Undergraduate Students

mark in field Mark Jacobs is from Lake Crystal, MN. He is currently studying Agricultural Engineering with a focus in Land and Water. His goal is to work as a design engineer to find new and improved ways to improve soil and water quality in the agricultural field. After working with Matt's research team, he hopes to gain first-hand experience with water quality research and apply his experience to his future career goals.  
katie in field Katie Schwaegler is from Anamosa, Iowa. She grew up in the country and being outside most of her life. She's always loved the outdoors and especially water. Katie is pursuing her degree in Biosystems Engineering with an emphasis on Bioenvironmental Engineering. She would like to use her degree to help create cleaner water all over the globe but especially in large farming communities. From this job she would like to get a more hands on experience from the research side of science and engineering. 
maddie in field Meet Maddie Tusha! She just finished her junior year at Iowa State University and is majoring in Agricultural Engineering with an emphasis in the land and water option. She was raised on a farm in Garner, Iowa and grew up showing cattle and working on their family farming operation. Her future plans are to graduate with a BS in Agricultural Engineering and pursue a career related to her option of land and water. She hopes to learn and gain valuable work experience from this job opportunity! 
  From Charles City, Iowa, Connor West is a junior in Agricultural Engineering with the power and machinery option. After graduation he would like to be working as a design engineer. Connor is working as an undergrad research assistant for the research group in the labs. From this experience he is hoping to better understand research processes and procedures that can be applied to the work place.
amanda headshot Amanda Marlin  was born and raised in the countryside outside Melcher-Dallas, IA. A senior, Amanda is an Ag Engineering major with the Land and Water Resources emphasis. Having lived in and enjoyed the outdoors her whole life, Amanda would like to be able to use her degree to improve and preserve it.  By working with the Ag Water Management research group Amanda intends to increase her knowledge of research projects and gain hands-on experience with research field operations. 
julia headshot Julia Edlefson comes to ISU and Matt's team from Manlius, Illinois. She is a sophomore in Agronomy with an option in agroecology. Her goal is to work in soil conservation and support sustainable ag in developing countries. Through her work with Matt's research team Julia sees an opportunity to understand how her goals could be applied at the research level and to meet new people who have similar interests.
sam headshot From Manchester, Iowa, Sam Phillips is a junior in Ag Engineering-Land and Water Resources. After graduation one of Sam's career goals is to find unique ways to improve water quality and stream habitats. Within the research team he appreciates the ability to work independently and to be a part of an abundance of cutting edge water quality research.