Christian receives a 2026-2027 National Horticulture Foundation Scholarship

For over 30 years, National Horticulture Foundation has been an innovator in enhancing the horticulture industry. The National Horticulture Foundation (NHF) continues to deliver research and education to a broad base of industry members. Comprised of an esteemed team of contributors, the Foundation is dedicated to seeing the industry grow and thrive well into the future. NHF understands the meaning of paying it forward and needs your help to continue its mission.

Allie presents at the 2026 Joint MAS-ASPB and UMD Plant Symposium

The 2026 Joint MAS-ASPB and UMD Plant Symposium is an annual event co-organized by the ASPB Mid-Atlantic Section and UMD. The meeting has a tradition of showcasing major plant research advances in the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond and welcomes the participation of underrepresented minorities and junior scientists. The meeting consists of keynote talks, invited talks, abstract talks, posters, and workshops.

Restoring Landscapes and Communities: Insights from Critical, Urban, and Plant Ecology

Igwe AN, Callwood KA, Shelton DS. 2025. Restoring Landscapes and Communities: Insights from Critical, Urban, and Plant Ecology. Environmental Science and Ecotechnology. DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2025.100601

2025_IgweCallwoodShelton.pdfDownload

A roadmap to understanding and anticipating microbial gene transfer in soil communities

Gillett D, Selinidis M, Seamons T, George D, Igwe A, Del Valle I, Egbert R, Hofmockel K, Johnson A, Matthews K, Masiello C, Stadler L, Chappell J, and Silberg J. A roadmap to understanding and anticipating microbial gene transfer in soil communities. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews (2024). https://doi.org/10.1128/mmbr.00225-24.

gillett-et-al-2025-a-roadmap-to-understanding-and-anticipating-microbial-gene-transfer-in-soil-communitiesDownload

Allie presents at the 6th Virginia Urban Ag Summit

Allie attended and presented at the 6th Virginia Urban Ag Summit where urban growers from across Virginia met to share knowledge and learn about urban ag in the state. From soil-less to small-scale, farming in all its variations was the topic. Allie presented on the potential role of microbes from “extreme” environments in agriculture and how plant growth-promoting-bacteria can be isolated at home.

Allie selected as a 2025 SciComm Identities Project Fellow

The University of Rhode Island’s Metcalf Institute, Michigan State University’s Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, and the URI Science and Story Lab launched the SciComm Identities Project (SCIP) to prepare the next generation of science communicators from underrepresented ethnic and racial backgrounds. The ambitious five-year project, supported by a $2.8 million collaborative National Science Foundation grant, will address a significant gap in science communication research and training by centering the motivations, experiences, and priorities of racial and ethnic minority scientists. The SCIP team is developing and testing a novel science communication training curriculum through this one-year fellowship program, which includes the creation of a forthcoming podcast related to the Fellows’ research and experiences.

Out of a competitive applicant pool, fourteen Fellows were selected to participate in the third and final cohort of this innovative science communication fellowship for pre-tenure faculty of color. The 2025 SCIP Fellowship will focus on the intersection of climate change and food-related issues, including food insecurity, agriculture, and aquaculture. While Fellows bring a diverse range of cultural and disciplinary backgrounds, they all share a strong history of personal commitment to science communication and inclusive community engagement.