Aurora Sporealis

Dear Friends,

Thank you for reading the Spring/Summer 2026 Aurora Sporealis issue. As we continue to navigate a period of transition across the department, college, and university, I am regularly reminded of the strength of our community. Through change, our faculty, staff, and students remain committed to advancing impactful science, supporting student success, and engaging with stakeholders across Minnesota and beyond. At the same time, we are actively working to strengthen our department by building on our core mission while identifying new opportunities to enhance our research, teaching, extension, and outreach efforts for the future.

In this issue, members of our department community showcase how they make a difference in today’s complex world using what they learned and practiced in the Department of Plant Pathology. Rubella Goswami (PhD ‘05), who currently serves as a Deputy Director for USDA-NIFA, shares how she draws on her plant pathology background to ensure that grants support impactful education and extension programs across the United States. As faculty member Ruth Dill-Macky steps back from her longtime role as Co-Chair of the U.S. Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative, she and the Initiative reflect on the substantial research progress made in combating Fusarium Head Blight through coordinated, interdisciplinary efforts. Pablo Olivera (PhD ‘08) reports about his recent experience hosting the National Cereal Rust Workers Workshop at the USDA-ARS Cereal Disease Lab in Saint Paul. José Solórzano represented our department at a national workshop in Washington, DC. Kathy Kromroy (MS ‘82, PhD ‘99) contributes as a guest columnist with an In Memoriam reflection on her recently departed friend Kathy Widin (PhD ‘80), whose career reflected a deep commitment to tree health through teaching, consulting, and nonprofit engagement.

Many stories in this issue share firsthand accounts of Department members connecting research passions to real-world problem-solving. In our Faculty Lab Update, Senyu Chen reports from the Southern Research and Outreach Center about how his team uses nematology research and bean germplasm screening to inform soybean and dry bean growers about prevention and management of Soybean Cyst Nematode. In “My Plant Path,” Ronan Keener shares how a student-worker position in plant pathology led to a passion for discovering and studying mycoviruses, and Milenka Vera shares how her upbringing in Ecuador inspires her love of plant pathology.

When discussing career options with current or former students, members of our department often refer to one’s “plant path,” a phrase that c›aptures how plant pathology can lead in many different directions over the course of a career. The stories in this issue reflect that breadth and impact. I hope they encourage you to reflect on where your own “plant path” has taken you, and where it may lead next. 
Warm regards,

Cory Hirsch

Associate Professor and Interim Department Head, Plant Pathology

Our department has one new student incoming for the Spring 2026 semester, Abby Schweiner. Meet Abby:

Abby (she/they) is joining the McCaghey and Drott labs at the University of Minnesota and USDA-ARS CDL, where they will be researching to identify and validate genetic determinants of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum aggression contributing to its host range, and to determine if these genes reside on a unique class of large transposable elements called Starships. As they earn their PhD, Abby hopes to advance career-building skills in scientific reasoning, molecular techniques, and proficiency in bioinformatics and computational biology.

Outside of work, Abby enjoys exploring botanical gardens and greenhouses, board game nights with friends and family, watching sports, and trying new restaurants with her wife.

Welcome, Abby!

PhD candidate José Solórzano recently traveled to Washington, DC for the national Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering (CASE) Workshop, in a group representing the University of Minnesota. This experience focused on advocating the importance of research and science with legislators, polticians, and other non-scientists. José reflected afterwards:

“I spent the past few days learning how to advocate for science, the role of science in policymaking, and the federal policymaking process through the Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering (CASE) Workshop. I was glad to be there alongside a cohort of students from the University of Minnesota and to connect with others from across the country who share the same goal of advocating for science.

I’m especially thankful to the offices of Representatives Betty McCollum and Angie Craig, and Senator Amy Klobuchar for hosting us. We had great conversations and put our advocacy training into practice. I’m grateful to the CFANS for sponsoring my participation in the 2026 CASE Workshop, and to Brian Paro for leading Congressional staff visits.”

by Senyu Chen

Nematodes are among the most abundant organisms on Earth. While many are beneficial, some pose serious threats to agricultural crops. Effective management of plant-parasitic nematodes is essential for sustainable agriculture to meet the growing global demand for food, fiber, and renewable energy. The soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is one of the most destructive plant-parasitic nematodes worldwide. In Minnesota (MN), for example, SCN has been detected in most soybean fields across more than 72 soybean-producing counties. The nematode is a major yield-limiting factor. In addition, SCN has been found in dry (common) bean fields in MN, where it has caused significant damage.

The Nematology Lab at the Southern Research and Outreach Center in Waseca, MN, has focused on the biology and management of SCN. Over the past three decades, we have conducted extensive studies evaluating the effectiveness of cultural, biological, and chemical approaches for managing SCN and other nematodes.

