No ag background? No problem. CFAES grad blossoms into a future PhD
No ag background? No problem. CFAES grad blossoms into a future PhD
CFAES grad blossoms into a future PhD at
“I started here as a wide-eyed 18-year-old who dreamed of being able to call herself a scientist one day, and now I can proudly say I’m well on my way to that”Haley Kruest
She also completed a summer internship in the ornamental pathology lab led by Francesca Hand, an associate professor in the CFAES Department of Plant Pathology, where she gained additional research experience and technical skills.
That experience, along with her work at Ohio State, prepared her for her next step: graduate school. Kruest recently accepted a position in the controlled environmental pathology lab at the University of Georgia, where she plans to pursue a PhD.
In addition to her research, Kruest was actively involved in student organizations — eight in her first semester alone.
“From learning how to throw grown men on the Oval in Krav Maga Club to tearing out invasive plants with the Ohio Natural Areas & Preserves Association as a member of Botany Club, my wide range of experiences has greatly shaped the person I am today,” she said.
She served as president of Pi Alpha Xi, the horticultural student honors society, during her sophomore and junior years and currently serves as vice president.
“My fellow officers are what made this possible,” she said. “Events like the poinsettia sale would not be possible without a group of supportive individuals.”
Kruest also credited the faculty and staff in CFAES for their dedication and support.
“I started here as a wide-eyed 18-year-old who dreamed of being able to call herself a scientist one day, and now I can proudly say I’m well on my way to that,” she said. “I’ll soon be a published coauthor on my own scientific research, and it would not have been possible without the incredible knowledge and guidance of my peers and mentors in the Ohio State family.”
“CFAES has been more than I could ever ask for from a college program,” Kruest said. “Community, intelligence, rigor, and kindness are all so prominent here, and I know that wherever life takes me next, there will most likely be a fellow Buckeye not far away.”
