Temple University

Simon Vaitkevicius is a senior majoring in Horticulture in the Tyler School of Art and Architecture.

“I wanted to get into arboriculture to focus on trees. I plan on getting my ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) certification after college and work in the tree industry,” he said. “I want to get into plant healthcare and tree climbing, but urban forestry is what I want to focus on because I think that’s where I can apply my skills the best.”

Vaitkevicus said he originally was recruited to Temple’s rowing team in addition to pursuing his horticulture degree, which has afforded him the opportunity to work on hands-on research. 

“One of the projects we’re working on is determining how banana plants could be used in producing biofuel. We assist taking SPAD (Soil Plant Analysis Development) measurements on the banana plants,” he said. “The other research I’ve been working on with (fellow Horticulture major) Ryan (Shaw) is in assisting Mary (Cortese, a PhD candidate in Biology at Temple University and Research Assistant with the Temple Ambler Field Station and Freestone Lab) in counting tree saplings in the Temple Forest Observatory and taking measurements.”

Using various pieces of research equipment and being outside conducting research, Vaitkevicius said, “it’s a resume booster and very helpful in preparing for after college.”

“Before working on this research, I didn’t know how to use a SPAD meter correctly or the LI-COR equipment. This will hopefully give me the research background I need if I want to pursue graduate school later,” he said. “My major focuses a great deal on nature, which makes Temple Ambler a great resource for horticulture."