Plastomics, Inc.

Happy Halloween and Diwali from the Plastomics, Inc. team! Enjoy a couple of pictures of some of our team members who dressed up today! #Halloween #Diwali

It’s a wrap! Insightful panels, exhibits and discussion around the opportunities in AgTech at the 2024 ACG AgTech conference here in St. Louis. Plastomics, Inc. is proud to be part of the AgTech ecosystem and at the forefront of developing next generation trait delivery technology to enable higher yielding crops 🌱 for farmers to feed a growing 🌎 ! Thanks to ACG St. Louis and 39 North for hosting a great event! #AgTech

Plastomics, Inc. is proud of our team member, Rachel Helmich, who participated in a panel discussing career pathways with BioSTL's Externs today during lunch (held at 39 North). The other panelists were Elizabeth (Betsy) Boedeker and Sharla Friend. Rishi Masalia moderated the conversation. We love our agtech/biotech community and the opportunity to help make an impact on future career choices. These Externs made the brave choice to put themselves out there to participate in this program and we hope to see them around as they bloom into their careers! #agriculture #biotech #innovation #careers

Today we want to highlight Gilbert Kayanja - a scientist on the soy discovery team who spends his days busy with soy and tobacco tissue culture! We asked to spotlight him with a handful of questions for us to share here: - How did you become interested in plant science?  ANSWER: To a certain extent I have always been interested in plants but it wasn’t until my first undergrad research experience that I fell in love with the research-side of plants. - How long have you been part of the Plastomics, Inc. team?  ANSWER: I have been part of Plastomics, Inc. for one year. - What interests and hobbies do you have outside of work?  ANSWER: Outside work I read (mostly fiction), play DnD, adding new plants to my collection, and amateur wood crafting which I hesitate calling carpentry. You're a great addition to our Plastomics, Inc. team, and we thank you for giving us the opportunity to learn and share a little about you! #agriculture #biotechnology #innovation

Happy Friday and Labor Day weekend! Today we want to highlight Tauna Bollinger - a research associate on the corn team who spends her days busy in the laminar flow hood working on our corn TC system! We asked to spotlight her with a handful of questions for us to share here: - Where are you from and how long have you lived in the St. Louis area?  ANSWER:  I grew up in the Kansas City Metro area and have been in the STL area for 7 years. - How did you become interested in plant science?  ANSWER: I have always loved plants and found them to be magical as a child. My original degree plan was to work in restoration ecology to help restore and maintain fragile prairie ecosystems. - How long have you been part of the Plastomics, Inc. team?  ANSWER: I have been a part of the Plastomics, Inc. team since June 2024. - What interests and hobbies do you have outside of work?  ANSWER: I have a broad array of hobbies. I love camping, gardening, fiber arts (knitting, crochet, cross stitch, embroidery, etc). Mostly, I love spending time in my center, whether that be alone or with my family. You've been an awesome part of the Plastomics, Inc. team and we thank you for giving us the opportunity to learn and share a little about you! #agriculture #biotechnology #innovation

Welcome back to another installment of our Molecular Monday series! Today we want to highlight Leila Pazouki, PhD - our wonderful Molecular Quality Control Lead on the molecular team! We thought we would introduce her with a handful of questions she has agreed to answer here: - Where are you from and how long have you lived in the US? ANSWER: I am originally from Iran and I have been in the US since 2017.  - How did you become interested in molecular genetics? ANSWER: My interest began during my undergraduate studies when I took a course in genetics. The idea of understanding and manipulating DNA to solve crop problems fascinated me. Since then, I have been passionate about exploring how genetic engineering can improve crop resilience and sustainability. - How long have you been part of the Plastomics, Inc. team? ANSWER: I joined Plastomics, Inc. in April 2023. - What interests and hobbies do you have outside of work? ANSWER: Being in nature, piecing together puzzles, and playing with my cat, Jooni (pictured!). Thank you Leila Pazouki, PhD for letting us learn and share a little about you! #agriculture #biotechnology #innovation #molecularmonday

On Fridays we wear pink...to match with our gloves while prepping next week's media! Today we caught a member of our soy discovery team, Rachel Helmich, as she started their media making process. Their team spent this past week launching an exciting new experiment and we, Plastomics, Inc., look forward to seeing their future results! #agriculture #biotechnology #innovation

On Fridays we wear pink...to match with our gloves while prepping next week's media! Today we caught a member of our soy discovery team, Rachel Helmich, as she started their media making process. Their team spent this past week launching an exciting new experiment and we, Plastomics, Inc., look forward to seeing their future results! #agriculture #biotechnology #innovation

Grateful to be part of this great ecosystem!!

Today is a bittersweet day for Plastomics, Inc. - our amazing intern, Erica S, has wrapped up her summer with us and will be heading back to college in the next couple of weeks. As a team, we enjoyed time with her today eating cake and wishing her a fond farewell. It has been such an honor to have her on the team this past summer and we wish her all the luck and success for this upcoming year and life beyond! Before she leaves us, she took time to answer a few final questions for us: What is your educational background and career interests? • ANSWER: I'm currently a rising sophomore at WashU. As of right now, I have an interest in material science and am looking towards a career in the healthcare industry, but I'm not entirely certain. Sifting through all the different things you’ve done here over the summer, what stands out as your favorite activity? • ANSWER: I really loved designing and running my own experiment. It was so exciting to look at the growth and development of my own cultures, especially when they grew new shoots! I also enjoyed making the presentation that described my experimental process and final conclusions. As any good St. Louisan will always ask - what high school did you attend? • ANSWER: Ladue Horton Watkins High School What is your favorite color and favorite animal? • ANSWER: Favorite color: Navy blue, Favorite animal: cats Do you have a favorite plant? (Aside from soybeans, of course!) •ANSWER: Favorite plant: lily of the valley or hyacinths And finally, what are your interests and hobbies you enjoy in your free time? • ANSWER: In my free time, I really enjoy reading, drawing, and singing. These are kind of generic answers, but I would absolutely spend my free time doing all three. Erica S, it has been such a pleasure working with you this past summer - thank you for being the awesome intern and person that you are! #intern #agriculture #biotechnology #innovation