We are thrilled to share that Pooja Tripathi, a PhD student in Dr. Chieri Kubota’s Lab, attended the International Strawberry Symposium held in China this spring and received the Outstanding Presentation Award from the symposium. This recognition is a testament to her dedication, hard work, and passion for plant science centered on strawberry production.
Luckily, we had a chance to catch-up with Pooja to hear all about the conference and where her passion for strawberries stems from...
What Got You Interested in Strawberries?
I’ve always been interested in plant sciences, and strawberries stood out because they’re high-value, and let’s be honest—everyone loves them! Plus, it was an awesome chance to be part of an innovative, collaborative project.
What were some highlights of the strawberry symposium for you?
Meeting researchers from around the world, learning about new technologies, and connecting with other grad students with similar interests. The field trip was super interesting—I got to see different production systems and even taste strawberries grown in China, which were way different from the ones in the U.S.!
What advice would you give other students considering attending conferences like this?
Be proactive—talk to people, ask questions, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself.
What does a typical day in grad school look like for you?
Mornings are usually spent in the greenhouse or growth chambers taking care of plants or collecting data depending on the day. The rest of the day is a mix of analyzing data, writing, working on presentations, and planning tasks for the upcoming days.
Feeling inspired to start your own graduate school journey? We have you covered.