Student

Auja Bywater

Graduate Student

Email akb6471@psu.edu
Phone 814-865-5444

Centers & Institutes

Soilless farming system design can determine microbial growth, impact on crops

August 04, 2026

Soilless farming system design can determine microbial growth, impact on crops

Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences recently welcomed a delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to the University Park campus. One of the tours included the PlantVillage Lab, where researchers are using artificial intelligence to help smallholder farmers across Africa, Asia and the Americas adapt to climate change. It is led by David Hughes, Huck Chair in Global Food Security and professor of entomology and biology at Penn State. From left are Celeste Macilwaine, Ed Bogart, David Hughes, Derek Morr, Rimnoma Serge Ouedraogo, Bipana Paudel Timilsen and Huanhuan Wang. Credit: Contributed photo. All Rights Reserved.

May 30, 2025

Penn State’s Youth Food Lab attends UN Science, Technology, Innovation forum

Bywater’s research centers on food safety within controlled environment agriculture systems, particularly in soilless farming methods such as hydroponics. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

February 27, 2025

Penn State Ag student Auja Bywater wins global research award

2024 My Green Lab Consultants Zaman Ataie and Ananya Gollakota check the expiration date on a chemical bottle. Credit: Lydia Vandenbergh. All Rights Reserved.

February 10, 2025

Sustainable Labs Program increases participant engagement, welcomes new labs

Five new research collaborations between Penn State and minority-serving institutions selected to receive seed funding via the Inter-Institutional Partnerships for Diversifying Research program

January 10, 2025

College of Ag Sciences graduate students receive research grant awards

Levon Esters, dean of the Fox Graduate School at Penn State, with the 2024 Three Minute Thesis finalists. Credit: Jillian Wesner / The Fox Graduate School at Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

October 09, 2024

Three Minute Thesis competition provides lasting impact for graduate students

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