Planting resistant cultivars remains the most effective strategy for limiting yield losses caused by SCN. These cultivars have been widely adopted in MN and other soybean-producing regions in the United States and globally. However, most commercial SCN-resistant soybean cultivars in the U.S. are derived from a single resistance source, PI 88788, with a small proportion derived from ‘Peking’. The reliance on limited resistance sources has exerted strong selection pressure, leading to the emergence of SCN populations capable of overcoming these resistances. We have screened thousands of soybean germplasm lines from the USDA collection and identified novel SCN-resistant lines with genetic backgrounds distinct from PI 88788 and Peking. These findings provide valuable resources for developing new soybean cultivars with diverse resistance sources, thereby enhancing the durability of SCN management.

We have also investigated the long-term interactions between soybean resistance and SCN virulence under field conditions. Statewide surveys conducted in 1997-1998, 2002, 2007-2008, 2013, and currently ongoing have monitored changes in SCN virulence across Minnesota. Our studies show that many SCN populations have shifted from avirulent to virulent or partially virulent against PI 88788, and in some cases, Peking. These findings underscore the urgent need for additional resistance sources. Long-term field experiments further demonstrated the evolution of SCN virulence under different rotation sequences involving cultivars derived from PI 88788, Peking, and PI 437654, a source of broad resistance. These studies provide critical insights into SCN adaptation and inform recommendations for rotating resistance sources to slow virulence development (https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-19-1916-RE; https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-06-25-1327-RE).

To better understand the genetic basis of SCN virulence, our lab developed 182 unique SCN inbred lines. In collaboration with UMN soybean breeder Aaron Lorenz, graduate student Lauren Docherty analyzed these lines for virulence against six soybean genotypes with distinct resistance mechanisms, as well as for morphometric traits. This work identified 16 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with SCN virulence, most of which are specific to individual host lines. These QTLs have strong potential for developing molecular tools to assess SCN virulence.

We also conducted a comprehensive screening of common bean (dry bean) germplasm from USDA core and global collections. A total of 1,198 germplasm lines and 41 cultivars and breeding lines from the UMN dry bean breeding program were evaluated. Although no SCN resistance was identified in current UMN breeding lines, resistance was widely present in the USDA germplasm collection, with 90 lines classified as resistant and 260 as moderately resistant (https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-03-25-0505-RE). Genetic studies revealed multiple QTLs associated with SCN resistance in common bean, and the resistance mechanisms appear to differ from those in soybean (https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2025.1520087). These findings provide a foundation for incorporating SCN resistance into dry bean breeding programs to address this emerging threat.

Despite the availability of resistant cultivars, SCN continues to cause yield losses due to the complexity of the soybean production system. Long-term, effective management requires an integrated approach. To this end, we have investigated additional cultural practices, including alternative crop rotations, cover crops, tillage, agricultural residues, and biological control agents.

Biological control is a major focus of our research. We have isolated over a thousand of fungal isolates and several hundred bacterial isolates from SCN collected across diverse soybean-corn cropping systems. Screening efforts identified several candidates with potential for commercial development (https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-01-20-0015-R; https://doi.org/10.1080/09583150020029826). Our studies of microbial communities in SCN-suppressive soils have identified key organisms associated with reduced SCN populations (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2017.07.018; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2019.103388). Notably, the juvenile-parasitic fungi Hirsutella rhossiliensis and the newly described species Hirsutella minnesotensis play important roles in SCN suppression. Ongoing research is examining the mechanisms underlying natural declines in SCN populations.

A current project led by postdoctoral researcher Fariba Heydari focuses on evaluating new nematicidal and fungicidal seed treatments, such as Victrato, for managing SCN and sudden death syndrome (SDS). Greenhouse studies have shown promising efficacy against both pathogens, and field trials are underway in Minnesota to assess performance under field conditions. This work will provide valuable information for effective SCN management.

Soybean and common bean are the primary hosts of SCN, but the nematode has a broader host range. One important non-leguminous host is pennycress, a winter annual that is being developed as a cover crop in the Midwest through the UMN Forever Green Initiative (forevergreen.umn.edu). Because pennycress may be integrated into soybean production systems, its impact on SCN populations must be understood. Over the past decade, our field studies have shown no detectable effect of pennycress as a winter oilseed cover crop on SCN populations in the subsequent soybean crop (https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.70253). Additional research on SCN survival in pennycress roots indicates that juveniles can survive the winter, whereas developing stages within roots do not.

