PSM participates in recent North American Plant Phenotyping Network (NAPPN) Annual Conference
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EmailHosted at MSU, the conference featured the Bayer-sponsored Hackathon to challenge students to tackle giant maize dataset
Bayer-Sponsored Hackathon Challenges Students to Tackle Maize Data
A popular feature of the recent conference was the Bayer-sponsored Maize Data Hackathon, organized by Dr. Addie Thompson. Bringing together about 30 participants, the event immersed participants in a fast-paced, hands-on challenge focused on real-world agricultural data.
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Maize Data Hackathon Brings Students Together for High-Impact, Hands-On Challenge. Students collaborated across disciplines and institutions to tackle real-world data challenges under tight time constraints, building both technical skills and lasting professional connections.
Participants were divided into interdisciplinary teams and given identical large datasets on flash drives, with the goal of predicting maize hybrid yield outcomes. Working under intense time pressure, teams collaborated across varying levels of experience and institutional backgrounds—often meeting their teammates for the first time.
PSM staff research technician Kelsey Middlemiss, who holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and works in bioinformatics in the Bonito Lab, described the experience as both demanding and rewarding. “It was a huge challenge, but I did have some experience going into it, which helped me,” she said. Kelsey noted that the hackathon reinforced her interest in pursuing an advanced degree in bioinformatics at MSU.
“The most valuable lessons I learned were the importance of connecting with people on my team and communicating rapidly,” Kelsey said. “The time pressure was impossible, and teams focused on presenting what they learned as a whole—not just creating a predictive model.”
According to organizer Addie Thompson, the event encouraged rapid learning, creative problem solving, and meaningful connections. Student feedback echoed this sentiment, highlighting the inclusive, high-impact nature of the hackathon.
The day also included a career development session during lunch, adding a layer of professional growth to the experience.
