Seven SIPS graduate students and two SIPS-affiliated postdocs have been awarded fellowships from the USDA NIFA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). The program is focused on developing the next generation of research, education, and extension professionals in the food and agricultural sciences. Congratulations to all our awardees!
Leveraging Evolution to Target Genetic Load in the Clonally Propagated Crop Cassava
Predoctoral Awardee: Evan Long, Robbins program, Field of Plant Breeding
Award amount: $120,000
In situ bacterial growth rate as a life history trait to predict soil C cycling
Predoctoral Awardee: Cassandra Wattenburger, Buckley program, Field of Soil & Crop Sciences
Award amount: $120,000
Investigating the role of genetic architecture and HLB pathogen inoculum source on Diaphorina citri acquisition and transmission efficiency
Predoctoral Awardee: Marina Mann, Heck program, Field of Plant Pathology & Plant-Microbe Biology
Award amount: $180,000
Molecular Diversity as a Control on Soil Organic Carbon Persistence
Predoctoral Awardee: Rachelle LaCroix, Lehmann program, Field of Soil & Crop Sciences
Award amount: $119,628
Establishing the role of CITFL transcription factors in copper homeostasis and reproduction in wheat and its model Brachypodium
Predoctoral Awardee: Olenka Zavodna, Vatamaniuk program, Field of Soil & Crop Sciences
Award amount: $180,000
Leveraging Integrative Omics Analyses for Stress-Responsive Metabolic Pathway Elucidation in Brachypodium
Predoctoral Awardee: Liz Mahood, Moghe program, Field of Plant Biology
Award amount: $160,329
Elucidating the Mechanisms and Pathways of Sex Determination and Dimorphism in Shrub Willow (Salix) Bioenergy Crops
Predoctoral Awardee: Brennan Hyden, L. Smart program, Field of Plant Breeding
Award amount: $120,000
A novel socio-ecological approach for promoting areawide adoption of organic farming practices that enhance microbially mediated pest control
Postdoctoral Awardee: Elias Bloom, Casteel program
Award amount: $164,999
Spatial and temporal imaging of intracellular phosphate profiles during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses using genetically-encoded biosensors
Postdoctoral Awardee: Shiqi Zhang, Harrison program
Award amount: $164,848