Featured Alumni
Please share your stories with other MSU Alumni!
Contact Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences Communications
Featured Alumni
Name: Sarah Lee
Earning her Master of Science degree in Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology (2021) and her Bachelor of Science degree in 
Plant Biology (2018) set Sarah Lee on her way to a dream job in cultivation. Working right here in Michigan as Assistant Grower at Common Citizen, she is co-manager of a team of 25, managing abiotic environmental factors using PRIVA in the greenhouse, to ultimately promote healthy plant growth.
At MSU, Lee worked first as a teaching assistant in CSS 451, teaching genome editing techniques. She also enjoyed a rich experience as a Graduate Student Researcher, working with the MSU Potato Breeding and Genetics Program, where she Generated self-compatible diploid potato plants with enhanced fertility using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing.
“My thesis project taught me how to think critically and manage my time,” Lee says. “Drs. Cholani Weebadde and Abbi Thompson taught plant breeding classes that I found to be incredibly useful in enhancing my knowledge of plant biology.”
While studying and working, Lee was also very active at MSU, where she served on the Council of Graduate Students (COGS). And in the Graduate Student Organization (GSO) as secretary and webmaster. She attributes her success to her ability to rest. “Take care of yourself both mentally and physically. Do your best to develop a work life balance. Working all the time does not make you more productive it will just burn you out. You will be more productive if you give you mind a chance to rest.”
Joseph Byrum - Global head of product development for Syngenta
Linda Hanson - Research Plant Pathologist and Adjunct Associate Professor
Fall 2017
Professor Linda Hanson knew for a long time she wanted to work with plants, but during a mycology course Hanson soon became enthralled with fungi. Hanson’s work primarily revolves around how pathogens affect field crops, with some work on the interaction with different disease management strategies and vegetables.
Currently, Hanson is researching fungal pathogens of field crops. “I am interested in the diversity of fungal pathogens and how fungal diversity affects disease and crop management, including interactions with host diversity, crop rotation, and other management practices,” Hanson said.
Throughout her career, two research projects stand out to Hanson as her best work. Hanson found mechanisms of biological control in biocontrol-active fungi. This research opened a new area of research for fungi as biocontrol agents and has been cited over 150 times.
Another proud moment for Hanson was her research on the diversity of Fusarium species infecting sugar beet and the genetic variability in a major pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum. “One of the proudest moments was when a grower told me that some of the information we had provided helped to save his farm,” Hanson said.
Hanson’s colleagues in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences have helped her tackle big questions. “I enjoy having a diverse group of colleagues who are interested in working together,” Hanson said. “There are so many great people working in different areas.”
Winter 2017
A degree from the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences gave notable alum Joseph Byrum the essential analytical and intellectual tools to succeed in a growing biotechnology industry.
Byrum credits PSM’s emphasis on strategic thinking to his success in his role as Syngenta’s global head of product development.
“The balanced curriculum grounded in quantitative training provide the background to succeed,” Byrum said.
Syngenta is a global biotechnology company that works to create resources to help farmers attain global food security. With a rapidly growing population, feeding the large impending population requires researchers to create ways to produce more food without the use of shrinking natural resources.
MSU’s growth and presence in the global community provides students an opportunity to understand complex global issues and solutions.
“MSU certainly broadened my perspective and helped pave the way so I could succeed by enabling a more vertical trajectory, multiplying my impact as a thought leader, scientist, strategic thinker and manager,” Byrum said.
Byrum has always been an avid learner and understood the importance of a quality education. His education at MSU honed in on his critical thinking and leadership skills, providing him with a path to success.
“My experience at MSU, complemented by my business experience, allowed me to operate in roles of increasing responsibility,” Byrum said.
As a product development leader at Syngenta, Byrum has learned how to be an impactful leader to his colleagues from his MSU education.
His comprehensive idea of a leader is, “someone who does what’s right, sets a positive example, admits when they’re wrong and rises above the details to paint a picture that can be delivered with excellence,” Byrum said.
Print
Email