Listen to Samantha Simard, an Assistant Research Scientist at the Cal Poly Strawberry Center, as she shares what her role looks like behind the scenes of agricultural research. Samantha discusses her academic journey, the day-to-day responsibilities of a research scientist, skills she’s developed along the way, what excites her most about her work, and advice she would give to high school students interested in science, agriculture, or research careers
Join Aidan Fischer and Brendan Holt as they offer an inside look at life as a field engineer. From their educational journeys to the skills and responsibilities their roles require, they share honest insights into their careers, what excites them most about their work, and advice for high school students considering a future in engineering.
Listen to Christopher Hight, Soil Lab Manager at Betteravia Farms, as he shares his career path and academic journey into agricultural science. Christopher gives an inside look at what it’s like to lead a soil lab, discusses his day-to-day responsibilities, what he enjoys most about his role, and offers advice for students interested in soil science, agriculture, or lab-based careers.
Hear from Jacob Pecenka, a Research Scientist at the Roadie Institute, as he shares his academic journey and career path into agricultural research. Jacob offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like conducting field research and transitioning back to the office to record and analyze observations. He discusses his day-to-day responsibilities, the dynamic nature of his work, and advice for students interested in research, agriculture, or science-based careers.
Listen to Kyra Rude, General Manager at Rincon Vitova Insectary, as she shares what her work looks like behind the scenes of breeding beneficial insects. Kyra discusses the process of raising and releasing beneficial bugs, her background in entomology, the critical role beneficial insects play in sustainable agriculture, what makes working on the Rincon Vitova property so special to her, and why she’s passionate about supporting growers and ecosystems through her work.
Listen to Stephen Waldron, Operations Manager at Plantel Nurseries, as he shares what goes on behind the scenes of running a large-scale nursery operation. Stephen discusses his role in overseeing daily operations, the journey that led him into nursery and agricultural management, the coordination and problem-solving required to keep plants moving from propagation to delivery, what he enjoys most about working in a fast-paced growing environment, and advice he would give to students interested in careers in horticulture, agriculture, or operations management.
