Farmer-led Research for Food Security and Nutrition in Malawi
Students and Interns
Students play an active role in our organization as interns, field assistants, and researchers. As interns and field assistants, students are exposed to research and community development work, often for the first time in a developing country context. They assist in operational and research tasks while learning about how a non-profit, research and community development organization operates.
Many of our partners are professors that supervise masters and PhD students who design their research projects around our ongoing work. These students are in important contribution to our research, and in monitoring and evaluating our project outcomes. In addition to being published in graduate theses, much of this work is also published in peer reviewed journals and presented at international conferences, which disseminates our work to a broader audience. You can find more information regarding the current students and interns that work alongside SFHC below!
Current Students & Interns
Hanna Lighthall
Hanna Lighthall, from Croghan, New York, is a student at Cornell University majoring in Global Development with a concentration in Food Systems and Agriculture and minoring in Horticulture. Her research interests focus on agroecology, food security, and improving food accessibility worldwide. In winter 2025, she participated in a faculty-led program in Malawi with Dr. Rachel Bezner Kerr, collaborating with SFHC. During summer 2025, she worked as an AGILE4Climate (Agroecology Gender-Transformative Living Labs for Climate Resilience) intern, conducting a literature review on weather tools and services for smallholder farmers and supporting project data entry and management. In summer 2026, she returned to Malawi for an eight-week internship with SFHC, contributing to a variety of research, agroecology, and community engagement projects. Connect with her on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/hanna-lighthall.
Sienna Montalvo
Sienna, from Dallas, Texas, is a student at Cornell University studying Environment and Sustainability. She is passionate about environmental stewardship, international engagement, and research within integrative plant sciences. In summer 2026, she joined SFHC as an eight-week intern, where she is supporting a variety of projects related to agroecology, research, and community engagement. She is excited to learn from SFHC’s work and gain hands-on experience contributing to sustainable and equitable food systems. Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siennamontalvo/
Cristina Laurenti
Cristina is a dietitian and agroecologist whose work connects science, practice, and social movements. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition from the University of Turin and a Master’s in Agroecology and Food Sovereignty from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo. Her experience spans farming, research, and advocacy, including work with a farmers’ cooperative in Sicily and the Food System Science Department at FiBL (Switzerland). Since 2021, she has served on the Board of Agroecology Europe, coordinating its Youth Network and contributing to European policy dialogues. In 2022, she co-founded RHEA, a non-profit advancing the healthcare transition by linking food, health, and ecosystems. Her research focuses on feminist agroecology, health, and social justice, promoting systemic, community-based approaches to wellbeing.
Past Students & Interns
Lola Schuler
Lola is past undergraduate at Cornell University, majoring in Environment and Sustainability with a concentration in Environmental Governance and Policy and a minor in Community Food Systems. She has a passion for sustainable food systems and environmental policy. For the past three years, Lola has served as a Community Assistant with Soils, Food, and Healthy Communities (SFHC), supporting projects that advance food security and gender equality through agroecology. Lola also is currently collaborating with Dr. Bezner Kerr on the Agile4Climate project which is aimed at understanding what climate and weather tools are available for farmers in developing countries. Lola is overall interested in understanding how we can develop more equitable and sustainable food systems in our world.
Seraina Schudel
Seraina Schudel joined SFHC (in March 2023) for eight months as a Swiss Junior Professional Officer and will support the organization as a project and communication assistant. She holds a MSc in Plant Science and her position at SFHC is part of her continuing education at the NADEL Centre for Development & Cooperation at ETH Zurich. Seraina is passionate about sustainable food systems and biodiversity and enjoys her free time in nature.
For more information about the students working with us, please follow the links below:
Students and Interns
Students play an active role in our organization as interns, field assistants, and researchers. As interns and field assistants, students are exposed to research and community development work, often for the first time in a developing country context. They assist in operational and research tasks while learning about how a non-profit, research and community development organization operates.
Many of our partners are professors that supervise masters and PhD students who design their research projects around our ongoing work. These students are in important contribution to our research, and in monitoring and evaluating our project outcomes. In addition to being published in graduate theses, much of this work is also published in peer reviewed journals and presented at international conferences, which disseminates our work to a broader audience. You can find more information regarding the current students and interns that work alongside SFHC below!
Current Students & Interns
Hanna Lighthall
Hanna Lighthall, from Croghan, New York, is a student at Cornell University majoring in Global Development with a concentration in Food Systems and Agriculture and minoring in Horticulture. Her research interests focus on agroecology, food security, and improving food accessibility worldwide. In winter 2025, she participated in a faculty-led program in Malawi with Dr. Rachel Bezner Kerr, collaborating with SFHC. During summer 2025, she worked as an AGILE4Climate (Agroecology Gender-Transformative Living Labs for Climate Resilience) intern, conducting a literature review on weather tools and services for smallholder farmers and supporting project data entry and management. In summer 2026, she returned to Malawi for an eight-week internship with SFHC, contributing to a variety of research, agroecology, and community engagement projects. Connect with her on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/hanna-lighthall.
Sienna Montalvo
Sienna, from Dallas, Texas, is a student at Cornell University studying Environment and Sustainability. She is passionate about environmental stewardship, international engagement, and research within integrative plant sciences. In summer 2026, she joined SFHC as an eight-week intern, where she is supporting a variety of projects related to agroecology, research, and community engagement. She is excited to learn from SFHC’s work and gain hands-on experience contributing to sustainable and equitable food systems. Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siennamontalvo/
Cristina Laurenti
Cristina is a dietitian and agroecologist whose work connects science, practice, and social movements. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition from the University of Turin and a Master’s in Agroecology and Food Sovereignty from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo. Her experience spans farming, research, and advocacy, including work with a farmers’ cooperative in Sicily and the Food System Science Department at FiBL (Switzerland). Since 2021, she has served on the Board of Agroecology Europe, coordinating its Youth Network and contributing to European policy dialogues. In 2022, she co-founded RHEA, a non-profit advancing the healthcare transition by linking food, health, and ecosystems. Her research focuses on feminist agroecology, health, and social justice, promoting systemic, community-based approaches to wellbeing.
Past Students & Interns
Lola Schuler
Lola is past undergraduate at Cornell University, majoring in Environment and Sustainability with a concentration in Environmental Governance and Policy and a minor in Community Food Systems. She has a passion for sustainable food systems and environmental policy. For the past three years, Lola has served as a Community Assistant with Soils, Food, and Healthy Communities (SFHC), supporting projects that advance food security and gender equality through agroecology. Lola also is currently collaborating with Dr. Bezner Kerr on the Agile4Climate project which is aimed at understanding what climate and weather tools are available for farmers in developing countries. Lola is overall interested in understanding how we can develop more equitable and sustainable food systems in our world.
Seraina Schudel
Seraina Schudel joined SFHC (in March 2023) for eight months as a Swiss Junior Professional Officer and will support the organization as a project and communication assistant. She holds a MSc in Plant Science and her position at SFHC is part of her continuing education at the NADEL Centre for Development & Cooperation at ETH Zurich. Seraina is passionate about sustainable food systems and biodiversity and enjoys her free time in nature.
For more information about the students working with us, please follow the links below:
Cornell University
Dr. Rachel Bezner Kerr’s Lab
Dr. Katja Poveda’s Lab
Student fellow and practicum programs:
CALS Global Fellows Program
Engaged Cornell
Community Food Systems Minor
Western University
Dr. Isaac Luginaah’s Lab
University of Weurzburg
Dr. Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter’s Lab
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