We have also screened more than 400 pennycress germplasm and breeding lines for SCN resistance. Although no highly resistant lines were identified, SCN reproduction varied among genotypes. Genetic analyses identified QTLs associated with SCN reproduction, suggesting potential for developing pennycress lines with enhanced suppressive effects. However, pennycress and SCN genotype interactions revealed that certain combinations support high SCN reproduction, raising concerns about the potential selection of more virulent SCN populations.

Finally, the Nematology Lab provides diagnostic and research support services to growers and UMN researchers, including analyses of SCN population densities, virulence, and nematodes affecting corn and other crops. Cathy Johnson, a principal laboratory technician, has played a major role in these services, as well as in coordinating our laboratory work. In addition to the members mentioned above, our current team includes Wayne Gottschalk, a field plot technician who carried out most of our field plot work.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Milenka Vera, and I am originally from Ecuador, a highly biodiverse country that inspired my interest in biotechnology and plant health. I pursued a degree in biotechnology engineering and later completed a Master’s in Applied Biosciences with a minor in Biodiscovery. During my university years, I discovered my passion for biological engineering while leading the dry-lab team in the iGEM Design League competition.

Currently, I work as a Research Professional I in Dr. Robert Alvarez’ lab, where I focus on molecular detection of plant pathogens. My research includes the characterization of the genetic diversity, studying the epidemiology of Aster Yellows phytoplasma in garlic, and developing improved diagnostic tools, including qPCR and CRISPR-based detection systems.

I approach research with curiosity and persistence, especially when results are unexpected. I enjoy thinking like an engineer exploring different strategies to answer scientific questions and refine hypotheses. I am resilient and driven, and I see challenges and failures as opportunities to learn and grow.

How did you get involved with plant pathology as a discipline?

I became involved in plant pathology largely due to the context in Ecuador, where agriculture is a major industry and much of the biotechnology field is focused on agricultural applications. It was a natural opportunity for me to enter this area.

In 2023, during my Master’s studies, I had the opportunity to be supervised by Dr. Diego Quito, a plant pathologist specializing in plant viruses at ESPOL University. Under his mentorship, I gained experience in plant viral diseases, including detection, discovery, biological characterization, and the engineering of viruses as tools for biological control.

Tell me about a specific moment in your life that made you decide to pursue a career in Plant Pathology?

A defining moment for me was during my Master’s studies, when I completed an internship in 2024 in Dr. Robert Alvarez’ lab. Before that, I was more interested in biotechnology in general, but that experience showed me how plant pathology can serve as a platform to apply biotechnology in real-world problems. This internship was part of my Master’s training under the supervision of Dr. Diego Quito, and it played a key role in shaping my research interests.

While working on detection and characterization of plant viruses, I became especially interested in how we can engineer biological systems to control plant pathogens. That was the moment I realized that what truly motivates me is not only understanding plant diseases, but developing biotechnological tools to manage them.

What has been the most rewarding moment of your career so far and what lead to that moment?

One of the most rewarding moments in my career has been realizing how much I have grown, both technically and personally, in my current role. Through my work, I have been constantly challenged to go beyond my limits, not only in developing new technical skills but also in improving my communication and collaboration with others.

What made this experience especially meaningful is that I discovered how much I enjoy leading and supporting others. In my current position, I have had the opportunity to mentor colleagues, help guide projects, and motivate others, which has been very rewarding for me.

This experience showed me that I don’t only want to grow as a scientist, but also as a leader who can contribute to the development of the people around me.

What do you enjoy most about the department of plant pathology?

What I enjoy most about the department of plant pathology is the collaborative and interdisciplinary environment. I also appreciate the opportunity to learn from researchers with different expertise, from molecular biology to field-based studies.

Can you describe how being part of this department has helped your mission as a scientist?

Being part of this department has helped me grow significantly, not only professionally but also personally. It has strengthened my technical skills while also helping me develop confidence in leading projects, working as part of a team, and collaborating in research.

Through this experience, I have also realized that I enjoy leadership roles and contributing to a collaborative scientific environment.

Can you tell us about your plans for the future?

In the future, I plan to pursue a PhD in areas such as biological engineering, synthetic biology, or biochemistry, ideally integrating bioprocessing. I am particularly interested in studying living systems at the molecular level and understanding their function in depth.

At this stage, I am still exploring which system I would like to specialize in, whether bacteria, fungi, plants, or mammalian cells, as I want to find the best fit for my interests and skills.

