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Discovery that Connects

Science-based innovation for a changing world

SIPS grad students and postdocs awarded AFRI-NIFA Fellowships

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!

male headshotLeveraging 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


woman with blonde hairInvestigating 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


woman in front of a treeMolecular Diversity as a Control on Soil Organic Carbon Persistence

Predoctoral Awardee: Rachelle LaCroix, Lehmann program, Field of Soil & Crop Sciences
Award amount: $119,628


head of person outsideEstablishing 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


head shot of person in red shirtLeveraging 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


male headshotElucidating 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


man holding flowersA 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


woman in sweaterSpatial 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

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