helpful. I really appreciated being able to grow closer with my peers that were also on campus over the summer. Having roommates and friends to spend time with after work was extremely meaningful to me, and I was able to develop very close relationships with many people around me. Beyond research, PURM helped me to feel more comfortable as a Penn student. I transferred into this school as a sophomore, which sometimes makes me feel like I’ve fallen behind professionally and socially in comparison to other students in my year. However, having a summer to interact with faculty, perform academic research, and bond with my peers has definitely helped me to feel more well-integrated into the Penn community. I’m extremely appreciative of this opportunity!
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