Adrienne Gorny is an assistant professor of entomology and plant pathology at North Carolina State University, where she specializes in nematode epidemiology and management. She works with farmers and growers to understand the disease problems they have with their plants and conducts applied research to offer better solutions.

Based on her work in the lab of Guri Johal, professor of botany and plant pathology, it’s not surprising that the Gorny lab at NC State includes undergraduate research assistants. “If I hadn’t been introduced to the concept of extension and applied research in undergraduate research, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” she says.

When she started at Purdue, Gorny didn’t know working in a lab was even an option. She overheard some friends discussing it and sought out her own research assistantship.

“When I first started, I didn’t know a whole lot,” she says. “I started out just helping all the graduate students if they needed an extra hand. Shadowing them, I learned a lot of laboratory procedures and then took on a small project of my own. Over time I learned more things, discussed a lot of ideas with them and developed into a better researcher.”

Over two-and-a-half years in Johal’s lab, Gorny helped evaluate corn varieties in the field, working with the lab team to collect data on varieties that had resulted from research in the lab and green house.

Her own undergraduate research assistants mirror the process. “The students come in with not too much experience, and we teach them our laboratory procedures and how to work in the greenhouse and the field,” she says. “It’s really cool to see their progression. I think back to when I was in their shoes, and it comes full circle.”