In the long term, I would like to transition into industry and work in a research-focused role, where I can contribute to the development of innovative biotechnological solutions. 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Ronan Keener and I was born and raised in Stafford, Virginia. I first got interested in plants while I was in high school, when I started working at a small native plant nursery. This led me to get my Bachelor’s degree in plant science from the University of Minnesota. Now I am working towards my Master’s degree with Dr. Robert Alvarez-Quinto. My research focuses on the discovery and characterization of viruses infecting fungi, also known as mycoviruses, with an emphasis on cereal rust fungi. My goal is to better understand the diversity of viruses that infect rust fungi and how these viruses may impact pathogenicity, which may lead to novel control mechanisms of these damaging pathogens.

How did you get involved with plant pathology as a discipline?

My first introduction to plant pathology was an ecology of pest management course I took in undergrad, which I really enjoyed. I learned about a lot of different plant pathogens and different ways to control them, particularly biocontrol approaches. This class inspired me to take principles of plant pathology with Dr. Brett Arenz & Becca Hall. Thanks to Becca, I was introduced to Dr. Alvarez-Quinto while he was just setting up his lab and he advised me with a UROP project investigating barley yellow dwarf virus.
 

Tell me about a specific moment in your life that made you decide to pursue a career in Plant Pathology?

When I first started working with Dr. Alvarez-Quinto, he told me about a sample of wheat stem rust that he and Dr. Benham Lockhart had previously purified totivirus virions from a few years ago. Knowing that I was interested in mycoviruses, Dr. Alvarez-Quinto suggested we reinvestigate it. After doing some high throughput sequencing we identified dozens of viruses from multiple genera associated with these spores! I was shocked by the diversity of viruses, especially considering we were only expecting to sequence a single totivirus. I knew that I could spend a career studying all of these different mycoviruses, how they interact with each other, and impact their fungal hosts!
 

What has been the most rewarding moment of your career so far and what lead to that moment?

Last summer I got to spend much of my time up in Itasca State Park conducting a mycovirus survey in wood decay fungi, supported by the Seed-to-Root Graduate Fellowship offered by the University’s Itasca Biological Station. Arguably the most rewarding aspect was having an excuse to get out of the lab and go foraging for fungi! It was also a great opportunity to develop my skills in planning and implementing a research project while tackling all of the hiccups along the way. During this project, I collected dozens of wood decay fungi from different species for high throughput sequencing and discovered lots of novel viral species & genera. I am super excited by the diversity of viruses associated with these wood decay fungi, and for future experiments to figure out how they impact their hosts!

What do you enjoy most about the department of plant pathology?

My fellow graduate students! I feel like we have a very supportive community ready to help each other out, whether that’s sharing a protocol or an uncommon reagent! Outside of academics we also coordinate a lot of fun activities with each other. Each semester we organize a camping trip at a nearby state park. These are a great way for us to relax and have some fun together after a busy semester. Additionally, some of my favorite memories from the department are from our Spookyfest celebrations. I’m always super excited to see everyone’s plant pathogen costume!

Can you describe how being part of this department has helped your mission as a scientist?
One way this department has helped me as a scientist has been through the expertise from numerous faculty members, which have helped throughout my research projects. My committee members have been particularly helpful with asking the right research questions and designing experiments to answer them. These skills will help me throughout my scientific career. Our Department also has numerous outreach activities that have been great opportunities to develop my scientific communication skills. For example, last Fall I helped with a plant disease diagnostic workshop put together by the MN Master Gardeners. I really enjoyed this opportunity to educate gardeners about common plant diseases in the garden and some practical methods to control them.

Can you tell us about your plans for the future?
After defending my Master’s thesis, I plan to continue my education with a PhD in virology, ideally with a focus on viruses in fungi or other microbes. While I’m not sure what my long term path will be, I know I want to continue researching the ecology and evolution of viruses!
 

by Annie Harvieux with Michelle Bjerkness

The U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative’s 2025 National FHB Forum marked the end of an era for Professor Ruth Dill-Macky, and for USWBSI at large. The 2025 National FHB Forum, held December 7-9 in Denver, CO, was the final meeting with Dill-Macky as the Researcher Co-Chair of USWBSI. At the meeting, Dill-Macky was given the Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her eight years as Co-Chair. Her successor in the role is NDSU’s Andrew Friskop.

About the Initiative

Fusarium Head Blight, also known as FHB or “scab,” is one of the most impactful small grain diseases in American agriculture, damaging wheat and barley crops  in over 30 U.S. states and resulting in yield losses, including $30.4 million of loss in wheat alone in 2024 and food safety concerns. Fusarium graminearum, the fungal pathogen that causes FHB, produces mycotoxins that contaminate the harvest grain which can impact the safety of the food and feed grain chain.

