Class of 2026: Lily Lefave blossoms in plant sciences research

Lily Lefave is standing next to her research poster/ — Lefave's research interests are plant specialized metabolism/secondary metabolism, plant biochemistry, and plant molecular biology. Photo courtesy of Lily Lefave.

Name: Lily Lefave

College: College of Agriculture & Life Sciences (CALS)

Department: School of Plant & Environmental Sciences (SPES)

Degree: M.S. Plant Pathology, Physiology, & Weed Science (MS PPWS)

Hometown: Reston, VA

Plans after graduation: I’ll be working in the poison ivy research lab over the summer, while I look for jobs in the AgTech industry.

Favorite Hokie memory: Going to the international street fair for the first time!

Research interest(s): Plant specialized metabolism/secondary metabolism, plant biochemistry, plant molecular biology

Extracurricular Activities and Hobbies: Crocheting, reading, and roller skating

Lafave gained confidence in communicating her science research through the many opportunities presented during her graduate education. Photo courtesy of Lily Lefave.

What inspired you to choose your major, and how has it shaped your journey so far? When I started doing undergraduate research related to plant science, I knew I wanted to continue and grow in that field as a graduate student. Over the past two years, I’ve learned many different lab techniques, and I’ve had many opportunities to meet others in the agriculture/plant biotechnology field and share my research. I feel like I’ve truly blossomed as a person since starting my graduate program in plant sciences.

Are there any professors or mentors who made a significant impact on your path? I truly appreciate my advisor, Dr. John Jelesko, who pushed me out of my comfort zone and challenged me to grow. In undergrad, I used to be very averse to public speaking and networking. However, my advisor offered many opportunities for me to present my work in scientific meetings, which gradually built up my confidence in communicating and connecting with my research community.

What are you most excited about as you step into this new chapter? I’m very excited to see where I’ll end up working after this summer. I'm looking forward to my future experiences working in the AgTech industry.