Plant science graduate student receives prestigious research fellowship

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Kashish Verma, a student in the agricultural and environmental plant science doctoral program in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, has been named a Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) Fellow for 2026-29.

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research created the FFAR Fellows Program to provide professional development and career guidance to the next generation of food and agriculture scientists across FFAR’s challenge areas and strategic initiatives. Each cohort comprises about 30 graduate students attending universities across the United States and Canada.

Verma comes to Penn State after earning her master’s degree in entomology at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She will continue her research, which focuses primarily on host plant resistance in sorghum, in the Department of Plant Science under the guidance of Joe Louis, incoming professor and head of plant science. She earned her bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Punjab Agricultural University in India.

“Being named a FFAR Fellow is a great honor, and I am really grateful to be a part of 2026-2029 cohort, which is the ninth cohort,” she said. "My motivation to apply for this program was particularly piqued by the well-rounded growth opportunities it offers. FFAR’s structured focus on improving interpersonal and scientific communication will help me to be intentional as I progress in my Ph.D. and be a better team player.”

The FFAR Fellows Program aims to break down disciplinary silos and increase the focus on professional development and essential skills, resulting in more well-rounded graduates. By providing early career support to graduate students, the program cultivates supportive relationships between graduate students and industry peers to equip students with the skills needed to facilitate their transition to the workforce and prepare future leaders for food and agriculture. Fellows are co-mentored over the three-year program by university and industry representatives and engage with their peers in professional development programming both virtually and at the annual one-week residential sessions.

As a fellow of the foundation, Verma will participate in five in-person residential sessions. The first two of these are held in Raleigh, North Carolina, and she attended one during the first week of August. She also will participate in the monthly webinar conferences, create a three-minute lightning talk in year one or two of the program, submit an annual professional development plan and updates, and stay in contact with two mentors.

Verma said she values the fellowship’s focus on leadership and science policy, which fills a critical gap in traditional graduate training.

“Understanding how policies shape our ability to conduct research is essential for maximizing scientific impact,” she said. “I believe the FFAR Fellows program will provide me with the key power skills needed to confidently transition from a Ph.D. to a meaningful career.”

In the long term, Verma said she aspires to enhance agricultural practices by applying her research findings in practical ways. Sorghum is one of the world’s most climate-resilient cereal crops and holds tremendous potential to meet the growing global demand for food, feed and fuel, she noted. However, its production is increasingly threatened by insect pests. Her research seeks to uncover how sorghum defends itself against insect attack and how these insects feed, adapt and overcome those defenses.

“Whether in academia, research institutions, non-profit or industry, my professional goals are to work alongside interdisciplinary teams to create sustainable pest management solutions, effectively communicate science to stakeholders and the public, and advocate for methods that benefit both agriculture and the environment,” Verma said.

She added that she is excited to be at Penn State and is especially looking forward to learning from her new colleagues in the Department of Plant Science and in the Department of Entomology, as well as to the collaborations and opportunities that being part of this community will offer.

Verma will thrive at Penn State and be an asset to the university, according to Louis, who will continue to advise her.

“Kashish is top-notch and amongst the best of her peers in terms of intellect, initiative and ability,” he said. “She embodies the qualities of a visionary, interdisciplinary scientist dedicated to advancing resilient and sustainable food systems. Kashish is exceptionally well positioned to leverage the FFAR Fellows Program as a catalyst for both personal growth and broader impact in agricultural sciences.”