Crislene Vieira Dos Santos, a Ph.D. student at the Federal University of Vicosa in Brazil, is partaking in a visiting scholar program under the guidance of Dr. Asheesh Singh, a professor in the Department of Agronomy. Growing up just a few miles from the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) in Brasília, Brazil, Cris has been interested in agronomy and plant breeding since a young age. When she turned 17 years old, she started working at the research company, which allowed her to meet experts in the industry that became mentors for her motivation and current career path.
Through a connection with her academic advisor at the Federal University of Vicosa and Dr. Singh, the opportunity arose for Cris to participate in breeding and Artificial Intelligence focused research activities in soybeans. Since her arrival last December, Cris has been working with members of Singh’s lab to experience the entire breeding and research pipeline, including project planning, protocol development, preparation of field experiments, planting, and data collection. She will continue gaining valuable data collection experience using various sensors, harvesting, data analysis, and post-harvest seed processing. In addition, Cris is involved in various studies, including investigation of small millet growth and development, seed composition, and drought screening.
“There is a lot of technology and advancements such as sensors, drones, and other equipment that I am learning about and using regularly in the lab. This type of technology could be beneficial in Brazil, but due to the high investment and cost of the equipment, we do not currently utilize this type of technology. Currently, crop analysis and reporting in Brazil are done visually by physically visiting the fields and taking notes based on personal perception. Utilizing advanced technology could create more accuracy and efficiency in the crop production industry.”
As her program continues, Cris values all the personal and professional opportunities she has gained at Iowa State University. “Coming to the U.S. for the first time, I was worried about the culture and meeting other people. To my surprise, there is so much diversity, and everyone I have met at Iowa State has been so friendly and willing to help answer my questions and push me to be successful!” From a professional perspective, Cris has utilized the advanced technology available in the lab, learned about crop production in Iowa, and met and networked with peers and faculty eager to help her and share their knowledge.
Before Cris returns to her home country in November 2023, she looks forward to experiencing the full cycle of planting, harvesting, and analyzing the production hands-on with Dr. Singh and his lab. Cris plans to defend her Ph.D. in March 2024, hoping to continue learning about plant breeding and crop production while sharing the wealth of knowledge she has learned from Dr. Singh and others during her visit.
Through her program at Iowa State University, Cris is partially supported by the NSF/USDA funded AI Institute for Resilient Agriculture (AIIRA) project.