Dr. Mingxin Guo is a second year Faculty Mentor from Delaware State University. His expertise is in soil and environmental chemistry, with focuses on soil health management, agricultural byprodcuts reuse, and contaminant fate and transport in soil-water-plant systems. An avid gardener, Dr. Guo talks about his garden, the bioeconomy, and why he got involved with CABLE.

Q: What university are you the Faculty Mentor for and what is your area of expertise?
Dr. Guo: I am the Faculty Mentor at Delaware State University. My expertise is of soil and environmental chemistry, with particular focuses on soil health management, agricultural byproducts reuse, and contaminant fate and transport in soil-water-plant systems. An example research topic is farm-based production and utilization of biochar from biomass residues, aiming to valorize crop residues and animal manures through thermochemical transformation to biochar as a persistent soil conditioner and syngas as a gaseous biofuel.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
My main hobby is gardening, growing ethnic vegetables in the backyard for supplementing the family grocery need. I have a small garden in the backyard. I have been spending much of my spare time amending the soil and taking care of the plants. It is really a lot of fun to watch plants growing bigger and yielding tasty fruits.

What attracted you to becoming a mentor for the CABLE program and what do you hope to gain from your experience?
Back to 2010 I participated in a 5-yr, USDA-sponsored bioenergy and bioproducts education project. Through that project I gained the fundamental science of bioenergy and was exposed to the thrilling emergence of bioeconomy. We decided to divert certain research efforts to waste-to-energy technologies including anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis, gasification, and transesterification. The CABLE program provides us an opportunity to deepen and broaden our knowledge of bioenergy and bioeconomy. I am expecting to gain from the CABLE experience a holistic view of the U.S. bioeconomy, a better understanding of bioenergy technologies, a noticeable growth of personal leadership skills, an expanded network with peer scientists, and stimulation to my bioenergy research.

How do you think being a mentor for CABLE Student Delegates will impact their leadership development?
Not only Student Delegates but also Faculty Mentors benefit a lot from the CABLE program in leadership development. The CABLE program enables students to know the importance of leadership in their career growth, educates them what leadership skills are and how to build these skills, and cultivates them with leadership growth through a series of training events. I notice significant improvements of the trained students in communication, public speaking, and interaction with others.

If you could pass on any wisdom to CABLE Student Delegates, what would you share?
Value the opportunity and be dedicated to the training program. Go straight for what you need and show the efforts. The benefits will remain for life and will greatly help with your career growth.

What is the most important leadership lesson you’ve learned and how is it valuable?
The barrier to being a leader is yourself. Overcoming yourself is the key. Examine yourself and know the leadership skills that need to be improved on you. Select one or two of these on the priority and intentionally practice to grow them in your daily life with constant self-reminding. Daily progress may be negligible but yearly growth will be substantial.

NSF funded – Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.jsp

SYNOPSIS
The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program. This solicitation features two mechanisms for support of student research: (1) REU Sites are based on independent proposals to initiate and conduct projects that engage a number of students in research. REU Sites may be based in a single discipline or academic department or may offer interdisciplinary or multi-department research opportunities with a coherent intellectual theme. Proposals with an international dimension are welcome. (2) REU Supplements may be included as a component of proposals for new or renewal NSF grants or cooperative agreements or may be requested for ongoing NSF-funded research projects.

Undergraduate student participants in either REU Sites or REU Supplements must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents of the United States.

Students do not apply to NSF to participate in REU activities. Students apply directly to REU Sites or to NSF-funded investigators who receive REU Supplements. To identify appropriate REU Sites, students should consult the directory of active REU Sites on the Web at http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
This program provides educational opportunities for  Undergraduate Students. This program provides indirect funding for undergraduate students to participate in research. To inquire about possible funding opportunities, please contact the organizations that have received awards. (Do not contact NSF.) A directory of active REU Sites, along with contact information, can be found on the Web at http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm.

“The professional and personal mentorship opportunities in CABLE were enticing to me as well as the sustainability focus.”

Shivani Patel is the Student Delegate from The Ohio State University, studying Biological Engineering with a minor in Leadership Studies. Passionate about leading a sustainable life, Shivani talks to us about what she enjoys doing in her free time and what she hopes to accomplish after CABLE.

Q: What university are you attending and what are you studying?
Shivani: I am a fourth-year student at The Ohio State University majoring in Biological Engineering with a minor in Leadership Studies.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I enjoy reading (especially about new developments in sustainability and the biobased industries!), watching TED Talks, and learning new things. I am extremely passionate about leading a more sustainable lifestyle and can be found sharing articles I find with my friends or writing a few blog posts on OBIC’s website.

What attracted you to CABLE and what do you hope to gain from your experience?
The professional and personal mentorship opportunities in CABLE were enticing to me as well as the sustainability focus. I hope to grow both professionally and personally and broaden my depth of knowledge in the biobased field. After attending ABLC Global in November, I feel significantly more confident networking online and in-person at conferences or career fairs.

