Ը students and faculty from several disciplines came together for a research project that blends anthropology, microbiology, zoology, biochemistry and technical writing.
The project is part of Ը’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program and is connected to, but distinct from, anthropology professor Linda Spurlock, Ph.D.’s long-running “pig dig” course.
As part of the SURE research, two pig carcasses were placed under controlled conditions to examine how microbial communities change over time and how those changes relate to odor and insect activity. One carcass was treated with lime, while the other was not.
For undergraduate researchers, the site became a place to connect classroom learning with real data collection, analysis and documentation.
Following microbes through decomposition
Zaniya Houston, a biochemistry sophomore on the pre-med track, and Grace Calvin, a senior zoology major on the pre-veterinary track, collected soil and decomposition samples from the site over an extended period.
According to Spurlock, the students returned to the site regularly to document how decomposition progressed.
“They are conducting a study of how the decomposition microbes change over time and how this correlates with smell and insect activity,” Spurlock said.
Sanhita Gupta, Ph.D., a biology professor who works with students at Ը’s Geauga and Twinsburg campuses, supervised the laboratory analysis of the samples. In the lab, students examined bacterial growth patterns and compared results between the lime-treated and untreated sites.
For Houston, the project broadened her view of science and expanded her perspective on future career possibilities.
“It's a new experience for me and brightens my horizons of all things science,” Houston said. “It's opened my eyes to many different things that I can do within the scope of my career and I'm excited for it.”
Calvin said the project also gave her hands-on experience that extended beyond the classroom.
“I was very excited to go from a classroom setting to an actual hands-on field experience and lab experience,” Calvin said. “It’s really an amazing opportunity just to work with people who are very invested in their field. Having them mentor me is very rewarding.”
Gupta said the project provided students with practical exposure to laboratory work and a clear sense of how research unfolds.
“This gives them an idea of what research really is in a lab,” Gupta said. “It gives them hands-on experience which will help them in their career, whichever path they take.”
From fieldwork to publication
While the research itself was grounded in biological and physical sciences, another component of the project involved translating the students’ findings into writing.
Mahli Mechenbier, J.D., an English professor who teaches technical writing at the Twinsburg Academic Center, supported the students as they documented their work and prepared it for potential publication.
“Every scientific project, in a perfect world, has a component of scientific technical writing,” Mechenbier said. “That’s how you publish your findings in a clear, interesting and ethical way.”
Learning through collaboration
For the students, collaboration meant learning to communicate clearly with people outside their own disciplines.
“You have to explain what you’re doing and why it matters,” Houston said, describing the experience of working across disciplines.
Preparing students for what comes next
Faculty involved in the project say experiences like this help prepare students for future academic and professional work.
Gupta said long-term involvement in research helps students gain independence and confidence.
“When they started, they didn’t know how to proceed with this,” Gupta said. “Now they are experts. I don’t even have to be here—I lead them and they do the rest of the work.”
Mechenbier pointed to students’ participation in research presentations, including short-format research pitches, as particularly valuable.
“That kind of practice is important for graduate school, medical school interviews and job interviews,” she said. “It forces students to think about what matters most in their work and how to explain it clearly.”
The research is ongoing, with extensive laboratory analysis still ahead. Houston and Calvin collected a large number of samples and additional data, including temperature readings, odor intensity observations and insect activity, meaning analysis will continue for many months.
The questions guiding the work remain open: Does treating remains with lime delay decomposition? Accelerate it? Reduce foul odors? These answers are not yet known.
According to Spurlock, these questions are especially important because lime is sometimes used in clandestine burials, making the findings relevant to the field of forensic science.
For students, the project offered a realistic look at both the demands and rewards of scientific research.
“Just being out in the field and fully involved in the research has been my favorite part,” Calvin said. “Even if you’re anxious or think you’re not qualified, anyone can learn and contribute over time to an amazing study like this.”
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