The U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative (USWBSI) provides a collaborative infrastructure for research and education in the service of protecting crops from FHB. Funding for research on wheat and barley to mitigate FHB is authorized at $15 million/year through the U.S. Farm Bill. A portion of the annual allocation goes directly to USDA-ARS Base FHB Research, with the remaining portion allocated to the USWBSI for recommendations (funding is distributed by USDA-ARS). In 2025, USWBSI’s budget was allocated at $7.6 million as part of the ARS National Program for Plant Disease. In fiscal year 2025, USWBSI recommendations to USDA-ARS funded 86 principal investigators in 30 states. The initiative recommends funding and coordinates research to reduce duplicative research projects and better share information, resources, and training for tomorrow’s researchers. USWBSI is able to meet and address timely, relevant problems by maintaining direct engagement with grain growers in different regions and stakeholders in the milling, brewing, pasta, and seed industries. See USWBSI’s fact sheet or website to learn more about resources they provide.

Ruth Dill-Macky and USWBSI

Dill-Macky started in her faculty role at UMN Plant Pathology as FHB resurged in Minnesota. She has deep ties to USWBSI, serving in a variety of key roles within the Initiative since its inception. Dill-Macky was advocating for FHB research funding prior to the establishment of the USWBSI. She attended the first regional meeting on FHB held in Fargo in 1994 and organized the first National FHB Forum, held in St. Paul in 1997. She served on the USWBSI Steering and Executive Committees from 2002 to 2025. Dill-Macky started her role as Researcher Co-Chair in 2018, taking over from Dave Van Sanford (University of Kentucky). She was endorsed unanimously by the USWBSI Executive and Steering Committees for this role, putting in eight years of leadership service.

As Researcher Co-Chair Ruth played a vital role in both the governance and continued evolution of the USWBSI and held responsibility for initiating discussions and activities to move the USWBSI forward, adapting to address the changing science, USDA-ARS directives, and stakeholder needs. The Researcher Co-Chair serves as the primary spokesperson for the USWBSI, and the liaison with USDA-ARS and various stakeholder groups impacted by FHB. In this capacity she communicated research results and impacts to USDA-ARS leadership and stakeholders and updated the researchers (PIs) who are funded by the USWBSI. Along with the Grower Co-Chair, the Researcher Co-Chair also leads both the Executive Committee (EC) and the Steering Committee (SC) of the Initiative. The EC serves to review the research priorities and the annual call for pre-proposals, and aids in the development of the process for the evaluation of pre-proposals by review panels. The EC also reviews the pre-proposals and develops the annual research plan and budget for the SC’s consideration, oversees the annual National Fusarium Head Blight Forum and approves workshops to facilitate collaboration among scientists within the USWBSI. The Steering Committee comprises a broad representation of the research and stakeholder communities. The SC provides direction and guidance to the USWBSI and is responsible for the review and approval of the initiatives Policies and Procedures, Research Priorities, and the annual Research Plan and Budget recommendations.

As the Researcher Co-Chair, Dill-Macky told Fusarium Focus that she found joy in the role, helping to bring researchers together, fostering collaborations, and advocating for the work done by so many to combat FHB. Dill-Macky indicated that she is confident the Initiative is in good hands, that the change promises fresh perspectives and renewal with balance provided by continuity of those serving on the Executive and Steering Committees.

Parting Words

It was only fitting that Ruth was honored at the inaugural USWBSI Excellence Awards, due both to her long tenure with the organization and the timing of her departure. The award was presented by Richard Magnusson, USWBSI’s Grower Co-Chair and a Roseau-based small grains farmer:

“[Ruth] has led the Initiative through transformative periods, navigating the COVID-19 pandemic’s disruptions and quickly pivoting to support the community through virtual collaboration, she also provided steady guidance during the leadership transition in the NFO, and most recently has been ensuring the USWBSI remain focused and resilient amid the federal funding challenges.

Her insight, integrity, and steady leadership have been essential in maintaining program cohesion, sustaining momentum in research, and ensuring that the USWBSI remains strong and connected. Thank you Ruth for your extraordinary dedication and for all you have done to strengthen the Initiative and support this community.”
 

The career of Dr. Rubella Goswami (PhD ’05) is a strong testament to the versatility of an educational background in plant pathology. Breaking the conventional binary of “industry versus academia,” Goswami has built an agile career with roles as university faculty, work in the crop protection industry, and several federal‑government leadership positions through the USDA.

Goswami’s love of learning launched her career. After obtaining an undergraduate degree in Agriculture in India, she crossed continents for her education, earning a Master’s degree in Plant Genetic Manipulation at the University of Nottingham (UK) and a PhD in Plant Pathology at the University of Minnesota, where she studied under Corby Kistler and completed a thesis titled “Genomic analysis of host–pathogen interactions between Fusarium graminearum and its graminaceous hosts.” As a doctoral student, she was based at the USDA‑ARS Cereal Disease Laboratory on the St. Paul campus and deeply involved in the Department of Plant Pathology, gaining hands‑on research experience and first‑hand insight into the partnerships among universities, federal agencies, and stakeholders that are at the heart of the land‑grant system.

