The Joy Beneath the Rough (Soil)

Kino Maravillas is a senior who is majoring in Biology. He was awarded a Fall 2018 Independent Grant which he used to conduct research on the Milpa soil microbiome under Dr. Nicole Gerardo. 

The philosophy of scientific research is something I’ve always embodied but could never fully express until I entered Emory. Curiosity, gaining an understanding of the complex, interdependent systems that drive our world, has always driven me to read that extra chapter, linger on that leaf blade in the distance for just a few more minutes, and ponder on that lofty thought that you know will eventually lead somewhere solid. This curiosity was always in the back of my mind; coming into Emory, I applied to the Scholarly Inquiry and Research (SIRE)program knowing I would finally get to apply this with a lab coat donned. Through my freshman and junior years I’ve been exposed to the grit of day-to-day research, from painstakingly formatting data figures to public speaking at the annual Emory undergraduate symposiums. 

Under the supervision of Dr. Nicole Gerardo and the mentorship of postdoc (now professor) Erika Diaz-Almeyda, I began my own project on October 2018: The Influence of Multicropping on the Milpa Soil Microbiome. Milpa is an agricultural system in which corn, bean, and squash are cultivated together as a multicrop. It is also commonly referred to its Iroquois label – the “three sisters.”Compared to a monocrop system where each plant is cultivated on its own, a multicrop results in greater plant yield, soil health, and heightened resistance towards pests and pathogens. Milpa has been utilized by the indigenous population of Central America for millennia due to its consistent abundant harvests; today it remains a cornerstone of the region’s tradition, diet, and economic growth. Yet how do microbes, the microscopic creatures inhabiting the Earth in millions, play a role in the synergistic growth of corn, bean, and squash? What bacterial phyla constitute the invisible community that, if eliminated, would potentially disrupt the livelihood of millions of citizens in the Americas?My investigation aims to reveal whether multicropping is a significant factor in altering the structure and/or composition of the soil microbial community, or microbiome, in the milpa agricultural system. 

This project, made possible by an independent research grant, integrates the bench skills, conscientious note-taking and commenting, as well as the communication efforts required of report writing and poster presenting that I’ve learned in my time at the Gerardo Lab. Dealing with meticulous volumes in DNA extraction, ensuring proper quantity and quality of the product for genomic sequencing, and being acquainted with the foundations of bioinformatics software are milestones in the project pipeline. Each benchmark must be fulfilled in order to reach a scientific conclusion, to answer the question I initially proposed. However (as I write this), this project is far from finished. Troubleshooting reared its head as my extractions were not up to par. My mentor and I labored over what centrifugation step to lengthen, what extra volume of reagent to add. As I pause and reflect on my research journey that began freshman year, there are certain attitudes that distilled themselves not only in my undergraduate studies, but also in my larger outlook on life. 

Specificity, unpredictability, and tenacity. These are the lessons that research has lectured me on, the takeaways that have molded my character and will continue to do so this semester. The findings that anchor my investigation would not be possible without the rigor imposed by the scientific method, the meticulous note taking of researchers and fact checking of the peer review process. As specific and sound as a proposal might be, life’s unpredictability will manifest itself as troubleshooting, contamination, or even loss of data. Nothing will go according to the bullet by bullet plan. When everything seems to go wrong, tenacity will pull you through.Replicate steps, modify protocols, spend an extra hour or two in the lab just to get it right. Failure has been the most important teacher of my college career, and sheer diligence the greatest lesson I’ve learned from it. It’s essential to befriend that inner critic and turn it into a supportive coach. I’ve realized that failure is less of an enemy, but more the lifeblood of scientific inquiry; it is the driving force that eventually leads you to the joy of discovery.Curiosity attracted me to research, but it is the resilience required that research at Emory leaves me with. 

Visit the Undergraduate Research Programs website to learn more about applying for Independent Research Grants.