The Rebecca Selleck Sustainable Crop Endowed Graduate Research Award in Agriculture and Natural Sciences honors the memory of Rebecca Selleck, a graduate student in the Plant Science graduate program who aspired to use the tools of modern plant science to improve the lives of impoverished people.
The award recognizes and supports graduate student research that enhances the resilience and nutritional value of staple or subsistence crops, an essential dietary component for at-risk populations. The award also recognizes efforts to identify novel applications of microbial paring with plant-based foods to enhance food quality and nutrition. An emphasis is placed on readily transferable research to smallholder farmers and food preparers. Recognition of first-generation graduate students and those from underrepresented populations is a priority for this award.