What are your career aspirations?
I hope to work as a Product Design Engineer in the biotechnology sector focusing on nutraceuticals or sustainable fabrics. Companies such as Bolt Threads, Sprout World, Genomatica, Amyris and more are fascinating to me and I would love to join an innovative field.

How do you think CABLE can help you in achieving your professional goals?
CABLE is the perfect program for my future; I am learning both career and leadership skills as well as understanding more about the biobased industries that I would love to join one day. With a vast professional network between the Executive Management Team, Advisory Board, Faculty Mentors, and both the past and present Student Delegates, I feel confident I will be successful in the future and know who I can ask questions as they arise.

“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.

Q: What university are you the Faculty Mentor for and what is your area of expertise?
Dr. Reardon: I’m the faculty mentor at Colorado State University. My research is primarily in the biological conversion of biomass (lignocellulosic and algal) to various fuels and chemicals.  We have a special emphasis on algal biotechnology, from fundamental systems biology and microbiome studies to more applied investigations of productivity. A related research theme is the development of biosensors for continuous monitoring of organic chemical such as glucose, ethanol, and other substrates and products. That research was spun out into a company, OptiEnz Sensors.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
My main hobby is road bicycle racing. There are a lot of fast bike riders in Colorado so I’m motivated to keep up with my training – and that provides a nice break from intellectual pursuits. I also enjoy traveling, cooking, great food and wine, and my vegetable garden. (Wine is part of the bioeconomy, isn’t it?)

What attracted you to becoming a mentor for the CABLE program and what do you hope to gain from your experience?
Prior to my involvement with CABLE, I had been a mentor to many students on bioeconomy topics, especially through my leadership of an NSF PhD training program on bioenergy. I enjoy working with students and showing them how such a wide array of disciplines is critical for the success of the bioeconomy. The main things I hope to gain from being part of the CABLE program are to meet students and faculty members from other universities and to learn how they are engaging in the development of the bioeconomy.

How do you think being a mentor for CABLE Student Delegates will impact their leadership development?
I’ve been involved in education for many years and have had several leadership positions in that time, several related to the bioeconomy. I’ve also mentored many students and junior faculty members and have collaborated with dozens of industry partners. I think these experiences allow me to help students become better leaders themselves. Having experience isn’t the same as knowing all the answers but it has taught me ways to view situations and challenges that are generally useful.

If you could pass on any wisdom to CABLE Student Delegates, what would you share?
If you’re passionate about doing something, don’t let anyone stop you – and that includes yourself. The right balance of confidence, humility, and passion can lead you to many exciting places.

What is the most important leadership lesson you’ve learned and how is it valuable?
First, know yourself – both your strengths and your weaknesses. Then use that knowledge to pursue your passion.

“CABLE has given me an opportunity to be a part of a nationwide consortium. Being part of such a diverse and professional platform I would be able to interact with the top industry leaders and partners from across the country.”

Ujala Sehar is a Ph.D. student at New Mexico State University in the Department of Plant & Environmental Sciences. Learn about Ujala’s favorite leisure time activity, her research work, and what she hopes to gain from her participation in CABLE.

Q: What university are you attending and what are you studying?
Ujala: I am a Ph.D. student at New Mexico State University (NMSU) Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences. My research project is “Cellulose degradation by the unicellular extremophilic red alga Galdieria sulphuraria”. I am characterizing the cellulolytic enzyme mechanisms of G. sulphuraria under mixotrophic culture conditions.

Q: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I always keep myself busy and try to be as productive as possible. Because I’m very passionate about inspiring other women. I am a profound reader and I enjoy reading spiritualism, novels, new discoveries, philosophical and mystical fiction. Although my research work doesn’t allow me to travel long term I have a strong desire to explore new places. Whenever I get some time I travel to new places, connect with people and immerse myself in the culture. One of my favorite leisure time activity is cooking. For me, cooking is the ultimate stress buster.

Q: What attracted you to CABLE and what do you hope to gain from your experience?
At this point in time of my academic career, I am really eager to experience the professional world. My ideal career would be working in the industry but unfortunately, I don’t have any direct professional industrial experience so far. A strong desire to get connected with the industrial sector attracted me to become a part of CABLE. I hope CABLE will play a role in shaping my leadership style and would be a milestone in my career development.

Q: What are your career aspirations?
I have experience of working on macroalgae for biofuel production. Currently, I am working on microalgae for commercial enzyme production. With this background, I am looking forward to working as a research scientist in industry.

Q: How do you think CABLE can help you in achieving your professional goals?
CABLE has given me an opportunity to be a part of a nationwide consortium. Being part of such a diverse and professional platform I would be able to interact with the top industry leaders and partners from across the country. I will be able to learn new leadership skills, networking and eventually this experience will help me to excel in my career.

