Class of 2025: Joseph Taylor excited to tackle real-world agricultural challenges

Name: Joseph Taylor

College: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Department: School of Plant and Environmental Sciences

Degree: Ph.D. in horticulture

Hometown: Greensboro, North Carolina

Plans after graduation: At the end of May, I will be starting an internship at Pairwise in Durham, joining the delivery technology team which focuses on delivering genetic material to plant cells or tissues to make precise edits.

Pairwise is a North Carolina-based agriculture company using CRISPR gene-editing technology to develop innovative, consumer-friendly produce like seedless blackberries or pitless cherries. The goal is to improve the nutrition, sustainability, and convenience of our food system. 

Favorite Hokie memory: "My favorite memory at Virginia Tech was being a member of the George Washington Carver Program which supported me throughout my Ph.D. It provided an incredible support network filled with kind and inspiring people. Every week we would have fun and engaging professional development seminars where we learned about paths to careers in academia, industry, and government."

George Washington Carver was an African American born into slavery who rose to become one of the most prominent agricultural scientists of the 20th century. He is especially known for his work with peanuts and for promoting the practice of crop rotation.

Through the Carver Scholars Program at Virginia Tech, Taylor worked on presentation skills where he learned about all sorts of research that he would not have been exposed to otherwise in my department.

Taylor adds, "It wasn’t all work though, we also had countless community building activities and built lifelong connections. I have never been a part of a more welcoming and supportive community. I’m deeply grateful for the mentorship and community they offered throughout my time here."

A highlight for Taylor was mentoring undergraduate students during his Ph.D. program. "It was so rewarding to support these students on their own academic journeys as they grew into competent researchers. Teaching them about my research also helped me understand it better myself."

Research interest(s): During my Ph.D., I studied a small molecule called auxin that is involved in nearly all aspects of plant development. My research focused on trying to understand how auxin controls plant development by regulating the activity and interactions of different little biological machines called proteins.

Extracurricular Activities and Hobbies: In my free time, I like to draw, paint, take photos, and write stories that are inspired by my favorite stories told in mainstream media like Arcane and the Last of Us.

What inspired you to choose your major, and how has it shaped your journey so far?
I have always found what humanity has achieved through science and engineering to be incredible demonstrations of what can be accomplished when differences are set aside and everyone can work together towards a common goal.

While landing on the Moon in 60s is seen by many as a publicity stunt, I think of it as a demonstration of the world’s capability to solve society’s biggest challenges, one of which is world hunger.

That passion led Taylor to NC State, where he studied plant and environmental sciences and became fascinated by the intersection of the environment and agriculture. During two internships at NASA, Taylor worked on space crop development, which sparked his interest in crop biotechnology and gene editing. That led him to pursue a Ph.D. in plant molecular biology, where he's been studying auxin signaling and its role in plant growth regulation.

Are there any professors or mentors who made a significant impact on your path
Dr. Gioia Massa, Jacob Torress, and Dr. Christina Johnson, a scientist, technical specialist, and a post-doctoral fellow at NASA were essential to building my confidence as an independent researcher.

Also, Kasey Kyprianou, my former boss at NC State where I worked as a graphic designer. She empowered me how to advocate for myself, a skill that was essential in navigating the often-convoluted process of earning a PhD.

What are you most excited about as you step into this new chapter? I’m excited to apply my experience to real-world challenges in agriculture to give back to my community.

Anything else you would like to share?
Programs like the George Washington Carver Scholars program that support underrepresented students are essential for ensuring that everyone has access to the same opportunities. I hope Virginia Tech will continue to support these programs and student success from people from all walks of life. 

Finally, I would like to thank my family, specifically my mom and dad for their endless encouragement and support throughout this difficult journey. I could not have done it without them. 

All photos courtesy of Joseph Taylor