2024 Virginia Tech REEL Fellows
Fellow Fellow's Home Institution Faculty Mentor(s)
Sinclair Anderson Virginia Tech Courtney Leisner & Bas Bargmann
Project: Refining tissue culture in potato (Solanum tuberosum)
Jacqueline Anthus Virginia Tech Anne Brown & Xiaofeng Wang
Project: Modeling and mutating the C4-COPI dimer in TYLCV to inhibit viral infection
Chessie Beery Oregon State University Hunter Frame & Carrie Ortel
Project: Evaluating cover crop nitrogen uptake, fixation, and release
Cassie Brisbin Virginia Tech Clay Wright
Project: Gaining insight into plant-yeast interactions regarding auxin activity
Katie Burgiss Virginia Tech Dorothea Tholl & Jim Westwood
Project: Chemical defense mechanisms in plant-plant and plant-insect interactions
Jenna Cain Virginia Tech Saghai Maroof
Project: Identifying a chromosomal region for soybean protein and oil content
Fiona Dreesbach Virginia Tech Susan Whitehead & Monica Ponder
Project: The effect of secondary metabolite diversity on pathogen evolution
Carter Spillman UNC Greensboro Hunter Frame & David Langston
Project: Quantifying differences in GHG emissions in biological-treated and untreated fertilizer
Sophia Vikesland Grinnell College Bas Bargmann
Project: Transforming Cannabis sativa leaf discs and meristem with transcription factor CsWoolly
The VT-REEL program started May 22, 2024 with orientation. Icebreakers helped fellows network with one another, and faculty discussed innovations in agriculture and the role of extension at land-grant universities. Other program-affiliated events included: weekly "big data" workshops, a multi-day AREC tour which included fellows delivering research updates, and the annual Summer Research Symposium.
