“The opportunity for leadership training and exposure to such a dynamic sector of the US economy is what really peaked my interest.”
Ryan Schlobohm is the Student Delegate from Oklahoma State University, the other OSU, where he’s a PhD candidate in Plant Breeding and Genetics. With a career goal of working in the plant breeding sector, Ryan hopes CABLE can aide in his leadership development and expand his view of the greater bioeconomy.
Q: What university are you attending and what are you studying?
Ryan: I attended Oklahoma Panhandle State University where I received a B.S. in Biology with double minors in Chemistry and Agronomy, then went to Oklahoma State for a M.S. in Soil Fertility, and am still at Oklahoma State working on my Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Genetics. My research is focused on improving the forage yield, cold tolerance, and seed yield of forage bermudagrass.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
You can just about always find me fishing or playing basketball, those are by far my too favorite hobbies.
What attracted you to CABLE and what do you hope to gain from your experience?
The opportunity for leadership training and exposure to such a dynamic sector of the US economy is what really peaked my interest. The ability to enhance my network and participate in the leadership activities offered by CABLE is a part of the program I’m really enjoying.
What are your career aspirations?
I would ultimately like to work in the plant breeding sector of industry and advance into a corporate administrative position towards the later part of my career. I’ve worked extensively with major agricultural crops and would like to continue that trend and branch into the advancement of their dual purpose uses as a feedstock for bioproducts and biofuels, seeking to enhance nutrient use efficiencies, yield, drought tolerance, and end product usefulness.
How do you think CABLE can help you in achieving your professional goals?
Participating in CABLE has given me a tremendous wealth of exposure to a sector of the economy that I originally had very little experience with. Learning and growing my understanding of the bioeconomy, in addition to sharpening my leadership habits will be an incredible benefit to me as I move forward with my degree and career search in the near future. I feel incredibly blessed by the opportunity to participate in such a great program and am so excited for the continued growth it offers me academically and professionally.