Parker Hansen, a sophomore majoring in natural resource and environmental conservation, has been engaged in poplar bioenergy and carbon sequestration research. He plans to attend graduate school and intends to pursue a career in academia. At MSU, he is contributing to the evaluation of the ecosystem services of short rotation Populus genotypes. This research includes quantifying belowground carbon storage, determining impacts of endophyte inoculations in root structures, and measuring changes in both above and belowground biomass.