Over the course of their year participating in CABLE, each Student Delegate is tasked with participating in an outreach event about the bioeconomy on their campus. This year, Student Delegate, Chelsea Tyus, from Louisiana State University participated in Super Science Saturday, a free science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education event for students in kindergarten to 12th grade.

On Saturday, October 27th, Chelsea set up a booth at Super Science Saturday with a goal of education kids about sustainability, bioproducts, and eliminatin single-use plastics. To do this, Chelsea got creative and let visitors to her booth make bags from old t-shirts. Repurposing an item into something that can have continued use is a wonderful demonstration of the mindset that contributes to a more sustainable future. With over 75 bags created from old t-shirts, Chelsea helped ignite a passion for creative thinking within the bioeconomy among students. Many parents of students also inquired about how to obtain instructions on making more bags from old shirts. Instruction can be found from NASA’s Climate Kids program.

We look forward to telling more stories about the creative ways Student Delegates spread the word about the emerging bioeconomy on their campus’!

“Act. The world needs doers, leaders. The challenges we face including energy and sustainability aren’t going to solve themselves.”

Dr. David Ripplinger is the Faculty Mentor from North Dakota State University. This is Dr. Ripplinger’s second year with the CABLE program and he has great perspective on the value that CABLE brings through leadership development.

Q: What university are you the Faculty Mentor for and what is your area of expertise?
Dr. Ripplinger: North Dakota State University. I’m an economist by training. I work as member of a number of different teams to address challenges facing the bioeconomy from feedstock production and logistics, policy, trade, and biorefinery economics.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
My wife and I have five children from the age of 2 to 12. I look forward to having free time in 2034!

What attracted you to becoming a mentor for the CABLE program and what do you hope to gain from your experience?
I knew Dennis Hall previously and jumped at the chance to work with him, OBIC, and the CABLE team. I look forward to my mentee, Kaleb Sell, getting the experience of a lifetime in CABLE and for me to have the continued opportunity to interact with the amazing people involved with the program.

How do you think being a mentor for CABLE Student Delegates will impact their leadership development?
Formal leadership development is rare. Professionals are often mid-career before they are given the chance to focus on leadership and hone their skills, if ever. CABLE’s leadership development component is first class and tailored uniquely to a field that needs more leaders.

If you could pass on any wisdom to CABLE Student Delegates, what would you share?
Just the cliché that you’ll get out of this what you put into it. Take advantage.

What is the most important leadership lesson you’ve learned and how is it valuable?
Act. The world needs doers, leaders. The challenges we face including energy and sustainability aren’t going to solve themselves. There are many ways to contribute, but they require active and continual engagement to make the differences that need to be made.

Leyla Battista was a Cohort 1 Student Delegate from Auburn University studying Biosystems Engineering. Now, she’s a first year master’s student at Emory University in Environmental Science.

We talked to Leyla about her experience with CABLE and her advice for current Student Delegates. When she first started the program, Leyla felt like just another student on campus, but with leadership development training and guidance from the CABLE team, she went on to represent CABLE and speak about the Renewable Fuels Standard at the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference (ABLC) 2018 in Washington D.C.

Watch the video and hear more about Leyla’s advice for getting the most out of your time with CABLE.

“The program is geared toward enhancing two things that I was working on within myself: leadership, and networking. It was a natural choice for me due to my research interests and career development.”

Chelsea Tyus is a Ph.D. student at Louisiana State University. Learn about what Chelsea hopes to gain from CABLE, her struggle in deciding between academia and industry, and why why she considers herself a jack of all trades.

Q: What university are you attending and what are you studying?
Chelsea: At Louisiana State University (LSU), I am currently working towards my Ph.D. in Nutrition & Food Sciences. My research is “Characterizing a co-culture of microalgae for use in food ingredients by analyzing its proteins, carbohydrates, and phospholipids.” Algae is a robust natural resource!

Q: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
When I’m not in the lab or researching. I enjoy traveling (Costa Rica, and Bali are next on my travel list), reading novels/science fiction, watching an action movie or show, trying new restaurants, and blogging. I also volunteer with a higher education program called the Infinite Scholar Program. I’m a jack of all trades.

Q: What attracted you to CABLE and what do you hope to gain from your experience?
CABLE is an excellent way for me to explore a hot topic in my field while meeting like-minded future leaders. The program is geared toward enhancing two things that I was working on within myself: leadership, and networking. It was a natural choice for me due to my research interests and career development.

Q:What are your career aspirations?
Currently, I am torn between academia and the food science/biotechnology industry. I have quality assurance and regulatory background in the food science industry. I’d like to transition my career into a research scientist role.

Q: How do you think CABLE can help you in achieving your professional goals?
CABLE will allow me more insight into the bioeconomy and sustainable resources industry. I have some ideas about what working for a biotechnology company is like, but meeting CEOs/employees is a huge benefit. I will be able to network and ask them if someone with my skills and background could be of use in their company. I am a lifelong learner, so to me, gaining information and experience are invaluable. This is what CABLE is bringing to the table for me.