Ellie Roberts: Learning About the Interconnectedness of Field Work and Lab Work Through Forestry Research

Before starting this job, I knew nothing about forestry or anything related to how the natural resources industry works. But after a semester of field work and a summer of lab experiences, my understanding has begun to grow and my passion for natural resources has only been confirmed. Over the last seven months I have been working as an undergraduate research assistant for Forest Productivity Cooperative (FPC) at NC State University, a partnership between researchers, forest industry leaders, and land managers across the Southeastern U.S. The FPC is led by forestry faculty at NC State, Virginia Tech, the Universidad de Concepción, and the Universidade Federal de Lavras. Their mission is to create innovative solutions to enhance forest productivity and value through sustainable management of site resources. As someone studying environmental science, this position has given me hands-on experience in the field and a front row seat to the kind of collaborative research that powers real world solutions.

The FPC’s research is centered around pine plantation productivity, particularly focusing on the effects of soil fertility, genetics, and silviculture treatments like thinning and fertilization. Their goal is to find sustainable ways to optimize tree growth rate and how healthy they grow. My role placed me directly into that system, allowing me to collect data from experimental forest plots that have been monitored for many years. One of the most valuable parts of the job was participating in tree growth and yield assessments, where we measured tree heights, diameter, and survival rates as well as collecting foliage and wood samples. At first, it was overwhelming moving through plots at a fast pace, using maps to figure out which trees to measure, and recognizing all the different signs of disease, but with practice, I gained confidence and began enjoying and looking forward to field days. More importantly, I began to see patterns in the forest like how different site conditions affected tree growth, how competition shaped canopy structure, and how nutrients affect foliage and crown shape.

While the fieldwork was a very memorable part, a lot of science happened after the boots came off, back in the lab or behind a screen. I helped input and organize data, process samples and prepare them for analysis, and create spreadsheets for modeling growth trends. I even got a glimpse into how researchers use remote sensing tools like LiDAR along with GIS tools to complement on the ground measurements and organize data. These tools allow you to organize and visualize data into custom maps and allow for spatial analysis of the data. This combination of physical labor and analytical thinking was one of my favorite parts of the job. I started to understand that good forestry is never just about trees. It’s about soil chemistry, climate trends, policy decisions, and most of all data. Lots of it.

There were definitely hard days. Working outdoors in North Carolina’s varying weather was not always easy. Some days it was so cold that my fingers could no longer write in our data sheets, and other days battling the heat while wearing thick enough layers and an extra layer of chaps to protect ourselves from briers was extremely physically demanding. But these experiences also taught me resilience and how to think ahead (hydration, peelable layers, and bug spray became my best friends).

Another challenge was learning to balance precision with efficiency. In research plots, accuracy is essential, but so is the ability to move quickly through dozens of trees in a day, since most of the forests we visited were at least a 2 hour drive away. I learned to work as part of a team, communicating clearly even when things felt chaotic.

What impressed me the most about the FPC’s work was how long term, collaborative, and large scale it is. Some of the plots we worked in have been monitored for over 20 years. The data we collected will be added to that ongoing record and will be used to inform decisions made by foresters and landowners throughout the Southeast. It felt good to know that even as a student, I was contributing to something bigger, a network of research that helps manage forests more sustainably and productively in a changing climate.

This research experience broadened my understanding of how environmental work operates in applied, real world settings. I developed skills in data collection, field methodology, and collaborative problem solving, all of which deepened my appreciation for the complexity of environmental systems and the value of long term research. Looking at where I could go in the future, this position strengthened my ability to think analytically, communicate findings clearly, and engage with interdisciplinary questions. It affirmed my interest in work that combines science, environmental applications, and a tangible impact, skills and values I plan to carry forward in whatever direction my academic and professional journey takes me.