SUMMER 2025
Brooke Boger
Through NCSU’s Pack Abroad program, I was able to connect with and participate in two different labs at the Universidad de Cuenca in Ecuador. I spent a total of six weeks assisting with soil science field work and orchid tissue culture lab work. In addition to working, I had free time to explore the city and meet new people. It was a great opportunity to improve my Spanish as well.
My first three weeks were spent working under a graduate student in Dr. Quimbicho’s Soil Science lab. The graduate student from Colombia, Luis, was completing his
thesis on the impacts of fire on soil’s hydrophysical-chemical properties and vegetal biomass in a previously burned area of the Andean Paramo (a high altitude wet grassland ecosystem). This area had been burned and sampled 3 years prior, so this thesis was follow up study focusing on the regeneration of the area. My first week of working with Luis consisted of researching and collecting academic articles on this topic for him to include in his thesis. During the second and third week, we were able to start and finish the field work portion of this project. The collection site was about a 45 minute drive away from the university, and then an hour hike up the mountain to reach the previously burned area. I learned how to take altered soil samples using a soil testing probe and unaltered samples using Kopecky soil sampling rings. We also cut and collected biomass. All of these samples were labeled and carried back down the mountain to return to the lab for testing. I unfortunately was not able to continue on this work for any of the lab testing portion, however, I’m sure the results would have been intriguing.
During the second three weeks of my stay in Cuenca, I worked in Dr. Cazar’s Orchid Tissue Culture Lab. I began by organizing and cleaning empty tissue culture jars and lids. Over the next two weeks, I learned to prepare a specialized plant growth medium and distribute it into sterilized jars. I also gained hands-on experience in subculturing orchids; this micropropagation technique involves dividing mature orchid tissue cultures under a sterile vent hood and transferring them into fresh media. In addition, I toured the university’s orchid greenhouse and spoke with the manager about their collection and propagation practices.
Overall, I learned a lot during my time in Cuenca and thoroughly enjoyed getting to explore the city. There is both a historic center as well as the newer/modern parts of the city. Cuenca is a beautiful area sounded by mountains and intersected by rivers. The weather is mild and gorgeous, if a bit gloomy, in June. I stayed with a kind host family and my advisor from the University, Professora Ana Loja, was the sweetest and most helpful. She showed me around the city, took me on a couple of day trips to explore the surrounding area, and connected me with a university alumni around my age. It did take a little time for me to make friends, but everyone was always welcoming and warm. I think it is important to note that while Dr. Quichimbo, Dr. Cazar, and my advisor, Professor Ana Loja spoke English, those who I was working with daily, such as graduate students and lab workers, only spoke Spanish. I hope this recollection was helpful for any future NC State students looking to participate in research in Cuenca!
