NRES Research Mentor
Spring 2026 - NRES Capstone (BAE/DAS/GENAG 582)
Course Overview
As an Natural Resources and Environmental Science (NRES) Research Mentor for Spring 2026, I will guide undergraduate students through capstone research projects in natural resource and environmental science. The course will focus on helping students develop independent research skills while exploring topics at the intersection of agricultural economics, land use, and environmental sustainability.
Mentorship Focus Areas
- Research Design: Helping students turn broad interests into focused and doable research questions
- Literature Review: Guiding students through relevant academic literature and data sources
- Data Collection & Analysis: Support with survey administration, public data access, and empirical methods
- Communication: Developing clear, structured reports and presentations
Course Materials
Lecture 1 & 2: NRES Introduction
- Overview of research mentorship approach
- Project scoping and topic selection strategies
- Research methods and tools (spatial data, econometrics, GIS)
- Example project themes in Kansas agriculture and natural resources
Lecture 3 & 4: Literature Review
- What is literature review and what is not
- Techniques and process of literature review
- Reference manager handling: Zotero
- Annotated bibliography
- Citation and references
Lecture 5 & 6: Data Analysis Using R
- Introduction to R and RStudio — installing and navigating the interface
- Basic R programming: variables, data types, vectors, and functions
- Working with data frames — creating, inspecting, and filtering data
- Control flow: if/else statements and for loops
- Your first plot with base R graphics
- Hands-on exercises: writing functions and analyzing real data
Additional Lectures & Resources
This section will be updated throughout the semester with lecture materials, guides, and resources shared with students.
Planned Topics: - Literature review strategies - Data collection methods (surveys, public datasets) - Introduction to spatial data and GIS - Basics of empirical analysis and regression - Research presentation skills
Student Projects
Student capstone projects explore various themes in natural resource and environmental science, including:
- Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land distribution and impacts
- Soil carbon storage under different management practices
- Farmer perceptions of grassland conversion risks
- Wildlife biodiversity on conservation lands
- Sustainable water use in irrigation-dependent agriculture
- Information networks and conservation practice adoption
Individual project details will be added as students develop their research.
Research Philosophy
My mentorship approach emphasizes:
1. Clear Questions
I value well-defined research questions and transparent methods over complex statistical techniques. Students are encouraged to be honest about limitations and uncertainty.
2. Reproducible and Transparent Research
All analyses should be documented clearly so that others can understand and verify the work. This builds good habits for academic and professional careers.
3. Connecting Local to Global
Kansas agriculture connects to national and global markets, policies, and environmental challenges. Projects can explore these connections at appropriate scales.
Contact
For questions about NRES mentorship or research collaboration opportunities, feel free to reach out.