Page 7 - Impact - Spring 2022

The path to plant solutions
Helping his father with farm work as a youth in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, taught Hussain Alwael the skills of hard work, patience, and kindness. It also inspired him to pursue a career in plant biotechnology.
“I grew up and worked on a farm since I was young, and I saw plant species vanish because of high drought and salinity in my area caused by global warming,” said Alwael. “I was amazed when I found out about the plant biotechnology field, as it was an inspirational solution to not only our issue at the farm, but to many people around the world—and I was amazed by the technologies that can be used to vastly enhance a plant species so they have the right set of genetic materials to be able to grow against environmental challenges.”
Today, Alwael is a CFANS graduate student in applied plant sciences, and the recipient of a Donald
C. Rasmusson Graduate Education Fund fellowship. His research focuses on developing efficient, genotype- flexible, and open-source plant transformation and genome editing resources via developmental regulator (DR)-enabled cell reprogramming in soybeans.
As the first person in his family to attend college and pursue a graduate degree, Alwael is enthusiastic about continuing his doctoral studies in the field and working
in academia. “I just finished my first year of my master’s studies working on my project, and I hope to graduate by adding valuable information to the plant biotechnology and genetics fields,” he said, adding his gratitude to Donald and Carol Rasmusson for their support. “The fellowship allows me to buy the material I need for my research study and propels my research objectives.”
TAKING RESEARCH FROM
coursework to career
Alumna Trinity Alexander, BS ’21 applied economics, uses her CFANS knowledge every day in her new career. An associate consultant with The Improve Group—a woman-owned company that partners with mission-driven organizations—she applies the data, research, and analysis skills she gained at CFANS
to help her employer fulfill its vision of helping clients develop a more resilient, equitable, and thriving world.
In her role, Alexander collects data, writes reports, and conducts qualitative and quantitative data analysis. “My research work, much of which was conducted with applied economics faculty, is essential to my work at The Improve Group,” said Alexander. “Much of my coursework, especially the econometrics and data-driven classes, have been helpful as I work in the research field.”
Alexander is particularly appreciative of the support she received from CFANS faculty and teaching assistants. “They were always open to mentoring
me even when they were super busy. Their guidance has really shaped my love for and desire to pursue research,” she said.
Her research interests include human rights. “My focus on equity in the Pacific Islands comes largely from the fact that I am a Pacific Islander; I feel a special connection to helping people with similar backgrounds to my own,” said Alexander. “I would like people to know that human rights advocacy is something we can all do every day through a variety of channels, whether it be research, social media, volunteering, or simply having difficult conversations about equity.”