Jaylin Jones

Greetings, I’m Jaylin Jones. I am a rising senior at Miles College, where I am majoring in biology. My intention is to become a microbial ecologist by attending graduate school in environmental science, specializing in ecology. This summer, I had the pleasure to intern with Leroy Waltson in the environmental science department at Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, Illinois. My concentration this summer was on a solar soil project. With this study, I wanted to gain a deeper comprehension of the increasing influence that solar development has on lowering greenhouse gas emissions. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn about solar development in terms of soil quality, as well as transects, which are areas of vegetation and why this sector is important for my project, and why pollinators play an important role in soil and vegetation. My second internship in a span of two years was at MES/Pre College-University. I deeply appreciate Mr. Brown and Dean Wess, and a special thanks to my mentor, Dr. Flournoy, for introducing me to such an incredible cohort.Words cannot express how thankful I am for this incredible opportunity, which has allowed me to network and connect with leaders in my potential field of work, gain more knowledge and experience in the lab and field, and acquire new skills like working with Excel more proficiently. My internship has provided me with the necessary experience and self-assurance to push myself further in my future career as a field or microbial ecologist.