In this week’s CropCast, David Nicolai and Seth Naeve welcome Dr. Candice (Candy) Hirsch.  Dr. Hirsch is a Corn Geneticist in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics at the University of Minnesota.  She is truly a superstar in a department long known for preeminence in the areas of maize breeding and genetics and has recently been awarded the University of Minnesota McKnight Presidential Professorship in Plant Genomics.  

While her work is extremely sophisticated and cutting-edge, Candy is focused on helping corn farmers in Minnesota and beyond.  In this podcast Candy discusses some of her research projects including studies of kennel integrity and factors affecting food quality that will be highly relatable to listeners.  Dr. Hirsch discusses how a big data approach that integrates environmental, genetic, and plant phenotypic data can be used to help solve important problems for producers, exporters, and food manufactures.  Candy discusses teaching and graduate education with Seth and Dave. She emphasizes her role in producing the next generation of researchers who will ask then next round of big questions.  

Please join us for another lively Minnesota CropCast.  

Hirsch Lab Website -- https://hirschlab.cfans.umn.edu/