Three summer research technicians have arrived at Holt Research Forest in Arrowsic and have dived right into their roles. Each technician brings valuable knowledge and experience; their time with us will support ongoing data collection efforts. In addition to collecting seed, seedling, sapling, and overstory data to measure the response of a coastal oak-pine ecosystem to retention harvest, focusing on canopy composition and regeneration, each technician will develop an independent research project that they will share with our community before they head back to their university campuses. In the meantime, we’ve asked them to share a little bit about themselves and what they hope to gain from their time at Holt Research Forest.
Hi, my name is Olivia Case, and I’ve just finished my third year at Penn State! I’m majoring in Forest Ecosystem Management with a concentration in Forest Biology. Being outside, especially in the woods, is something I’ve always loved and would be elated to do as part of my life’s work. I think it’s important to feel fulfilled by your career path. By learning more about ethical forestry and forest ecology and gathering data for long-term studies at the Holt Research Forest, I feel like I’m contributing to something larger than myself. I hope to gain some real forest research experience at Holt. I’ve dabbled in small research efforts and techniques but never anything on this great of a scale. I like to hike in my free time, but I also enjoy fiber arts such as cross stitch, crochet, and embroidery, and love making wheel-thrown pottery. I’m so excited to be part of the summer team!
Hi, my name is Toby Ouellette and I’m currently getting my undergrad in Ecology and Environmental Sciences with a concentration in forest ecosystems at the University of Maine in Orono. I’m from southern Maine and have lived in Maine my whole life, so I’m very passionate about our forests and their well-being. I love to hike and just generally be outdoors, so I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend my summer than as a forest research technician. My main goals within this job are to get as much experience as possible working in the woods, gathering and analyzing ecosystem data, as well as learning as much as I can about sustainability within a forest setting. Working with the Maine Tree Foundation and the Holt Research Forest so far has been an incredible way to start my career in forestry and environmental science, and I hope to continue this type of work both in the near future and long after I graduate.
My name is Gursimran Sahota, and I am currently a Master’s student studying bioinformatics at Northeastern University. Previously, I completed my Bachelor’s degree in biology at Siena College. As I develop my programming skills at Northeastern, I am excited to apply them to the ecological data collected at Holt Research Forest. I hope to contribute to the meaningful research conducted here while gaining a deeper understanding of forest ecology. Having the chance to undertake valuable work in Maine this summer is a fantastic opportunity, and I am grateful to be part of it!
Check back next month for updates about their research projects and field progress.
