Graduating Student Spotlight: Michael Tross
This is a continuation of our "IANR is Global" series, which highlights the many ways internationalization is woven through the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources: through research collaboration, government and private industry partnerships, extension work, student educational experiences and the IANR community from around the world.
This edition is specifically focused on the many individuals with diverse experience from around the world who are graduating this year. Michael Tross received his doctoral degree in the complex biosystems program during May’s ceremonies. We appreciate the community we are fortunate to have from all over the world, as shown by their many and varied contributions to the work of the university and our continued mission to create a globally engaged institution. To this end, we want to help our campus community get to know each other (and the world) more, starting with these individuals.
How did your first get interested in your field? What was your previous education and/or professional experience?
I grew up on a small island in the Caribbean, St. Kitts, and even within that small island, I lived in a small town in the countryside called Sandy Point. Although tourism is now our main economic driver, it was previously dominated by agriculture. I grew up surrounded by nature, having mountainous regions in the east and the Caribbean Sea in the west, which I guess sparked my interest in the life of things. As a result, my choice of coursework in high school centered around agricultural and biological sciences. I did my bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences at Doane University where I first did what I would consider real plant science while being mentored by Dr. Tessa Durham Brookes. I spent almost every summer while at Doane performing tasks related to roots and root exudates in corn and learning about the physiological properties that contributed to it.
What have been some challenges you’ve faced here? Opportunities? Things that surprised you?
Coming from the Caribbean where the weather is more or less constant throughout the whole year, was a huge adjustment to the Midwest's almost seemingly bipolar weather. I've been in the Midwest for about 9 years and still haven't gotten used to it. I've learned to embrace the saying that if you "don't like the weather, wait an hour."
My research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln allowed me to network with some of the brightest minds in artificial intelligence during my internship at Google-X, and at the same time talented plant scientists in many of the big seed agricultural companies. I can't imagine where I could've gone to graduate school and gotten the training necessary to simultaneously interact with both worlds.
What is something people don’t know (or that you wish they knew) about where you’re from or where you’ve traveled/done research?
At the time of my arrival to the United States, the Husker football stadium could've comfortably fit two times my population. Since then, my population has grown steadily and is now recorded at a whopping ~55,000 people. Yet, I felt like I lived in a huge place at the time! You can imagine my amusement when I go to Husker football games and I realize that I'm looking at approximately half of my population on the other side of the stadium.
How has your time at Nebraska impacted you in what you will go on to do?
My graduate schooling at Nebraska has made me a well-rounded individual. It taught me life skills and cutting-edge technologies that I will be utilizing in my industry job in a few weeks. My time at Nebraska was not just centered on schooling, but I got to experience the rich culture of Nebraska. Although I will soon be relocating to its rival state Iowa, I will at heart always be a Cornhusker. #GoBigRed
Why is it important for institutions like the University of Nebraska to have faculty, staff, and students from or with experience from different parts of the world?
Faculty, staff and students from different parts of the world bring a breadth of knowledge and skills as a result of their different lived experiences. This breeds innovation and enables collaboration necessary to solve tough problems.
Who is your advisor? Anything you’d like to share about them? Or say to them?
My advisor is Dr. James Schnable, a full professor in the plant sciences initiative and agronomy department . I ended up in the Schnable lab by accident, but it must have been the best accident that could have happened to me during my higher education. His ability to inspire intellectual curiosity gave me the drive to become who I am today. Despite his many successes, he still remains at heart, a humble teacher.
Are you or someone you know graduating this month with an international element to your work, studies, or past/future experiences you'd like to see highlighted? Contact Brianne at bwolf4@unl.edu.