By Andi Anderson
Three doctoral students from Iowa State University have been selected for the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) 2026-2029 Fellows Program, a prestigious initiative that supports future leaders in food and agricultural sciences across the United States and Canada.
The fellowship provides three years of professional development, career guidance, networking opportunities, and leadership training for promising researchers who are working to address important agricultural challenges.
The Iowa State University students selected for the program are Mayowa Aderoju from the Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology, Nate Bowser from the Department of Agronomy, and Oliver Nell from the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice.
Mayowa Aderoju, working under the guidance of Scott Heuchelin, Director of the Seed Science Center and Professor of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology, focuses on improving seed health through research on seed-borne diseases and management strategies.
Sharing his motivation, Aderoju said, “I chose Iowa State because of its world-class plant pathology program and the Seed Science Center's leadership in seed health research. My experiences at Corteva and my conversations with Dr. Gary Munkvold, now retired, and Dr. Heuchelin helped me realize this was the perfect place to continue my journey.”
He also added, “The FFAR Fellowship represents the intersection of three areas that have shaped my career goals: scientific discovery and implementation, stakeholder and farmer impact, and agricultural advocacy. I look forward to the experience of FFAR cohort visit to the Capitol to communicate about the value of research. More importantly, the fellowship will be an important opportunity to network and gain industry insights.”
Nate Bowser, a doctoral student in plant breeding, works with Jianming Yu, Pioneer Distinguished Chair in Maize Breeding and Director of the Raymond F. Baker Center for Plant Breeding. His research examines genetic factors influencing sorghum performance and crop yield while also contributing to efforts to improve maize genetic diversity in the United States.
Explaining his research goals, Bowser said, “Sorghum is an important crop around the world. I am seeking to understand the underlying systems influencing its performance, with the hope of improving yield to ultimately benefit farmers.”
Speaking about the fellowship, he added, “This is a huge opportunity. I am especially excited to become part of a high-level network of FFAR Fellow alumni and have the extra professional development through the program to enhance our ‘soft skills,’ including interpersonal and science communications.”
Oliver Nell, a doctoral student specializing in rural sociology and sustainable agriculture, works with J. Arbuckle, Professor of Rural Sociology. His research focuses on how private sector organizations and conservation initiatives influence farmer adoption of conservation practices.
Discussing his interests, Nell said, “That really sparked my interest in differences between governmental and other types of conservation programs – such as nonprofits, trade associations and ag retailers -- and how they influence adoption rates.”
He further explained, “I think my diverse background has all been very serendipitous to lead me to where I am now. With the current changes in structuring support for conservation, I think it’s a good time for this area of study, and Iowa is an ideal place to explore it.”
The recognition of these three scholars highlights Iowa State University’s commitment to advancing agricultural innovation, sustainability, and scientific leadership while preparing the next generation of experts to address global food and farming challenges.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-poike
Categories: Iowa, Education