Published August 5, 2026 | 3 min read | Intern Spotlight
Quick Facts:
University: Virginia Tech
Major: Environmental Policy & Planning (Bachelor of Arts in Public & Urban Affairs)
Internship Role: AgTech
Hometown: Altavista, Virginia
Internship: Summer 2026
For the third summer in a row, IALR welcomed John Roark as one of the CEA Innovation Center’s AgTech interns. Throughout his internship, John contributed to several research initiatives while continuing to expand his knowledge of agriculture through hands-on greenhouse experience.
About John
From Altavista, Virginia, John is a recent graduate of Virginia Tech where he majored in Environmental Policy & Planning and earned his bachelor’s in public and urban Affairs. During his time at Tech, John worked as a greenhouse assistant and participated in undergraduate greenhouse research. His academic background and previous internship experience gave him a strong foundation as he returned to the CEA Innovation Center for his third consecutive summer.
Internship Responsibilities
As an AgTech intern, John supported greenhouse operations, hydroponic crop production, and ongoing research projects. Throughout the summer, he assisted with greenhouse maintenance, data collection, and plant production while contributing to research aimed at advancing controlled environment agriculture.
Project Spotlight
This summer, John conducted a research project evaluating the effects of different soilless substrates on borage plants grown in Dutch bucket hydroponic systems. Since he had limited experience working with borage, hydroponic systems, and soilless substrates, the project challenged him to quickly develop new technical skills while adapting to unfamiliar growing methods.
By designing and managing the experiment, John gained valuable experience conducting agricultural research and learned how production decisions can influence plant growth and overall crop performance.
Skills Developed
Throughout the summer, John strengthened his research, problem-solving, and greenhouse management skills while gaining hands-on experience with hydroponic production systems. He also expanded his knowledge on experimental design, data collection, and plant production; building on the experience he gained during his previous internships.
Reflections
“I am grateful to have participated in this internship this year and in past years. It has been one of my favorite parts of college to come here during the summer and learn more about what the Institute is doing and how my role may benefit.”
Looking Ahead
John plans to pursue his master’s degree in urban regional planning. After completing his graduate education, he hopes to work as a site planner in Virginia before eventually earning certification through the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). His experiences at the CEA Innovation Center have strengthened his appreciation for sustainable land use, environmental planning, and the role research plays in shaping future communities.
