Two Iowa State University Seed Science Center Ph.D. candidates, Amina Moro and Rickiel Franklin, have been selected to receive the Iowa Crop Improvement Association (ICIA) Graduate Fellowship for the fall 2026 semester in recognition of their research, academic achievements, and contributions to the future of sustainable agriculture and seed systems.
Both students are conducting research focused on perennial groundcover (PGC) systems and corn establishment, work that aims to improve agricultural sustainability while maintaining strong crop performance. Their research aligns closely with the Seed Science Center’s mission of advancing seed science through innovation, research, and industry collaboration.
Originally from Ghana, Moro said her interest in seed science began during her undergraduate studies while researching cowpea genotypes resistant to storage pests. That experience sparked a deeper interest in the role seeds play in agricultural success.
“Everything in agriculture begins with the seed,” Moro said. “If the seed fails, the entire system fails.”
Moro’s research focuses on optimizing corn performance in perennial groundcover systems by studying plant responses to neighboring groundcover, including shade-avoidance responses and buffer-zone management. Her work also evaluates how different corn hybrids perform under PGC conditions to help identify systems that improve soil health while minimizing yield impacts.
She said receiving the fellowship is both personally meaningful and professionally motivating.
“Receiving the Iowa Crop Improvement Graduate Fellowship is incredibly meaningful to me,” Moro said. “Professionally, it validates the importance of my research and its relevance to the future of agriculture.”
Franklin, who grew up working on his family’s farm in Brazil, said his passion for seed science developed through his interest in cropping systems and crop establishment under real field conditions.
“My interest in seed science did not start directly with seeds themselves, but with cropping systems and how they function under real field conditions,” Franklin said.
Franklin’s research examines interactions within corn–perennial groundcover intercropping systems during early crop establishment. His work integrates field measurements, soil sensors, and UAV-based remote sensing to better understand how soil temperature, moisture, and plant interactions affect stand establishment and crop performance.
“Receiving the Iowa Crop Improvement Association Graduate Fellowship is both meaningful and motivating,” Franklin said. “It reinforces that the questions I am working on are relevant to the seed sector and to agricultural production in Iowa.”
Both students emphasized the opportunities and challenges they experienced as international students pursuing graduate education in the United States. They credited the supportive environment at Iowa State University and the Seed Science Center for helping them grow as researchers and professionals.
Moro hopes to apply what she has learned at Iowa State to help strengthen seed systems and improve access to high-quality seed in Ghana. Franklin said he hopes to continue connecting research with practical agricultural solutions that improve resilience and sustainability in global cropping systems.
The Iowa Crop Improvement Association Graduate Fellowship supports graduate students whose research contributes to advancements in seed science, crop improvement, and agricultural innovation.