Plant Institute News | Plant Institute | The Huck Institutes (en-US)

Credit: Dani Zemba / Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

Jul 01, 2025

Lab Bench to Commercialization program broadens its scope

Eberly College of Science seed grant program to shift emphasis to earlier development of research, focusing on societal impact and career readiness.

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The study's findings could be used to help inform precision agriculture approaches to help conservation efforts, the researchers said. Credit: Freestocks/Unsplash. All Rights Reserved.

Jun 25, 2025

Warmer spots within fields have more blooms and more bees

Climate can vary across large areas of land, but it also can vary within much smaller areas such as farms. A new study by researchers at Penn State examined whether these microclimates — the climate of a very small or restricted area — affect pollination by both wild and managed bees and resulting wild blueberry yields.

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From left are: Jill Hamilton, Wenrui Hao and Gustavo Nader Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Jun 30, 2025

Huck announces 2025-26 Leadership Fellows

Three faculty members, representing three different Penn State colleges, have been named Huck Leadership Fellows for the 2025-26 academic year.

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More than 30 researchers from seven Penn State colleges received seed funding from the Institute of Energy and the Environment to advance innovative, early-stage work addressing critical energy and environmental challenges. Credit: Brenna Buck. All Rights Reserved.

Jun 24, 2025

Ten interdisciplinary research teams awarded IEE seed grants

Ten interdisciplinary research teams have received funding through the Institute of Energy and the Environment’s (IEE) 2025 Seed Grant Program.

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Teh-hui Kao, distinguished professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and chair of the plant biology intercollege graduate degree program, speaks with prospective students at a recruiting event on Jan. 19, 2024. Credit: Keith Hickey / Penn State. Creative Commons

Jun 24, 2025

Kao steps down as plant biology graduate program chair

Teh-hui Kao, distinguished professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, has stepped down as chair of the Intercollege Graduate Degree Program (IGDP) in Plant Biology after 26 years in the role.

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Study first author Kelly Kosiarski, graduate student in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, packs boxes with water testing kits to send to study participants. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Jun 16, 2025

‘Forever chemicals’ detected in 65% of sampled private wells in Pennsylvania

Researchers find 18% of sampled wells have PFAS levels beyond drinking water standards; compounds detected most often, and in the highest concentrations, in wells in the southeastern part of the state.

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Study co-first author Alayna Mead, postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, stands among Torrey pine trees in southern California. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Jun 03, 2025

Isolated Torrey pine populations yield insights into genetic diversity

Researchers find a few genes that allowed trees from insular populations to adapt to local conditions may inhibit their adjustment long term to a new location.

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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.

Jun 03, 2025

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

Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences was represented on the global stage as faculty and students participated in the United Nations’ 10th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals, held at U.N. headquarters in New York City earlier this month.

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Credit: Dan Lesher. All Rights Reserved.

May 29, 2025

Biology professor, Huck associate operations director to retire

After a decade of service to the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences and a distinguished academic career spanning four decades, James Marden, professor of biology and associate director of operations, will retire from Penn State at the end of June.

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The "Technologies for Agriculture and Living Systems Symposium" is scheduled for June 12-13 at Penn State University Park. Shown are last year’s attendees. Credit: Contributed photo. All Rights Reserved.

May 23, 2025

Penn State agricultural technology event aimed at ‘closing the innovation gap’

Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences will convene leaders from academia, industry, government and stakeholder networks for a symposium focused on accelerating agricultural innovation through cross-sector collaboration.

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