When most students begin planning a research project, they start with books and online sources. For 16-year-old Evan Buhain, the search led more than three hours north to SUNY Morrisville.
Driven by a fascination with soil health, the Millwood, New York, high school junior spent several days this summer in the laboratory of Jennifer Gilbert Jenkins, associate professor of agricultural science, turning an idea into a hands-on scientific study.
Buhain’s quest began with a requirement to complete an independent high school research project. As he explored topics, he found himself drawn to soil health. Looking for an expert who could help shape his project, his search led him to Gilbert Jenkins, whose career has focused on understanding the relationship between soil, agriculture and sustainability.
With support from his mother, Buhain traveled from Westchester County to Morrisville to work alongside Gilbert Jenkins, gaining firsthand experience in developing and conducting scientific research.
Together, they developed a study titled, “Comparing the Impact of Thermophilic, Vermi and Blati Composting on Key Indicators of Soil Health.”
The project focuses on collecting and testing different compost types to identify trends and differences in how each may influence soil health. After completing the laboratory portion of the project at SUNY Morrisville, Buhain returned home to analyze the data and will use his findings to write a research paper.
For Gilbert Jenkins, the collaboration extends beyond the individual project, providing valuable insights that support her ongoing research while offering an opportunity to encourage the next generation of students and advance understanding of compost’s role in improving soil health.
“When we have the opportunity to work with high school students and foster their love of being inquisitive, we do what we can to embrace it,” said Gilbert Jenkins. “He came to me with this project and we went from an idea to crafting a project that will help us grow our understanding of compost and using it as a soil amendment.” A soil amendment is a material added to soil to improve its health and quality.
“I get to learn more about soil health,” Buhain said of the experience. “I love how knowledgeable she (Gilbert Jenkins) is in this area. I am gravitating toward a career in science.”
“Even if he doesn’t pursue a career in science, regardless of what he chooses, he is gaining the skills of understanding how a scientific study is developed and conducted,” Gilbert Jenkins said. “Those critical thinking and problem-solving skills will serve him wherever he goes.”
For Buhain, the opportunity offered something that can’t be replicated in a classroom alone: the chance to work side by side with a research mentor, ask questions, test ideas and contribute to a project with real-world applications.
