Stories From Oct 2020
A Special Specialty Crops Breeder
Todd Wehner’s decades-long work as a plant breeder have earned him recognition as a valued teacher and mentor, researcher and contributor to agriculture and agribusiness. He recently earned him a top international industry accolade, Pickle Packers International’s Hall of Fame Award.
USDA to Fund NC State-Led Group on COVID-19 Food Safety
The two-year grant will support FoodCoVNET, a network of researchers at NC State, Rutgers, the University of Florida and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Scientists will focus on understanding the risks and best practices to address virus transmission between people in food settings like restaurants, produce packing facilities and food manufacturing settings.
Insect Insights
The first genome sequence in the insect order Thysanoptera sheds light on one of the world’s most costly agricultural pests, aiding scientists searching for ways to stop damage caused by the invasive western flower thrips.
Destiny Tyson: Student Spotlight
Destiny Tyson sat down for an interview with CALS International Programs to talk about her altered plans to participate in Research Pack Abroad with an internship at Syngenta Brazil during summer 2020. Tyson reflects on her previous experience at CIMMYT in Mexico and how she hopes her future career holds international research options.
Faculty Focus: Rellán-Álvarez Discusses Maize Research
From earning his bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees in Spain, to completing his postdoctoral work at the Carnegie Institution in Stanford, California, Rubén Rellán-Álvarez brings plenty of diverse thought, creativity and teaching to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry. Prior to joining CALS in January 2019, Álvarez started a lab in Mexico in 2015 at the National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity.