The long grass near the golf course in UNC Greensboro’s northwest corner of campus became one of Elijah Resuello’s favorite spots to look for insects.
“Growing up, I had this fascination for the sciences,” he says. “I’ve always kept that childlike curiosity for life and the way living things function.”
Budding Scientist Finds His Way
When he looked into college majors, he did not want something that would overly narrow his choices for an exciting career after graduation. The versatility of a biology degree was what drew him to that major as a first-year college student from Winston-Salem. “Biology gave me more leg room to work with,” he explains.
On the other hand, it was easy for him to narrow down where he wanted to study, even after he got multiple college acceptance letters. “I love the diversity of UNCG,” he says. “Here I found other people with vastly different experiences to me, and it just opened my mind. And as a biology student, I also love our campus’ mix of man-made structures and natural environments.”
It was at UNCG that he would get to tap into his curiosity, form strong connections with faculty members and graduate students in the labs of the Sullivan Science and Eberhart Buildings, and expand his horizons to the grasslands of Kansas.
Fiery Pursuits
From the moment Resuello took her introductory courses, he was excited to have Dr. Kim Komatsu, associate professor of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences, as an instructor and mentor. Later, he learned he could work in a faculty research lab as an undergraduate and he jumped at the chance to join her team.
“Her lab was a very welcoming environment,” says Resuello. “Everyone had an open mind. We had time to work and time to cut up. I enjoyed the interactions with graduate students.”
For two years, he did lab research centered around a simulation of a fire, observing how it might affect grassland insect communities.
“Elijah has become an expert entomologist through his work with our lab,” says Komatsu. “In addition to his scientific acumen, he brings an upbeat attitude to all the work we do. He is often present in the lab teaching and encouraging other students as they work through our plant and insect samples.”
In this vibrant learning environment at UNCG, he learned about the real-world implications of ecology. Resuello got to spend three weeks at the Konza Prairie Biological Station in Kansas, where Komatsu has a long-running experiment underway. He helped the rest of his team study ground cover of the previous year’s plant material and the availability of soil nutrients, two ecosystem components that a fire directly impacts.
Komatsu agrees that Resuello’s window of opportunity is wide open, whether he seeks a career directly after graduation or pursues a graduate degree to eventually become a lead scientist. “There are many potential career options for ecology graduates,” she says. “I have high hopes for Elijah as he moves forward.”
In Perfect Harmony
Opening his mind is not the only thing Resuello gained at UNCG. Since he started classes in 2020, when COVID-19 restrictions were still in place, he watched as the campus physically opened back up to him and other students. It taught Resuello that one of the most important things about being a college student is forming a community.
“Being in an unfamiliar environment, it’s important to reach out and get to know more people,” is his parting advice to incoming students. “Expand your circle. That way you’ll have an easier time settling down, planting your roots, all that.”
Doing that led him to Note Control, a student A capella group where he got to show off another one of his talents. “Singing provided an outlet for me to de-stress and decompress,” he says. “It was a great thing to have to balance my biology studies.”
As Resuello looks forward to turning his tassel with the rest of the Class of 2024, he has this to say to the family and friends who will cheer from the stands of First Horizon Coliseum:
“A few sleepless nights later, I did it,” he says. “Thank you to those who supported me thus far in my academic journey. As I walk the stage in December, I will do so with my head held high for my close relationships and for myself.”
Story by Janet Imrick, University Communications
Photography by Sean Norona, University Communications
CELEBRATE OUR GRADS!
Graduates and their families are encouraged to share their accomplishments on social media by tagging the University accounts and using the hashtags #UNCGGrad and #UNCGWay. Visit UNCG’s digital swag page for graduation-themed graphics, filters, and templates.
Mention @UNCG in celebratory posts on Instagram and X and @uncgreensboro on TikTok.
