Summary of 2019-20 ASPB Conviron Scholars Program

It was way beyond what I expected.

Each one of the deliverables has really expanded my knowledge and tool set in plant science.

Overall, this program made me a better graduate student and more confident about my future career plans. I strongly believe I’m on the right path now.

The ASPB Conviron Scholars Program aims to support the next generation of plant scientists by helping students build their foundation for a successful career. The program selects exceptional undergraduate and graduate students studying Plant Biology and delivers a year-long experience which includes, career planning, written communications, leadership, effective presentations and independent projects.

For the 2019-20 program, 16 students were chosen from Universities around the world, including the University of Florida, National University of Ireland Galway, the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, University of Pisa in Italy, National Taiwan University, University of California San Diego, Texas A&M University and others.

Workshops and mentoring tapped the expertise of top plant scientist from academia, government and industry, including Syngenta, the USDA, Cresco Labs, Bayer Crop Science, Michigan State University, Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research (FFAR), the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC), Callaghan Innovation in New Zealand and the Colruyt Group in Europe.

Students remarked on the importance of the program to their career development:

“This opportunity has definitely broadened my academic and career perspectives in the plant sciences. It allowed me to acquire new skills in science communication and writing and leadership. Most importantly, this program allowed me to establish strong networks with peers, fellow Conviron scholars, and with extraordinary mentors.”

“When I initially started this program, I was actually a Master’s student. But, being part of this program, helped me to transition into being a Ph.D. student and so it really opened up my mind and actually a few doors into what I potentially want to do in my future career path.”

“Until now I had never written an abstract and I was able to use the abstract to present posters at different conferences.”

“The video production exposed me more to tools that can be used to communicate science.”

“The webinars and talks exposed me to many career opportunities in plant sciences.”

In their independent projects and presentations students pursued a wide variety of plant science topics such as:

• Phosphorus Use in Agriculture
• What Graduate School in Plant Biology is Like
• Metabolite Biosensors
• Seed Shattering in Rice
• Plant Breeding

Additional projects, presentations and highlights for the 2018-19 ASPB Conviron Scholars program can be found on ASPB’s blog Plantae.

In their independent projects and presentations students pursued a wide variety of plant science topics such as:

• Phosphorus Use in Agriculture
• What Graduate School in Plant Biology is Like
• Metabolite Biosensors
• Seed Shattering in Rice
• Plant Breeding

Additional projects, presentations and highlights for the 2018-19 ASPB Conviron Scholars program can be found on ASPB’s blog Plantae:

About ASPB

The American Society of Plant Biologists was founded in 1924 to promote the growth and development of plant biology, to encourage and publish research in plant biology, and to promote the interests and growth of plant scientists in general. In 1926, Plant Physiology began publication and is one of the world’s oldest and most well-respected plant science journals. In 1989, The Plant Cell began publication and is ranked first in impact among journals publishing primary research in the plant sciences. Over the past decades, the Society has evolved and expanded to provide a forum for molecular and cellular biology as well as to serve the basic interests of and to promote the advancement of plant science.

About Conviron

Conviron is the world’s largest designer and supplier of plant growth chambers and rooms. Leading universities, government agencies and agricultural biotech companies around the globe rely on Conviron’s highly engineered controlled environments to solve many of today’s challenges in food production and safety. Headquartered with design and manufacturing facilities in Winnipeg, Canada, and wholly owned Argus Controls in Surrey, BC, Conviron employs a global sales and distribution network with offices in the US, Europe and Australia.