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Plant, Soil, Microbial Science

@msu_psm

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Michigan State University's Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

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We are #spartanstrong and we wish for our faculty, staff and student body to feel safe and heard on campus. We will be posting resources and updates on our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter so please check for future updates. Our hearts go out to the victims and families who have been hurt by this tragic event 🤍💚 by @msu_psm

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4 years ago

🚜 One research project. Three planters. Three wheat varieties. 🌾

Who said PhD research was simple? 😂

Behind every successful field experiment, there’s a lot of planning, teamwork, and science in action!

Researchers from Dr. Maninderpal Singh’s lab at Michigan State University were busy in the field establishing a wheat experiment comparing three different planters and three wheat varieties.

Why compare them? 🔬 Because planting equipment and variety selection are important components of crop establishment and performance. Understanding how these factors interact can help us improve crop production practices.

🌾 A special shoutout to PhD student Wallas Mendes for the hard work behind this project!

Stay tuned to follow the research from planting to harvest! 💚

#MSUPSM #SpartansWill #Agronomy #WheatResearch #CropScience taken in Michigan State University by @msu_psm

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3 days ago

🎓 Are you finishing your PhD in Spring 2027?

The Dissertation Completion Fellowship (DCF) application deadline is almost here! 🎓💚

📅 Deadline: Friday, October 16, 2026

📋 What to submit:

1. Completed DCF cover sheet
2. Personal letter explaining how the fellowship will help you complete your dissertation (max. 1 page)
3. Dissertation abstract and outline (max. 2 pages)
4. Updated CV highlighting publications and presentations during your PhD (max. 4 pages)
5. Letter of support and progress statement from your major professor

📩 Submit all documents as ONE PDF file to:

Lauren Andring
Academic Program Coordinator | PSM
📧 Colbylau@msu.edu

⏰ Don’t miss this opportunity to receive support as you complete your doctoral journey!

#MSUPSM #MichiganStateUniversity #SpartansWill #PhDLife #GraduateStudents taken in Michigan State University by @msu_psm

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5 days ago

Sorry I can’t, I have class.

And by class, I mean harvest soybeans, Id weeds, feel the soil texture, Id more weeds, hang out by the gardens to learn about plant families, and look at forage crops… 🌱🌾🔎👀

#MSUPSM #plantscience #weedscience #agronomy #turfgrass taken in Michigan State University by @msu_psm

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5 days ago

🌱 GRAD STUDENT SPOTLIGHT | Meet Connor Purvis!

From herbicide resistance to soil microbiomes, Connor is exploring what makes weeds so adaptable! 🔬🌿

Originally from Florence, South Carolina, Connor is a fourth-year PhD candidate in Crop and Soil Sciences, working in Dr. Erin Burns’ Weed Science Lab at Michigan State University.

His research focuses on Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) and three key aspects of its invasiveness:

🌱 Herbicide resistance: Understanding the mechanisms that allow weeds to survive herbicide treatments.

🧬 Crop-to-weed hybridization: Investigating gene flow between Johnsongrass and cultivated sorghum (Sorghum bicolor).

🦠 Soil microbiomes: Exploring how soil microbial communities change under Johnsongrass infestations.

As Connor prepares for the next chapter of his career, he’s especially interested in how plants interact with soil microorganisms and whether weed adaptability extends to their microbial partners belowground.

🧘 Fun fact: During his PhD, Connor became a big fan of hot yoga! He highly recommends it for managing stress and staying warm during Michigan winters. ❄️

We’re excited to highlight Connor and the research happening in our PSM community!

📲 Follow his journey: @connor_purvis_

#MSUPSM #GradStudentSpotlight #WeedScience #PlantScience #MichiganStateUniversity taken in Michigan State University by @msu_psm

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6 days ago

Final reveal!

BPS Gardens

Happy Homecoming everyone!

Go Green!

#sparty #msu #homecoming by @msu_psm

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9 days ago

💚🤍 Welcome Home, Spartans! 💚🤍

Homecoming is a time to celebrate our Spartan pride, reconnect with our community, and recognize what makes Michigan State University so special!