Following her degrees, Goswami worked in academia as a plant pathology faculty member at North Dakota State University and Delaware State University, building research and outreach programs with growers and students in two very different land‑grant contexts; in the crop protection industry as a Principal Investigator in fungicide discovery at DuPont Crop Protection; and then in federal service, holding leadership roles at both USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). At APHIS, she served as Branch Chief for the Plant Pests and Protectants Branch in Biotechnology Regulatory Services and as Assistant Director for National Identification Services in Plant Protection and Quarantine, leading teams that oversaw biotechnology permits and national pest identification efforts at U.S. borders. At NIFA, she first served as a National Program Leader and later as Division Director for Plant Protection in the Institute of Food Production and Sustainability, guiding national grant portfolios in plant health, pest management, and agricultural biosecurity before moving into her current senior executive role.

Goswami currently serves as Deputy Director at USDA‑NIFA, where she leads the Institute for Youth, Family, and Community (IYFC). “In this capacity,” she explains, “I oversee national research, education, extension, and cross‑cutting programs that advance youth, family, and community outcomes and strengthen food and agricultural sciences through support for teaching, learning, research, extension, facilities, and capacity across all land‑grant universities and other partner institutions, including 1890 Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic‑serving institutions, and Alaska Native‑ and Native Hawaiian‑serving institutions.” Her prior leadership of NIFA’s plant protection portfolio in the Institute of Food Production and Sustainability (IFPS) gives her a broad view of how basic and applied research, Extension, and education serve both the biological and human dimensions of agriculture.

Leading an institute that is responsible for a large national portfolio of grants across more than 66 competitive programs, along with contributing to oversight of capacity funding  is a serious responsibility, especially when the population served encompasses so many ages, communities, and parts of the food and agriculture system. Working closely with leaders in a diverse range of universities and Extension programs, Goswami draws on her experiences in faculty roles, industry research, and federal regulatory and funding agencies to create strategic priorities and programming with recipients’ needs and goals in mind, while keeping sight of the larger public‑good mission that first drew her to the land‑grant system.

At its most effective, an education in plant pathology teaches the student to use applied, interdisciplinary problem-solving to address plant health problems in ways that foster sustainable food systems and healthy environments. While it’s common to practice plant pathology by choosing a long-spanning career in academia or industry, professionals like Goswami who break the academia-industry binary by embracing career experiences across many sectors bring a new level of “interdisciplinary thinking” to today’s issues, bringing different knowledge sets, work styles, and professional contacts to any given challenge or opportunity.

Aurora Sporealis has interviewed Goswami for some insights on a meaningful, balanced career:

What in your career path led you to be prepared to do your current job well?

The most important preparation for my current role has been the breadth of my experience across academia, industry, and federal service, which has given me a wide perspective and the ability to see issues from many points of view. That began with my PhD work at the University of Minnesota and the USDA‑ARS Cereal Disease Lab on the St. Paul campus, where close mentoring in both settings and deep involvement in the Department of Plant Pathology gave me exceptional exposure, hands‑on research experience, and first‑hand insight into the partnerships among universities, federal agencies, and stakeholders that are at the heart of the land‑grant system. Since then, I have worked across the land‑grant pillars of research, Extension, and education as a faculty member, in the crop protection industry, and in federal regulatory and funding roles, which has helped me connect with people at different levels across the agricultural sector, understand diverse needs, and bring groups together around shared goals. In my current leadership role at USDA‑NIFA, that broad, cross‑sector experience gives me a national perspective and helps me look at the bigger picture, think strategically, and navigate complex problems in ways that support integrated, public‑focused work across the land‑grant system.

What does success look like to you in a job serving a wide variety of populations and needs?

In a role that serves such a wide range of people, success for me means that our research, outreach, and education efforts are clearly making a difference across the food and agriculture system, not just on paper, but in the lives of farmers, communities, and students, whether the impact is large or begins with a small but meaningful change. That includes seeing better tools and strategies to manage pests and diseases, stronger production systems, and educational and career pathways that prepare the next generation to address agriculture’s challenges. It also means pursuing my commitment to public service, and what matters most to me is when people tell me that our work has helped them do theirs better—when science turns into solutions that keep agriculture productive and support healthier, more vibrant communities.

What drives you or motivates you to do your work well?

