We’re proud to support this group of outstanding graduate students as they travel to the National Association of Plant Breeders Annual Meeting in Hawaii this month. These future leaders in plant breeding are pushing the boundaries of research—and we’re honored to support them in sharing their work with the wider community.
A big congratulations to University of Illinois student Holly Anderson!
PhD in Crop Science with an emphasis in Plant Breeding and Genetics, graduating 2029This May, Holly will present her research — “Transcriptomic Variation During Kernel Development in Advanced, Purple Maize Cultivars” — at the NAPB Annual Meeting in Hawaii!
Their dedication to research and innovation is inspiring, and thanks to the support of the GDM Travel Grant program, she’s bringing her work to a national stage.
“Thanks to support from GDM, I’m excited to attend the 2025 NAPB conference to expand my skills as an early career plant breeder. I’m proud to present my research on breeding maize for microbiome-mediated nutrient retention, which aims to improve the sustainability and efficiency of Midwestern agriculture. I look forward to connecting with leaders in the field and sharing our excitement over all-things plant-related!”
We’re cheering you on, Holly!
Join us in celebrating Isabella Fiore of the University of Minnesota 🎉
PhD in Plant Breeding and Molecular Genetics, Class of 2028
We’re proud to support Isabella as she travels to the NAPB Annual Meeting in Hawaii this May to present her research: “Unraveling Genotype by Environment Interactions in Soybean Iron Deficiency Chlorosis Expression” 🌿This work is representative of the next generation of innovation in plant breeding, and we’re honored to play a part in her journey.
💬 “Receiving this grant is an incredible opportunity to engage with leading minds in plant breeding, expand my knowledge, and bring innovative ideas back to my research. This support fuels my passion for plant breeding and strengthens my commitment to gaining knowledge that will make me successful in my future career. This grant offers me an opportunity to deepen my appreciation for plant breeding, genetics, and the community that supports innovation in agriculture and food security.”
Go Isabella! We can’t wait to see how your contributions to the ag industry continue to grow.
🎉Congratulations to University of Minnesota student Michael Burns 🎉
PhD in Applied Plant Sciences, Class of 2025
We’re thrilled to celebrate Michael as they head to Hawaii this May to present their research, “Optimizing population simulations to accurately parallel empirical data for digital breeding,” at the NAPB Annual Meeting this May!
Their hard work, curiosity, and commitment to advancing the field of plant breeding truly stand out.
“This travel grant will allow me to present my work on computational solutions to improve food-grade corn breeding at a conference with world-renowned scientists to discuss and improve the research projects I am currently working on. It is also a great opportunity for me to network with other scientists to advance my career aspirations after graduate school as my graduation fast-approaches”.
We’re proud to support rising researchers like Michael — the future of plant science is in great hands!
Congratulations to Memis Bilgici of Iowa State University
PhD Agronomy, Class of 2026
We’re proud to support Memis in presenting Should we breed corn for Perennial Ground Cover Crops at the National Association of Plant Breeding Annual Meeting! Their work is a testament to the passion and dedication of emerging scholars in the agricultural community.
“I am honored to receive the GDM Travel Grant. Receiving the GDM Travel Grant is not only a recognition of my efforts, but also a stepping stone in my PhD journey to develop more resilient and sustainable maize systems. This grant empowers me to take my research beyond the field/lab and into a global community of plant breeding scientists. I am excited to represent our research at NAPB 2025 in Hawaii”.
Wishing you continued success as you share your insights with the broader research community!
