Four students named Borlaug Scholars

Four graduate students connected to the Department of Plant Sciences have been admitted as Borlaug scholars. Forrest Li,  Michele Nalle, Cree King and Jonathan Berlingeri will enter the National Association for Plant Breeding’s 2025 cohort. 

As Borlaug scholars, they will have the opportunity to network and speak with industry professionals at the annual NAPB conference, to be held in Hawaii in May. All expenses for the conference will be paid, and they will receive one year of mentorship from plant breeding experts. 

Li is a doctoral student in the integrative genetics and genomics graduate group, working on how maize adapts to climate change. He is co-advised by Danial Runcie, an associate professor in the Department of Plant Sciences, and Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra, a professor in the Department of Evolution and Ecology.

“Forrest has developed great skills in statistical genetics and is doing exciting work with crop seed banks to help breeders adapt to climate change,” Runcie said. “I’m thrilled that Forrest has been named a Borlaug scholar and am excited to see the contributions he will continue to make in this field in the future.”

Runcie also called Li “a great team member and mentor to undergraduates in our labs.” He highlighted Li’s participation in ESTEME STEM squad, a graduate student organization dedicated to improving equity and inclusion in STEM fields, entrepreneurship and leadership. Li studies in the lab of Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra, in the Department of Evolution and Ecology.

Nalle and King are master’s students in the horticulture and agronomy graduate group. They work in Charlie Brummer’s lab, in the Department of Plant Sciences. 

“I am very proud of Cree and Michele,” Brummer said. “They are outstanding students, and I appreciate their work on genetic projects and alfalfa breeding."

Berlingeri is a doctoral student in the horticulture and agronomy graduate group. 

“Jonny is well-versed in plant breeding and has balances his projects thoughtfully and adeptly,” said Christine Diepenbrock, Berlingeri’s lead professor in the Department of Plant Sciences. “He has a bright future!”