I am motivated by a belief that agriculture is ultimately about people’s lives and futures, and by the chance to use my experience to support the broader public good. Over the years I have seen how agricultural productivity, access to knowledge, and the availability of practical tools can change outcomes for farmers, students, and communities whether by making new technologies reachable, increasing awareness of options, or helping people navigate risk and opportunity. Having the opportunity to support innovation and help carry ideas from concept to end user, and to see them improve lives in ways that are sometimes large and sometimes very small but meaningful, is deeply motivating to me. I am also driven by a desire to support others’ success, helping students, faculty colleagues, and partners across the agricultural system do their best work and continually move toward greater impact and improvement.

What does making positive change feel like to you, and how do you know when you see it?

Positive change rarely happens all at once; it often feels like steady momentum in the right direction. I notice it when conversations shift from “we can’t” to “how might we,” when partners begin to approach problems together rather than in isolation, and when people at different levels—students, faculty, growers, and agency staff—start to see themselves as part of a shared effort. In practical terms, it can mean creating something new that opens opportunities, finding a way to get a hard problem unstuck, or improving a program or system so it serves people better; what I find most satisfying is seeing that we have helped move things a step forward for agriculture and the communities we serve. 

The views and opinions provided herein are Goswami’s and do not necessarily represent the views of USDA or of the United States.

Thank you to all members of the department community who showed up for Awards Day 2026! The event began with a lunch from Roseville’s Mi-Sant Vietnamese Kitchen and Bakery, followed by our traditional Department Photo and Awards Ceremony. This year marked the first-ever Yue Jin Scholarship, which was given to PhD student Hsuan-Fu Wang by Yue Jin and his wife.

To everyone who makes our department a wonderful place to learn and work: We appreciate you, and all you do! 

2026 Award Winners List

• Outstanding Undergraduate student awards: Ava Anderson, Asher Albera

• Outstanding P&A staff award: Ben Held

• Staff Professional Development award: Milenka Vera

• Student travel awards: Kay Lerohl, Jasper Tao, Hsuan-Fu Wang, Nick Talmo

• Frosheiser Scholarship: Ryan Franke

• Yue Jin Scholarship: Hsuan-Fu Wang

• Dueck Scholarship: Hunter Kluegel

• Kernkamp Fellowship: Colin Peters

• Outstanding Mentor Award: Ashish Ranjan

by Pablo Olivera

On March 24–25, the USDA-ARS Cereal Disease Laboratory hosted the 2026 North American Cereal Rust Workers Workshop at its facilities on the St. Paul campus. This long-standing annual workshop brings together cereal rust researchers from across the United States and Canada to share survey results and discuss ongoing research. The meeting location rotates each year among St. Paul, Minnesota; Fargo, North Dakota; and Morden, Manitoba, Canada. Due to travel limitations this year, Canadian researchers and some U.S. participants joined virtually via Zoom. Nevertheless, the workshop welcomed in-person attendees from North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, Maryland, Florida, and Georgia. In total, approximately 80 participants attended, both in person and online. The program featured 23 research presentations organized into three sessions:

1. surveys of rust pathogens,

2. host resistance, and

3. pathogen biology and plant–microbe interactions.

    

The event also provided an opportunity to celebrate the retirement of USDA-ARS scientists Yue Jin of the Cereal Disease Laboratory in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Douglas Luster of the Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit in Fort Detrick, Maryland. The celebration included a seminar by each scientist, followed by a reception. Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers from the Department of Plant Pathology, including Molly Veregge, Jyoti Sharma, Tom Ingram, Becky Spanner, and Eric Nazareno actively participated in the workshop, contributing four oral presentations. The North American Rust Workshop is more than just a scientific meeting; it is a friendly gathering where researchers at all stages of their careers come together to exchange insights, start new collaborations, and strengthen ongoing partnerships. Just as importantly, the workshop offers graduate students a chance to step into the spotlight, share their research, and connect with the broader cereal rust community. 

Plant diseases in the gardens at Pillsbury United Communities? Not on Kane Farmer’s watch.

Farmer, who graduated CFANS with a Bachelor’s in plant sciences in 2024, brings what he learned in his plant pathology coursework to his job every day in his role as Food Systems Coordinator and Hydroponic Farmer at Pillsbury United:

“Our farms historically have had major issues with pests, and disease in the farms, so I started with the first step of sanitizing the tools. From there own I chose resistant varieties, and changing cropping layouts to avoid disease.”

Farmer is passionate about where plant science and food security connect. “My biggest thing, what’s really important to me, is that whatever work I do has a form of social impact,” he shares.

