Name: Aidan Bobholz
Major(s): Agronomy, seed science
Graduation year: 2025
Current job title and company/organization: Ph.D. graduate student in plant breeding, genetics and genomics at the University of Georgia
What moment or experience at Iowa State most shaped your career path?
I would have to say there were a multitude of amazing moments at Iowa State that have helped me follow my current career path. The most influential experience was having Dr. Mindy DeVries as my academic advisor. From helping me get my first job in the sorghum plant breeding lab at Iowa State, to competing on the Iowa State Crops Team and gaining confidence in my skills as an agronomist. Dr. Mindy DeVries was instrumental in preparing me to become the best student, co-worker and leader that I can be.
How did your involvement in clubs, internships or research opportunities at Iowa State prepare you for your current role?
Starting with internship involvement, I was able to find an internship through the amazing career fair hosted by CALS, thanks to opportunities with Beck’s, Syngenta and Bayer. All three internships were instrumental in preparing me for my current role as a graduate student. Specifically, I would say that my internship with Syngenta was a huge turning point in my career, as it was at the crossroads that determined whether I would become a plant breeder or pursue a career in sales. After my experience with the company, I fell in love with plant breeding and delved further into the opportunities Iowa State offered for that path. One of the most impactful research experiences was working in Dr. Maria Salas's lab during my junior and senior years. I was given the freedom to take an idea and then develop it into a full research project. This process helped me grow in research skills that I cannot place into words; from finding innovative solutions, to learning how important communication is, and lastly to understanding that failure is not the end, what is most important is how you respond the failure. In addition, my involvement with professional organizations such as the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), and the National Association for Plant Breeding (NAPB). These organizations helped network me with professors and industry professionals, helping me find my way into an amazing lab at the University of Georgia, where I can refine my skills and work toward making a meaningful impact on the world through plant breeding.
What’s one challenge you’ve faced in your education or career, and how did you overcome it?
I’ll be honest and say that my freshman year was a challenge. By the end of it I finished with a 3.14 GPA and knew that I had not given my all into school. This experience was a wake-up call, and I decided I wanted to focus back on applying myself in school and being the best student and agronomist I could be. My first turning point was competing in the fall crops competition, which requires long hours and the willingness to spend a lot of time staring at seeds. This experience helped me learn and develop foundational skills of studying and time management, which are crucial for excelling in school. From that point on, I applied myself to my classes, actively sought learning opportunities, and steadily raised my GPA. By my senior year, I was an officer for the Agronomy Club, represented ASA, CSSA, SSSA during a congressional visit in Washington, D.C. and graduated with a 3.59 GPA. I also challenged myself by earning a minor in data science, taking the necessary courses to ensure that I would have the skills needed to excel in my career path. This challenge in my academic path has taught me that setbacks do not define you, it is instead how you respond to them. With hard work, motivation and a severe commitment to personal growth, I was able to change the trajectory of my academic and professional career.
Fill in the blank and provide a brief explanation: “I wouldn’t be where I am today without ______.”
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my parents. My mother and father have been an instrumental aspect of my life. No matter how much trouble I would get into or how upset I would be with them, they always loved me and were there to support me.
Fill in the blank: “The best piece of advice I received in college was _________, and here’s why it stuck with me: _________.”
"Kinda fun." This is a quote from one of my favorite professors at Iowa State University, Dr. Lee Burras. Though it may not seem like traditional advice, it has become a core value I live by today. Dr. Burras is a very straightforward professor, and he would often say, “Kinda fun,” after describing a situation that would seem gloom or disheartening. It is my belief that he did not say this because he enjoyed difficult realities, but rather because he believed that scientists and students should embrace these challenges. Instead of feeling discouraged or giving up in the face of the issues in our world, we should instead embrace them. We should see the fun that arises through taking them head-on in a scientific approach. There is value to tackling issues head-on through the scientific process, learning from setbacks, and seizing opportunities to grow in the face of adversity. These moments, to Dr. Burras in my mind, were “kinda fun.” Now, when I go through my journey in academia as a graduate student and face moments that are disheartening or major setbacks, I say, “Kinda fun.” This makes me remember the scientist inside of me and that I can find the solution, that there is a door on the other side. And I have Dr. Burras to thank for this perspective of optimism and opportunity in the work we do as students and scientists.