On September 28, 2018, representatives from Corteva Agriscience at the Bay Area Innovation Center in Hayward visited CSUEB to explore potential partnerships between the two institutions.

Guests included

Jun-zhi Wei, Sr. Research Scientist and Plant Protection Leader

Jingtong Hou, Senior Research Manager

Ryan Schumacher, Research Assistant

Robin Emig, Site Manager

Leslie Keeney, Administrative Coordinator

The representatives began their visit by touring the College of Science’s newest interdisciplinary laboratory facilities, the Molecular Research Labs. Professors Chris Baysdorfer and Ana Almeida of Biological Sciences and Ann McPartland of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry showed them the instrumentation housed there and gave a brief overview of the types of research being conducted.

Following that, both institutions had an opportunity to give brief talks describing their research to an audience of faculty, students, staff, and alumni. Robin Emig gave an overview of Corteva Agriscience and, importantly, the skill sets they were seeking in their employees. Professors Ana Almeida and Nazzy Pakpour of Biological Sciences and Monika Sommerhalter of Chemistry & Biochemistry described their research relating to plants and insects, two potential areas of overlap with Corteva Agriscience.

A hosted mixer followed to explore future areas of collaboration between the two entities. Students from the Sommerhalter and Stone (Biological Science) labs were on hand to present research posters.

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