A Passion for Plants

Charlie Colvin's journey to becoming a plant scientist began when he was just 12 years old.

Growing up in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia, Colvin watched his family plant a vegetable garden year after year with varying results. Colvin eventually persuaded his father to let him take over the plot, sure he could do a better job.

The following year, he did—putting into motion a passion for plants that would lead from the family garden to the decision to pursue plant science as a career, starting at Penn State.

"The College of Agricultural Sciences impressed me with its programs, research opportunities, and resources such as the student farm and ability to earn different scholarships," said Colvin, now a fourth-year plant sciences major. "And now that I'm here, I've realized all these benefits also come with a really supportive, tight-knit community."

Flexible, Future-Focused Academics

The college offers three plant sciences undergraduate majors—Landscape Contracting, Plant Sciences, and Turfgrass Science—alongside five complementary minors. For graduate students, the college offers the Agricultural and Environmental Plant Science program, with additional graduate degrees in Forest Resources, Soil Science, Entomology, Plant Pathology, and BioRenewable Systems that all have varying degrees of plant science emphasis.

Also offered are dual-title graduate degree programs in Microbiome Sciences, Transdisciplinary Research on Environment and Society, and International Agriculture and Development (INTAD).

For added flexibility, the Plant Sciences major offers five options—Agroecology, Crop Production, Horticulture, Plant Genetics and Biotechnology, and Plant Science—so students can tailor their academics to fit their personal and professional goals.

Tracy Hoover, former associate dean for undergraduate education, said the college's plant science programs stand out for their hands-on learning, cutting-edge research, and deep integration of technology and sustainability.

"Students don't just study plants. They work alongside leading scientists, graduate students, and staff on real-world challenges, collaborate across disciplines, and gain practical experience through internships, research, and in our facilities, fields, and laboratories," she said. "We're not only preparing future plant scientists. We're empowering them to shape the future of agriculture, biodiversity, and global food systems."

Erin Connolly, former head of the Department of Plant Science, said these programs help the college uniquely position students for diverse careers not only in academia but also in industry, government, and nonprofit sectors.

"Penn State is world renowned for plant science research, which provides our students with the opportunity to work on the cutting edge of plant science innovation from the bench through to commercialization," she said. "Our students work side by side with our faculty working to address the most challenging problems facing our farms, forests, natural environments, and society at a state, regional, national, and international level."

For Zonyha Vélez-Ferrer, a dual-title doctoral student in Plant Pathology and INTAD, this reputation was part of what drove her to come to Penn State. Hailing from Puerto Rico, Vélez-Ferrer earned her bachelor's degree in horticulture at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez.

Zonyha Vélez-Ferrer, a dual-title doctoral student in Plant Pathology and International Agriculture and Development.

"In addition to the college being renowned for its plant pathology and global agriculture programs, I knew it was also the ideal place to develop the expertise needed to address critical food security challenges," she said. "Having witnessed firsthand how natural disasters like hurricanes devastate agricultural systems in Puerto Rico, I was drawn to Penn State's commitment to research that can make a real difference in vulnerable regions around the world."

Solving Pressing Problems

As part of a Tier 1 research university, the college is dedicated to investigating how plant science can address many of the problems facing our world today, said Beth Gugino, assistant dean for graduate education.

Faculty in the Department of Plant Science conduct critical research targeting plant biology, ecology, genetics, cultivation, human uses, sustainability, and more, while the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology examines the impacts of microbes in agricultural and natural ecosystems essential to sustaining life and the environment. Plant science-focused research can also be found in the departments of Entomology, Ecosystem Science and Management, and Agricultural and Biological Engineering.

"Our students and faculty are dedicated to helping solve these critical problems," Gugino said. "For example, understanding how microbial relationships within plant roots foster plant growth or cause plant disease, or how we can reduce herbicide inputs through the use of innovative spray technology and understanding herbicide resistance."

While the college's academic programs initially drew Colvin to Penn State, he said one of his favorite parts of his time in the college has been participating in this type of research. Undergraduate research is supported in part by the College of Agricultural Sciences Undergraduate Research Award.

