Hands in the Soil, Eyes on the Future
The research greenhouse complex located at the University of Maryland, College Park is a facility that fosters studies involving “entomopathogen infection of fruits and vegetables, advanced genomics of cereal crops, reduction of mycotoxin contamination of wheat, genetic analysis of invasive weeds, development of new resources for urban agriculture and green roofs, genomic resources for rapid crop production adaption to climate change, improvement of salt tolerance in crops grown near the Chesapeake Bay, development of new strawberry genomic resources, evaluation of insect-crop plant interactions and responses to exotic pathogens” (AGNR, 2024). Imagine four separate greenhouse ranges extending off the headhouse with a total area of 39,729 square feet under glass, where the rooms offer computer-controlled precision growth chambers, featuring automated light, temperature, and humidity controls. Over the summer, the three of us were able to shed our sweat towards something greater than us. By sustaining the plants’ growth, we supported researchers in focusing on developing plant genetics to improve the future of America’s crops. Working in the greenhouse at the University of Maryland gave the three of us the chance to care for plants in a place where science and teamwork came together every day.
We spent our days maintaining the plants while learning about research and sustainable agriculture along the way. Our daily tasks consisted of watering and sometimes fertilizing plants, pulling weeds, sweeping greenhouse rooms and hallways, and managing water in the growth chambers to prevent still water from accumulating. We also helped transplant and propagate plants, some of which had pests like cockroaches, and assisted our supervisors with tasks like checking irrigation systems, monitoring temperature and humidity, and disinfecting greenhouse rooms to prevent bacteria. Each of us had unique experiences that made our internship special. Larissa organized and led a full greenhouse tour for her high school’s agriculture department, answering questions and explaining how our work connected to their classes while also allowing them to see a potential college focused on agriculture. Isabel released predatory mites to help control spider mites, a common pest found in the greenhouse as well, and helped mix two different soil types to repot over 50 seedlings. Ava gained experience supporting critical research studies, learning how to track important environmental factors such as light, temperature, and humidity. Through the greenhouse, she also helped out on other research projects such as Jose-Luis Izursa’s Aquaponics Lab and Sydney Wallace’s Wheat Research. Through these activities, we developed skills in plant propagation, greenhouse care, and research workflows, while also building confidence in teamwork, independence, and communication.
We agreed that an ideal supervisor is someone who gives clear instructions, sets fair expectations, and provides helpful feedback along the way. Larissa values a hands-on supervisor who not only models best practices but also trusts interns with real responsibility, which makes her feel both challenged and supported. Isabel appreciates a supervisor who knows when to step in with guidance and when to step back, allowing space for independence and growth through individual learning. Ava believes the best supervisors strike a balance between professionalism and kindness. She thinks they should be clear and sometimes firm when needed, but also understanding, approachable, and friendly. The key is knowing when to use each of these qualities at the right moment. We can attest that our supervisor, Meghan Holbert, was a perfect depiction of this balance. She was an incredible instructor and trainer, patient yet thorough, and always willing to explain tasks until we felt confident. Meghan made the greenhouse a place where we could not only learn but also feel comfortable asking questions and making mistakes. Her guidance made challenging tasks less overwhelming, and her kindness made long, hot days in the greenhouse feel manageable. Larissa even says Meghan is one of the sweetest people she knows, and we all agree that her teaching style and personality made a huge difference in shaping our internship into such a valuable and memorable experience.
Overall, we’d all say our greenhouse internship was a really positive experience, even though each of us had slightly different takeaways. Larissa rated it a 9/10, mainly because she loved how much responsibility and trust she was given. She felt like she wasn’t just “helping out” but actually learning real skills that she can utilize in the future. The only downside from her perspective was that some of the jobs got repetitive after a while, such as tasks like watering or moving trays, but she still felt it was worth it because of how much she grew from it. Isabel gave the internship an 8/10. She really liked being part of such a supportive team and enjoyed how everyone worked together to get things done efficiently. At the same time, she wished she could’ve been a little more involved in the research projects happening behind the scenes, since she was curious about that aspect of things. Ava rated her experience an 8/10 as well. She admitted that the summer heat and long hours could be draining, and there were definitely days when it felt like a struggle to keep going. Still, she’s grateful for everything she learned, especially the hands-on work and the connections she made with people who share the same interests.
Looking back, we all realized that the internship taught us different things, whether it was confidence, teamwork, or resilience. Even though there were challenges, it’s an experience we’re glad we had. We picked up real skills that went beyond just the daily tasks, like learning how to work through long, hot days, figuring things out together, and being able to rely on each other as a team. At the end of the day, it gave us memories we’ll hang onto and lessons we can carry with us moving forward.
