Building expertise to serve the global marketplace of the future takes a cooperative system powered by fresh thinking and innovative solutions. New ideas can come from anyone, including interns experiencing their first taste of agricultural research and production.
University of Minnesota student Ethan Gross is exploring his interest in environment-controlled agriculture through an internship at the CHS Crop Science Research and Development Center in Randolph, Minn., working in the center’s state-of-the-art greenhouse.
“I have been capturing data on stomatal conductance of leaf tissue,” which is one measure of plant performance, explains Gross. “I’ve also been using time-lapse photography to capture differences in seed treatment performance.” He hopes to apply his double major in computer science and plant science to a career in genomics.
San Diego State University biology major Lauren Carter is putting her laboratory experience to work analyzing formulations at the R&D center. “I’m testing specific gravity, pH, viscosity, particle size and more to determine how surfactant formulations react in different situations.”
Mentored by center staffers, Gross and Carter are helping to find solutions for crop production challenges while they gain experience that could lead to ag careers. Both expect to pursue graduate degrees.
“It’s exciting to see talented people join CHS from so many different backgrounds,” says Lauren Bucci, who heads up the intern program for CHS. “We look for candidates who have passion for fields ranging from agronomy to engineering, technology and more.
“Whether they grew up on a farm or are new to the world of agriculture, there are many opportunities to join our team to help fulfill our purpose of creating connections to empower agriculture.”
Check out the full Summer 2025 C magazine with this article and more.