Since his freshman year, Colvin has been involved in the lab of Surinder Chopra, professor of maize genetics. Over the past four years, Colvin has worked his way up from washing dishes to leading his own research project investigating how compounds called flavonoids can be used to control insect pests that target corn.

Surinder Chopra, professor of maize genetics, and student Charlie Colvin.

"I've always been someone who likes to solve problems, so research has really scratched that itch for me in a way that actually makes an impact," he said. "In addition to publishing our paper, I also helped lead a booth at Penn State's Ag Progress Days, where I got to talk about our work with farmers from across the state. Everyone was enthusiastic about how this could solve real problems that they're facing, which was really exciting."

Vélez-Ferrer also found research opportunities in the college, studying Fusarium oxysporum, a fungal pathogen that has a significant impact on agriculture worldwide. Her research focuses on understanding how these fungi genetically adapt to tomatoes.

"One of my most rewarding experiences has been those breakthrough moments when months of research data suddenly coalesce into a coherent story about pathogen behavior within plant systems," she said. "There's incredible satisfaction in connecting laboratory observations to broader biological principles and seeing how your work fits into the larger puzzle of plant-pathogen interactions."

In addition to research opportunities, students have other options to broaden their horizons. The college offers several clubs for undergraduates interested in plant science, including the Turfgrass and Horticulture clubs, which Colvin joined as a first-year student.

Graduate students also can help mentor undergraduates, an experience Vélez-Ferrer said was just as fulfilling as her research.

"Watching them develop from tentative beginners to confident scientists who can design their own experiments and think critically about results has been incredibly rewarding," she said. "These students often bring fresh perspectives that enhance my own research, creating a truly collaborative learning environment. And there's nothing quite like seeing an undergraduate student's eyes light up when they grasp a complex concept or achieve their first successful experiment."

Fostering Scientists

While Penn State offers its budding plant scientists access to research facilities—including more than 37,000 square feet of greenhouse and growth chamber space, a 2,000-acre research farm near campus, as well as research and extension centers in Erie, Lancaster, and Adams Counties—opportunities also exist for students to learn in a global context.

Students have many opportunities to study abroad with Ag Sciences Global, whether through a traditional study abroad program or an embedded course with travel components. The International Agriculture undergraduate minor and the INTAD dual-title graduate degree also are available.

Deanna Behring, assistant dean and director of Ag Sciences Global, explained that the INTAD program helps students develop the skills to tackle agricultural challenges from an interdisciplinary perspective. It highlights agriculture's role in the global economy and its connection to major global issues such as hunger, poverty, and health.

"The INTAD program is—we believe—the only program of its kind in the world," she said. "This program provides insight for our graduate students on how to work in their field globally, introducing them to new scientific approaches as well as opening up additional career opportunities for their futures."

Vélez-Ferrer said this opportunity to bridge the gap between laboratory research and real-world agricultural systems, particularly in the context of international development, led her to choose the INTAD program.

She explained that while her plant pathology focus gives her deep technical expertise, INTAD has expanded her understanding of how plant diseases intersect with policy, education, economic development, and sustainability initiatives.

"The program has been transformative in connecting me with a community of students and faculty who share a commitment to addressing global agricultural challenges," Vélez-Ferrer said. "It's provided me with frameworks for thinking about how research can be translated into practical solutions for farming communities worldwide. The interdisciplinary approach has made me a more well-rounded scientist and has reinforced my commitment to research that serves vulnerable populations."

While Colvin didn't travel abroad during his time at Penn State University Park, he said the college did a fantastic job preparing him for his life beyond Penn State.

Colvin said his goal is to help develop more sustainable plants capable of dealing with the increasing stresses that are anticipated with climate change. But before he can do that, he plans to continue his academic journey by studying for his doctorate, something he said would only be possible after his experience in the college.

"My time here gave me such a strong foundation for what comes next in my education and career, but I'll definitely miss the community here," Colvin said. "For such a big school with so many resources, it still seems like you know everyone. I walk down the halls and see professors I know by name and students I've been in several classes with. And that's been really special."

By Katie Bohn
Photography by Michael Houtz