Have you Met?
Brennan Hyden, PhD
Plant Trait Scientist CTC Genomics
Describe your journey to 39 North.
I like to say I have spent my whole life working in agriculture and plant science. I grew up on a farm in northeastern Washington, and from a young age was always fascinated by plants and genetics. I completed my undergraduate education at Washington State University, where I majored in agricultural biotechnology and studied light signaling and response in Brachypodium. I went on to pursue a PhD. in Plant Breeding at Cornell University, where I worked in a breeding program for bioenergy willow researching the genetics of sex determination in shrub willow.
Upon completing my PhD, I was offered a scientist position at CTC Genomics. While this was my first-time visiting St. Louis and 39 North, I had long heard of the strong presence of plant science research in the region and was thrilled to be part of this community. I enjoy working in the 39 North district not only for the cutting-edge research, but also for the opportunities to network with researchers and leaders from various companies and for the career growth potential.
What are you excited to be working on right now?
I am excited to be working on identifying and testing leads for genome editing of pathogen resistance in sugarcane. Through my work, I am able to help address some of the greatest challenges to production in one of the world’s largest crops. Learning about the genetics and biology of plant pathogens and plant disease resistance has been an exciting and dynamic journey, where I have had to opportunity to apply a breadth of knowledge across molecular biology, plant breeding, and bioinformatics to advance these projects at CTC.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
On a day-to-day, I enjoy weightlifting, running, and outdoor activities such as hiking and kayaking. I also enjoy travelling to experience different cultures and environments and have visited 22 countries across six continents.
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