Recent plant sciences alumnus Charlie Colvin named 2026 Hertz Fellow

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For the first time in more than three decades, a Penn Stater has earned one of science’s most competitive graduate fellowships. Charlie Colvin, who graduated from Penn State with bachelor of science in plant sciences this past weekend, has been named a 2026 Hertz Fellow.

The Hertz Foundation awards fellowships to students in the fields of applied science, engineering and mathematics. Fellows receive a cost-of-education allowance and a personal stipend. Colvin, who will continue his education as a doctoral student at Duke University, is just one of 19 students across the United States who earned the highly competitive award this year.

As a plant sciences major in the College of Agricultural Sciences, Colvin was involved in undergraduate research in the Chopra Maize Genetics Lab during all four years at Penn State. His work has focused on how plants defend themselves against pests and what role microbes play in those interactions. One of his main projects examines how natural compounds in corn called flavonoids reduce insect pest survival, not just by being toxic to the insects directly, he said, but by disrupting the microbial communities in their guts.

“This work is helping to develop crop varieties that resist pests naturally, reducing farmers' reliance on synthetic pesticides,” he said.

Surinder Chopra, professor of maize genetics, Department of Plant Science, College of Agricultural Sciences, praised Colvin’s creativity, independence and leadership in the lab.

“Charles Colvin is among the most exceptional undergraduate researchers I have mentored in more than three decades of my academic career,” Chopra said. “His creativity, independence and leadership in the laboratory rival those of advanced researchers, and his work has already produced publications and technologies with real impact in life sciences and agricultural sciences.”

Undergraduate research fundamentally shaped his career trajectory, Colvin said, and taught him that asking better questions matters more than having all the answers.

“Research also revealed that I'm most energized when working at the intersection of fundamental discovery and practical application: understanding mechanisms at the molecular level while keeping sight of how that knowledge could reduce pesticide use, improve food security or help farmers adapt to climate change,” he said.

Making science accessible to farmers and other non-scientists has honed his skills in scientific communication, which he said has complemented his technical skills.

“Presenting findings to farmers and agricultural stakeholders at Ag Progress Days, speaking with Pennsylvania legislators at the state Capitol and explaining complex biology to non-specialist audiences through podcasts and documentaries, these experiences showed me that generating knowledge is only half the work,” Colvin said. “Making that knowledge accessible and actionable for the communities who need it is equally essential.”

During his time at Penn State, he has mentored undergraduates in the lab, served as a panelist for the Spark Program and presented to high schoolers, garden clubs, policymakers and extension agents, including talks across three continents. He also cultivates an organic garden and has donated over 400 pounds of produce to local food banks, an activity he said keeps him grounded in the practical realities of growing food.

Outside of Penn State, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Colvin worked on computational approaches to analyzing how plant expression changes across different environments, and how those changes can lead to the same plants performing differently depending on where they are grown. At the University of Florida, he worked on machine learning applications using drone imagery to predict corn yield and nitrogen status, connecting molecular discoveries to field-scale decision-making tools.

“Across these projects, what drives me is the recognition that by 2050, we need to feed 2 billion additional people while climate change threatens agricultural productivity,” Colvin said. “Solutions for these challenges will come from understanding how plants, microbes and environmental stresses interact at the molecular level, then translating those discoveries into accessible technologies for farmers worldwide.”

He said earning a Hertz Fellowship represents a validation of the career path he chose, which he picked knowing it might not be the most prestigious route.

“I hope students in agricultural sciences now see that their work, on crops, soil microbes or sustainable farming systems can compete at the absolute highest levels of scientific excellence,” Colvin said. “The challenges we’re tackling in food security and climate adaptation are as intellectually demanding and globally urgent as anything in quantum computing or aerospace engineering.”

He added that he was grateful for the flexibility the Hertz Fellowship provides.

“Hertz trusts recipients to pursue the most important questions, wherever they lead,” Colvin said. “For someone working on problems that span molecular biology, microbial ecology, computational genomics and translational applications, that freedom is incredibly important. It means I can take intellectual risks, explore unexpected directions, and focus on impact rather than fitting into predefined categories.”

The last Penn Staters named as Hertz Fellows were Scott Sheffer in 1993, who went on to earn a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Princeton University, and Stephanie Gajar in 1988, who earned a doctorate in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Those interested in competing for a Hertz Fellowship should contact Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Mentoring (URFM) to learn more about the fellowship, confirm their eligibility and get started on the application process.