To our students in Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Horticulture, and across the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources: keep learning, growing, and making a difference! 🌱

Agriculture is at the heart of Michigan, and the work you do today is helping shape the future of our farms, food systems, landscapes, and communities.

We are proud of our Spartans, past, present, and future. Keep up the great work, and never forget the impact you can make!

Once a Spartan, always a Spartan! 💚

#MSUHomecoming #SpartanPride #GoGreen #MSUCANR #MSUPSM taken in Michigan State University by @msu_psm

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9 days ago

🚜🌱 If you needed a sign… THIS IS YOUR SIGN to apply to MSU! 💚🤍

At Michigan State University’s Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences (PSM), learning goes beyond the classroom!

From hands-on field experiences to cutting-edge agricultural technology, our students have opportunities to see research and innovation in action.

🌱 Just this morning, Dr. Christy Sprague’s team was out harvesting soybean cultivar trials — another example of the exciting research happening right here on campus!

Interested in crops, soil science, agricultural technology, or making a difference in the future of agriculture?

💚 Your future in agriculture starts here. Come grow with us at MSU PSM!

🔗 Explore our programs: canr.msu.edu

#MSUPSM #SpartansWill #Agronomy #AgTech #FFA taken in Michigan State University by @msu_psm

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12 days ago

Getting our hands dirty for science. 🖐️🌱

Today’s soil texture lab was all about learning to feel the difference: gritty, smooth, sticky… sand, silt, or clay?

Sometimes the best way to understand soil is to get your hands in it. 💚

#MSUPSM #SoilScience #SpartansWill #CropScience #MSU taken in Michigan State University by @msu_psm

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18 days ago

🌱 Research Internship Opportunity!

Interested in gaining hands-on experience in sugarbeet genetics and breeding? Join Dr. Rachel Naegele, USDA-ARS Adjunct Assistant Professor, and gain practical research experience at Michigan State University.

🔬 Opportunities may include field trials and data collection, greenhouse and lab activities, sugarbeet genetics and breeding, and research data analysis.

🎓 Open to students interested in plant science, genetics/breeding, agronomy, or related fields. Flexible start date, with summer and/or academic-year opportunities.

📍 Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI
📩 To apply, send a short cover letter and CV, including your interests and availability, to rachel.naegele@usda.gov

Come grow your research skills and help shape the future of sugarbeet agriculture! 🌱🧬

#MSUPSM #SugarbeetResearch #PlantScience #ResearchInternship #SpartansWill taken in Michigan State University by @msu_psm

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19 days ago

👀🌱 We’re keeping an eye on things in the greenhouse…

And apparently, the plants are keeping an eye on us too. 😂

From turfgrass to crops to some very dramatic foliage, it turns out all you need is a pair of googly eyes to give a plant a whole personality.

Which one is your favorite? 👀👇

#MSUPlants #PlantScience #GoGreen #MSU #PlantPeople taken in Michigan State University by @msu_psm

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19 days ago

🥉 Congratulations to the MSU Weed Science Team for an outstanding performance at the 2026 North Central Weed Science Society (NCWSS) Student Weed Contest! 🌱🏆

🥉 3rd place overall out of 13 graduate student teams
🎯 1st place — Team Sprayer Calibration

Representing Michigan State Weed Science were graduate students Michael Dodde, Jacob Felsman, Nathan Welch, and Lauryn Wishowski, who traveled to Gothenburg, Nebraska, to put their applied weed science skills to the test.

Students from 11 universities across the Midwest competed in challenges including weed identification, herbicide symptomology, field calculations, sprayer calibration, and diagnosing real-world field problems.

A great showing of the knowledge, teamwork, and hands-on skills behind weed science at MSU. 💚🌱

Go Green! Go White!

#NCWSS #graduatestudent #MSUWeedScience #WeedScience #PlantScience taken in Michigan State University by @msu_psm

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20 days ago