This past year I’ve had the opportunity to be in the Global Rivers Group and helped out with a couple of projects, led by former Virginia Tech grad student Carter Boyd, as well as current VT grad student Luisana Rodriguez Sequeira. These experiences have not only expanded my knowledge but also taken me on unforgettable adventures around Southwest Virginia.
Last fall, I worked on a project with Carter that involved transcribing data from a previous excursion in Colorado, where his team measured various streams to understand their size distribution. Working with such vast amounts of data really helped me realize how important it is to double and triple check your work, as well as how it’s critical to remain focused so you don’t make a small mistake that can compound. It also helped me grow more comfortable asking questions, as there were many points when I was writing where I wouldn’t understand something written by someone else, so asking questions helped clear up any confusion.
In the other project I’m a part of, we investigated the amounts of microplastics in the New River by conducting fieldwork near Virginia Tech. Our first step in getting to the river involves getting a canoe from one of the research sheds, and it took me weeks to fully understand tying the canoe on the car and strapping it down properly. After arriving at the river and loading all the instruments onto the boat, there’s nothing quite like gliding across a serene river on a sunny day, just enjoying nature. There were moments when we could just let go of the paddle and let the current carry us downstream. However, paddling could get really tricky at times, navigating the currents needs coordinated effort, and sooner rather than later your arms start to burn, particularly when it’s really hot or cold. Some of my favorite times were getting to go to a new location on the New River and to just experience how each location varied, both related to the project and not related.
Collecting water samples in the New River near Blacksburg, VA.
After collecting data, we returned to the lab to filter our samples. After filtering, the microplastic samples are placed onto petri dishes and my final job was to count and extract. Patience was the name of the game here, as handling the microplastic samples was very tricky, as the slightest jerky movement could cause disastrous consequences. It definitely took some time to get used to, but the level of precision that was needed for me to conduct the processes helped me gain a lot of respect for the work we were completing.
I would like to thank Dr. George Allen, Carter, and Luisana for graciously letting me help in their projects, as well as their mentorship throughout. As I reflect over the past year, I’m very appreciative of the experiences I’ve had, and looking forward to what the future brings!
Jason Gross is an undergraduate research assistant in the Global Rivers Group at Virginia Tech.
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