Lucía Michel of the University of Chile observed that alkaline soils contain an insoluble form of iron that blueberry plants cannot absorb, thus inhibiting blueberry growth. If these plants were grown in alkaline soil alongside grasses that aid in iron solubilization, _________ Michel was determined to find out if the blueberries could thrive.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?