GREENVILLE, S.C. (July 25, 2016) – Christian Walker, a junior biology major at Bob Jones University, is serving this summer as an intern with the BJU biology department for PermaMatrix located in Portland, Oregon.
Through this internship, sponsored by PermaMatrix, Walker and other BJU students are testing a bio-organic product in its ability to improve soil-water retention as well as the ability of plants to absorb fertilizer. The goal of the project is to reduce the leaching of fertilizers that can have an ecological impact on the underground waters and the ecosystem as a whole.
“This experience gives our students an opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real life and broadens their understanding of biological systems,” says Dr. Vincenzo Antignani, professor in the biology department and faculty advisor of the internship. “Through our courses and labs, we teach students how to think like a scientist, but experiences like these refine their ability to deal with and solve complex problems.”
Walker, a resident of Greenville, South Carolina, is responsible for general plant care, collecting data, and leading the statistical analysis and experimental design.
“This internship has helped me hone my statistical analysis and experimental design skills,” says Walker. “This experience has also allowed me to build upon my communication skills with my peers.”
