Welcoming Future Scientists: MAP Students Join Addie Thompson’s Lab at MSU
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EmailThis July, the Thompson Lab is proud to host three bright high school students—Adrian, Ananya, and Vania—through the Multicultural Apprenticeship Program (MAP).
These young scholars, all from Michigan, are gaining hands-on experience in plant science as part of a four-week summer program designed to introduce them to careers in agriculture, food, and natural resources.
MAP, sponsored by CANR, offers students the opportunity to explore fields ranging from food science and environmental management to veterinary medicine and agricultural engineering. The program is free of charge to the students—supported by a coalition of public and private partners—and it comes with a stipend.
In the Thompson Lab, the students are diving into genetic research, helping uncover the genetic basis of how plants respond to changing environments. “I’m hoping to give them the opportunity to experience life in the lab (and in the field!) and to explore how we use genetic material to forecast plant growth and uncover key genes behind performance differences,” said Dr. Addie Thompson.
The students also experience an extensive application process, much like college students: including essay questions, official transcripts, and recommendations. “And the same safety training too” Addie said. We thank Addie and her team for their dedication and mentorship—and extend a warm welcome to our visiting students as they explore the exciting world of plant genetics at MSU!
