b'PhD Student Researching DNA Markers in Potato Breeding WinsIn my opinion, he is on the right path to becoming an outstanding professional Scholarship and a leader.Jeewan Pandey, a third-year PhD student who is researching using DNA-basedPandey is an active leader on campus, recently serving on student-led markers in potato breeding, has been awarded the US$10,000 2020/21 aca- committee who organized the Texas A&M Plant Breeding Symposium (2019 demic scholarship from the Potato Leadership, Education and Advancementand 2020), the release noes. He also serves as vice-president of the Horticul-Foundation (Potato LEAF), the group says in a news release. ture Graduate Council at Texas A&M, and graduate and professional student "Im so excited and grateful to be a Potato LEAF award recipient! Thisgovernment senator. He is a member of the Potato Association of America, the award will be incredibly beneficial in helping me move forward with my careerAmerican Society of Horticultural Sciences, and the National Plant Breeders aspirations of obtaining a PhD degree in plant breeding," Pandey says in theAssociation.release. The $10,000 scholarship award from Potato LEAF is awarded annually to Pandey attends Texas A&M Universitys Department of Horticultural Scienc- one graduate student with a strong interest in research which can directly es. His research is focused on speeding up the development of new potatobenefit the United States potato industry, the release notes. varieties which would require fewer pesticide applications. He is also doing genetic diversity studies and genome-wide association studies with the final goal of accelerating selection using genomics-enabled approaches.He was recommended for the award by his academic advisor, M. Isabel Vales, associate professor of potato breeding and genetics at Texas A&M. In his recommendation letter Vales wrote Pandey "is an excellent student and researcher. He has excellent communication skills, initiative, and leadership. Cover your crops with the Right Recipefor SuccessRAMPART FUNGIDEFormulation that fits your farm.60 SPUDSMART.COM FALL 2020WWW.UAP.CA'