In his current role at Pillsbury United, Farmer connects with community through science in two ways. He manages two garden properties in North Minneapolis that provide free and fresh food directly to Minneapolis neighborhoods, keeping food stocked from his own harvests as well as donations from orgs like Second Harvest Heartland and Midwest Farmers of Color. At the same time, he coordinates and instructs a teen internship program that teaches gardening and farming alongside related skills in a social, friendly group setting.

“We try to source interns from North Minneapolis, because it’s a very underserved community and also is a food desert. In North Minneapolis right now there is actually only one grocery store, and that’s for a very large geographic area,” Farmer explains. “A lot of what we do is address the fact that we live in a food desert, and since it’s a highly underserved community, creating a safe third space for the interns and catering to what they like to do. I would like to mention that most of the interns, all of the current interns, are children of color. It is also many of their first times getting exposure to agriculture and plant science!”

Farmer’s internship teaching style is adaptable and experiential, and he focuses on creating hands-on learning that ties to interns’ interests. In addition to growing fresh food, interns also practice culinary arts skills, learn about food systems, and enjoy fun pop-culture tie-ins like using the farming video game Stardew Valley as a learning tool.

Farmer nurtures his students’ curiosity around plant diseases and plant health whenever he can, encouraging them to observe patterns in the plants they see and ask questions about where they can see differences. In an instance in which interns found mold on a plant’s leaves, for example, Farmer took the group into a discussion of what factors can lead to a plant growing mold. Farmer attaches scientific concepts to curiosity as a learning tool: “One time the water in the farm was cut by accident, and so all of the plants drooped. And so in that situation, we were able to have a conversation about how the plants clearly look like they’re dying, but are they dead? So I talked about looking through the roots and how we can identify if the plant is worth saving based on the root structure.”

Just a few years out of his own undergraduate degree, Farmer has much of his career left ahead of him to try new things. His love of learning and sharing facts about mycology and ecosystems are strengthened by his interests in understanding social ecology and helping to build a bigger community of people of color in natural sciences. As next steps in his own career, he would like to re-immerse in research work and pursue a graduate degree in plant pathology. 

by Kathy Kromroy (MS ‘82, PhD ‘99)

With deep sadness I share that Katharine Douglas “Kathy” Widin, an alumna of our Plant Pathology Department, passed October 15, 2025. Kathy grew up in southern Illinois and graduated from Kenyon College in Ohio. Beginning in the mid-1970s Kathy attended the University of Minnesota Graduate School in the Department of Plant Pathology.

Working with advisor Arthur L. Schipper, Jr., Principal Plant Pathologist of the USFS North Central Forest Experiment Station in St Paul, Kathy received her M.S. in 1977. Her thesis title was “Epidemiology and impact of Melampsora medusae leaf rust on hybrid poplars in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.”  Following completion of her M.S. Kathy worked with Bill W. Kennedy and was awarded the Ph.D. degree in 1980. Her thesis was “Ecology and host effects of soil fungi associated with Rhizobium nodules of soybeans.”

Kathy and her husband Greg moved to Boston shortly after her graduation. Greg had a fellowship at MIT and Kathy taught college courses in plant biology, microbiology and insects and diseases of plants. They returned to Minnesota after a few years and settled in Stillwater, and Greg began working at 3M. In 1983 Kathy started Plant Health Associates, a forestry consulting business.

For almost 40 years Kathy served as Forester, Arborist, and private consultant for numerous cities and homeowners in eastern and southern areas of the Twin Cities, including Oak Park Heights, Lake Elmo, Stillwater, Inver Grove Heights, and Mahtomedi.

For 32 years, Kathy authored the Plant Health column in the MN State Horticultural Society monthly publication, the Northern Gardener Magazine. Throughout her career Kathy participated in numerous non-profit organizations focused on urban tree health and conservation of native plants, including the Twin Cities Tree Trust and Wild Ones, St. Croix Oak Savanna Chapter, of which she was President for many years.

I met Kathy in 1978 while we were both graduate students in the Plant Pathology Department. We remained friends until her passing, sharing many interests and experiences over the years. In addition to plant pathology, we frequently discussed issues faced by women working in a field historically occupied by men, joys and challenges of parenting, ways to balance work and home responsibilities, and caring for elderly parents. Throughout our friendship we shared our hobbies of needle craft and enjoyed regular gatherings with other plant health crafters. Kathy’s knitting and quilting skills were remarkable, she was an avid gardener, and she sang in the choir at Ascension Church in Stillwater, MN.

I always admired Kathy for her independence, her self-discipline, her calm manner, and her strong work ethic. She had a great deal of useful knowledge which she successfully communicated, and she was highly respected by her peers.

Kathy is survived by her husband Greg, daughter Joan (John), son Peter (Sarah) and two grandsons.