Planning Committee for the 2025 Plant Sciences Symposium
Chase Krug
Symposium Co-Chair | Lab: Kevin Smith - Barley, Oat & Silphium Lab | Favorite Crop: Whole-leaf Rosinweed (Silphium integrifolium)
I am a third year PhD student working to improve seedling vigor within Silphium integrifolium through a recurrent selection experiment, and conducting genomewide association studies on the Silphium Domestication Panel for agronomically important traits. I actively participate in student governance at the University of Minnesota serving as the Council of Graduate Students Representative to the Student Senate Consultative Committee. Hobbies I enjoy include gardening, reading, and sneaker collecting.
John Larsen
Symposium Co-Chair | Lab: Center for Winter Hardy Landscape Plants | Favorite Crop: Willow
I am a Master’s student working on the ex situ (offsite) conservation of Salix pellita (Satiny willow). This project has involved the wild collection of satiny willow, and the establishment of a living collection at two institutions (UMN, USDA). I have a passion for the wild collection of species native to Minnesota, and their introduction into managed landscapes. Outside of research, I spend my free time trying new recipes, participating in my curling league, and enjoying Minnesota’s state parks.
Reecha Acharya
Graduate Student Competition Subcommitte | Lab: Kevin Smith - Barley, Oat and Silphium Lab | Favorite Crop: Amaranth and Chilli
I am a first year PhD student working on genetic enhancement of Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) resistance in barley. I am also interested in evaluating different proxy traits for winter survival in fall planted barley. My hobbies include cooking, crocheting and hiking.
Maybell Banting
Graduate Student Competition Subcommittee | Lab: Cultivated Wild Rice Breeding and Genetics Lab - Dr. Jennifer Kimball | Favorite Crop: Rice and its favorite cousin, northern wild rice!
I’m a third year PhD student working on building genomic resources for northern wild rice, primarily the species’ transcriptome assembly improvement, gene expression atlas, constructing its first high resolution genetic maps, developing KASP markers for reduced seed shattering, and investigating whole genome duplication events. In my free time, I enjoy capturing nature scenes, watching movies, and playing video games.
Sapphire Coronejo
Graduate Student Competition Subcommittee | Lab: Laura Shannon Lab | Favorite Crop: Potato
I’m a second year PhD student working on exploring the domestication history and genetic diversity of the North American potato germplasm by using dihaploids derived from elite tetraploid cultivars. This study aims to create genomic resources that will enhance breeding
Grace Doyle
Public Relations Subcommittee | Lab: Sustainable Cropping Systems Lab - led by Prof. Jake Jungers | Favorite Crop: Intermediate wheatgrass
I am a first year PhD student researching factors impacting the establishment of fall seeded crops. I am passionate about researching agronomic solutions that are profitable for farmers and sustainable for the planet. Outside of research, I love woodworking, bouldering, and cooking good food with my friends.
Isabella Fiore
Graduate Student Competition Subcommittee | Lab: Soybean Breeding and Genetics - Co-Advised by Dr. Aaron Lorenz & Dr. Robert Stupar | Favorite Crop: Potato
I am a second year PhD student working on candidate gene discovery for iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) resistance in soybean. I am also interested in investigating genotype by environment interactions in soybean IDC. Outside of my research I enjoy running, camping, and yoga.
Kayla Grennes
Public Relations Subcommittee | Lab: Kevin Smith - Barley, Oat, and Silphium | Favorite Crop: Peppers and Beets
I'm a first year PhD student working in identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for disease resistance and agronomic traits of interest in naked barley for an organic market setting and the use of naked barley as a strategy to retain high malt quality from diseased barley, and how food functional characteristics evolve throughout the malting process. I have a passion for global agriculture, fermentation sciences, and plants! When not working I'm usually reading a good book, hopefully surrounded by plants and an oat milk latte hand.
Alejandra Quinones
Public Relations Subcommittee | Lab: Stress Biology Lab - Dr. Cory D. Hirsch | Favorite Crop: Tomato
I am a third year PhD student working in individual and multifactorial abiotic stress resistance in maize. I am passionate about working alongside breeders to streamline processes in a way in which natural resources can be optimally utilized. My hobbies include baking, going to the gym and dancing.
Lovepreet Singh
Graduate Student Competition Subcommittee | Lab: Soybean Breeding and Genetics - Advised by Dr. Aaron Lorenz | Favorite Crop: Soybean
I’m a second year Ph.D. student broadly working on quantitative genetics and genomics-assisted breeding. I’m part of the SOYGEN (Science Optimized Yield Gains across ENvironments) project. The major goal of this project is to predict cultivar performance in future target environments through genomics-assisted breeding models, phenomics, and environment characterization. I’m also working on seed protein stability in soybeans.
Maicy Vossen
Logistics Subcommittee | Lab: Crop Physiology Lab (Dr. Sadok) and Turfgrass Science Lab (Dr. Watkins) | Favorite Crop: Turfgrass
I am a PhD candidate studying freeze tolerance in perennial ryegrass. The goal of my project is to better understand what enables freezing tolerance in turfgrass and design a freeze tolerance evaluation method to speed up the breeding of more tolerant perennial ryegrass. This is my third year assisting with the organization of the Plant Sciences Symposium and I am excited for this year’s event. Outside of research, I enjoy quilting and painting.