At the 2024 National Association for Plant Breeding (NAPB) meeting in St. Louis, MO, the spotlight was on science, strategy, and the future of food. But in the quieter corners of the event, the future was already taking shape in the form of mentorship, community, and the unexpected power of a summer internship.
There’s a certain symmetry to her story. A few years ago, she was the one just starting out, benefiting from a network of people who saw her potential. Now, she’s doing the same for others—and it’s already paying forward in unexpected ways. She’ll be attending the NAPB meeting on the big island of Kona, Hawaii, next month, and is incoming chair of the Borlaug Scholarship committee.
Chandler Levinson, a pepper breeder at Bayer and vice chair of the NAPB Borlaug Scholars Committee, understands that innovation in agriculture doesn’t happen in isolation. “I’m still pretty new to industry—just two years in,” she said. “I haven’t delivered a product yet, but the work we’re doing with interns every summer? That’s where I see the Borlaug mission in action.”
Levinson, herself a former Borlaug Scholar, lit up when talking about the program’s impact—not just on her, but on those she’s now mentoring. “We identify these amazing young scientists, give them opportunities, help them network, and teach them what we know. One of our interns last year was a scholar, and she just got a job with Bayer. That’s the real eureka moment—seeing them step into the field ready to lead.”
For Levinson, the skills that define a great plant breeder today aren’t just about technical expertise. “It’s changed,” she says. “You need empathy. You need to be a team player. You need to admit when you’re wrong and bounce back. Honestly, it’s about being the kind of person others want on their team.”
It’s a perspective she’s bringing to her upcoming role as chair of the Borlaug Scholars Committee. “What I’ve learned from the current leadership is how to stay grounded,” she says. “It’s never about prestige—it’s about building a community where young scientists feel respected, connected, and empowered to contribute. That’s how we keep them involved and keep NAPB strong.”
Back at Bayer, that sense of community translates to the lab. “It’s kind of amazing not having to be the expert on everything,” she says. “If I need someone who’s great at modeling, I go work with them. I bring my genetics knowledge, and they bring what I don’t know. We both want to win together. It’s not like grad school, where you’re on your own. This is real collaboration.”
Registration is open for the 2025 NAPB meeting in Hawaii. Levinson will be there. And so will a few of the young minds she’s helped ignite, as the latest round of Borlaug Scholars have already been announced.
—CORRECTION: A previous version of this story contained a typo saying Chandler Levinson works with Corteva. She is actually a Bayer employee.
