For Chandler Levinson, open field pepper breeder for Bayer based in Woodland, CA, plant breeding is more than about producing results—it’s about empowering the next generation of scientists to grow alongside their crops of choice. With just two years in the industry, she’s still early in her career but are already leaving a lasting mark through her commitment to mentorship and the National Association for Plant Breeding’s Borlaug Scholar mission.
Every summer, Levinson welcomes a fresh group of interns, each with the potential to change the future of plant science.
“We really identify these amazing interns and help them network to get jobs, but we’re also teaching them everything we know,” she says. It’s this dedication to guiding young talent that fuels her excitement for the future.
She believes the best plant breeders aren’t just experts in genetics; they’re team players with empathy and resilience.
“It’s about being the kind of person you’d want on someone else’s team,” she says. This collaborative mindset reflects her own experience as a Borlaug Scholar, which not only helped her land a role as a pepper breeder but connected her with like-minded peers. Her current position was even a result of one such connection.
Soon to be the NAPB’s Borlaug Scholar Committee Chair, she aims to carry forward the program’s core values: focusing on scholars and strengthening community bonds.
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