College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science (CFRES) student Allyson McQuiston planted seeds for a bright future in soil conservation two years ago and will soon be rewarded with a bountiful harvest.
McQuiston, an applied ecology and environmental science major, graduates this month with a career firmly in place as a soil conservationist thanks to her internship journey. After spending two summers interning with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, she received a full-time job offer from the USDA NRCS late last year, and will begin her position this fall. She was drawn to the intern position, she said, because she is "really into soil" and wanted to get her foot in the USDA's door.
"You always think about plants and how they're interacting," said McQuiston. "But if you really dig down, it all begins with the soil."
McQuiston's interest in soil began in high school. She first heard about careers in natural resources when her mother told her a friend of the family was an environmental scientist studying soil. Intrigued, she followed her interest to Michigan Tech. McQuiston said she fell in love with Tech immediately when she took her first tour of campus. Her earthy interests continued as she became a Husky and took a Soil Science class.
"It was game-changing to see all of the things we do here and get the immersion into the field," said McQuiston. "We don't just learn about things we could do, we actually do them."
McQuiston later took the Natural Resource Professional class taught by Andrew Burton, CFRES distinguished professor. Burton's class led her to apply for a soil conservationist internship, part of the USDA Pathways Internship Program, which provides paid work experience for students enrolled in high school or college. Students in the program explore USDA careers for multiple years, up to a year after graduation.
"The program allows students to try out the position as an internship while we're still in school," said McQuiston. "At the end of it, if we like them and they like us, they'll offer us a full-time position when we graduate."
She was thrilled to be accepted as an intern in summer 2023, and began working for the USDA NRCS assisting farmers with soil conservation. McQuiston's main role in soil conservation is assessing the land for conservation strategies based on landowners' goals. She then connects landowners and farmers with financial assistance and incentives to help them implement more sustainable practices.
Her first assignment was in Oregon, where she worked on projects recommending culverts to allow passage for fish, like salmon. Roads and other human-made obstructions can prevent salmon from moving upstream to reproduce. Fish-friendly culverts help circumvent this problem. McQuiston and her colleagues also helped implement more efficient irrigation systems for cranberry bogs to reduce waste and increase crop yields.
Her internship later took her to Maine, where she worked under another Husky and former Pathways intern. Helena Swiatek '05, NRCS district conservationist in Presque Isle, Maine, wasn't looking for an intern to round out her team — until she saw McQuiston was a fellow Husky.
"I knew the quality of people that Tech attracts, and I was not disappointed," said Swiatek. "McQuiston has exceeded my expectations and impressed all my Maine counterparts."
In Maine, McQuiston helped private forest landowners plan forestry and wildlife projects. She connected farmers with resources to reduce runoff and soil erosion in the highest potato-producing county in the United States. She also assessed small livestock farms and pond-building projects. Swiatek described McQuiston as an independent self-starter with a solid understanding of plants and soils. Welcoming another Husky participating in the same internship program that started her own career brought things full circle for Swiatek.
"I have supervised many over the years and I've never had someone fit in so quickly and just jump into the work so easily. That speaks to both McQuiston's ability and Michigan Tech's education."
McQuiston spent two years interning with the USDA as a soil conservationist. She was thrilled to receive her job offer from the USDA more than six months before her spring 2025 graduation. It was a well-earned reward for both her hard work in Oregon and Maine, and for maintaining an excellent academic record at Michigan Tech. She starts her position as a full-time soil conservationist with the USDA NRCS in August. She encourages up-and-coming Huskies to plant their own career seeds as soon as possible and to take advantage of opportunities beyond their daily responsibilities.
"Don't be afraid to ask questions! Not only to employers — but to landowners, colleagues and strangers," said McQuiston. "I have gained some of my most valuable knowledge by just staying curious and listening to others."
Michigan Technological University is an R1 public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan's flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
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