I have always been drawn to the natural world. Whether I’m backpacking or gardening, my love of nature and curiosity about the world keeps me asking questions and experimenting. Those interests joined my passion for food and cooking when I attended the University of Delaware, where I studied Plant Science and Food Science. It was during that time that I set my sights on a career devoted to tackling sustainability and food insecurity through crop improvement. I continued that pursuit at Penn State through a PhD program in Plant Biology where I worked in tomato breeding. The research involved bringing natural disease resistance from wild tomatoes into commercial varieties, ultimately benefiting growers and the environment by reducing pesticide use and preventing crop loss. Currently, I’m working as a post-doc in the Department of Biology at Syracuse University, studying nematodes and gaining a deeper understanding of the genetics that drive reproduction.
I continue to explore my interests at home through experimental gardening and by developing new tomato varieties. As a way of sharing my knowledge and excitement, I regularly lead community workshops related to gardening and food, and assist with outreach at a local community center aimed at promoting science to elementary and middle school children through hands-on activities. I also offer personal tutoring in biology and math to students around the country through an online tutoring platform.
I feel most excited and driven when working with plants, as anyone can attest who has attended a workshop or asked a simple question and received a detailed, passionate response. Ultimately, I will return to plant breeding. Food insecurity is a complex problem with no easy solution, but I believe plant breeding is an important piece of that puzzle. Whether in my personal or professional life, I continue to move forward towards that goal.
Matt Sullenberger 