b"Growing Up in the Spud WorldBeing the daughter of a potato researcher, Helen Tai grew up in the potato world but didnt expect to work in it herself. BY: ASHLEY ROBINSONAS A CHILD, Helen Tai had a front row seat to the potato research world. Her father, George Tai, worked as a potato researcher at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)s Fredericton Research and Development Centre (where Helen would later work herself). (My father and I) have a very close relationship, obviously, because now we're working on the same thing. But even before we had lots of discussions about science in general, and obviously, a lot of my interest in science is because of him, Helen says in a phone interview.Growing up, Helen found herself listening to her father talk about his research around the dinner table. And during the summer, their family vacations would be tied to Georges attendance at the Potato Association of America (PAA) annual meeting.Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Scientist in Potato Genetics andWhen the time came for Helen to headGenomics Helen Taioff to university, she decided to remain in the science research realm, but instead ofeducation and started my postdoc, Helenwhile Halterman recently began his term as potatoes she studied mammalian genetics.explains. president this year.She received her bachelor of science inFrom there, her career in the potatoShe really pushed for getting more biochemistry and master of science inindustry flourished. Helen as workedinvolvement from students and early career anatomy degrees at the University ofon research projects such as looking atscientistsgetting them involved in PAA Toronto. Her PhD research work at theColorado potato beetle (CPB) resistance,and the annual meetingwhich has been a University of Ottawa focused on human andutilizing wild relatives in potato breedingtremendous benefit to the society to get more mouse genetics. and notably Verticillium resistance which isstudents coming to the meeting and talking It wasn't until I finished my PhD, that Iwhere she worked with Dennis Halterman.about their research, Halterman explains.started to think that I am interested in moreThe two had met through their involvementNot only has Helen served on the PAA issues concerning food and agriculture andin PAA but it wasnt until they collaboratedboard, she also has been a supporter of the environment, and things like that. That'son the Verticillium research project lookingPAA annual meetings charity auction. when I decided to switch and do somethingat Verticillium resistance that they becameShe has become known for donating her with plants, Helen explains. friends. handmade CPB jewelry. Helen encases She took a post-doctoral fellowship atShe had tremendous expertise in potatoCPBs in acrylic to make earrings and the Canadian Forest Service in Fredericton,genetics and was interested in diseasenecklaces. She originally made the jewelry as N.B. studying trees. Helen spent threeresistance. My research is really focuseda child with her father, donating them to the years there as a post-doctoral student andon disease resistance in potato, and shePAA where they were a popular item. Once two years as a research scientist. In 2006,needed someone with a little more expertiseshe started working as a potato researcher, an opportunity presented itself at AAFCon the pathogen side, Halterman, ashe decided to revive the hobby.Fredericton to work as a research scientist inresearch geneticist with the United StatesIt's a good mix of artistry and science. potato genetics and genomics. Department of Agriculture, says in a phoneI think she's going to figure out how to get I thought it would be interesting to workinterview. It worked out being a perfectthe (potato) flowers into her jewelry too. on potato after all these years of hearingcollaboration between our groups. But she's got to do some experimentation about it from my dad. I gained a betterThe two also worked together throughto figure out what works best, Halterman appreciation of it after I finished all mythe PAA. Helen was PAA president in 2021says. 40SPUDSMART.COMFall 2023"