Class of 2023 Alfred Agbekudzi: Bolstered by the Benefits of Bacteria

Name:  Alfred Agbekudzi

Degree:  Ph.D. in Biological Sciences in the College of Science

Hometown:  Sovie in the Volta Region of Ghana

Research Summary:  Beneficial bacteria like Sinorhizobium meliloti inhabit plants like alfalfa to form symbiotic nitrogen-fixing relationships. My current research is about characterizing the signaling mechanism that controls the bacterial movement towards alfalfa exudates. Since chemotaxis is important for the symbiosis, knowledge of this process can aid in engineering competitive rhizobial strains.

VT Education Experience:  I was attracted to VT because of the diverse research, the affable faculty, and the state-of-the art facilities. I am thankful for the support from my family, friends, lab members (past and present) and my committee members. 

Research Inspiration:  I have always been fascinated by signaling pathways and plant microbe interactions. Thus, this field of research was a great fit as it enabled me to learn how bacterial signaling can eventually influence plant growth. 

Future gig:  I will be pursuing a postdoc opportunity at the NIH starting summer of 2024.