Growing Talent At The CEA Innovation Center Inside IALR podcast

Growing Talent at the CEA Innovation Center

2M ago 24:02

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What happens when Ph.D. candidates, master’s students, undergrads and interns all share the same greenhouse? You get a powerful, layered research environment that grows more than just plants.

In this episode of Inside IALR, we explore how the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center is not only advancing sustainable agriculture but also training the next generation of researchers and industry leaders. A partnership between IALR and Virginia Tech, the CEA Innovation Center blends hands-on research, mentorship and workforce development.

You’ll hear how students at four different educational levels are conducting applied research on plant disease management, beneficial microbes and nutrient optimization. From mentoring interns to designing dissertation-level experiments, these students are learning and growing.

🎙 Guests:

Dr. Kaylee South – Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Virginia Tech (stationed full-time at IALR)
Colin Fite – M.S. Student, Virginia Tech
Praveen Gajula – Ph.D. Student, Virginia Tech

🔍 Topics Covered:

What Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is and why it matters
How beneficial microbes are being tested in vertical farms and greenhouses
The role of students in maintaining IALR’s demonstration farm
Mentorship across education levels—from intern to Ph.D.
Career goals of students entering the CEA industry
Opportunities for students to join the CEA Innovation Center

Whether you're an educator, student, grower or just curious about the future of agtech, this episode offers a glimpse into how research, education and industry come together under one greenhouse roof.

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Chapters

1. Introduction to CEA Innovation Center (00:00:00)

2. Understanding Controlled Environment Agriculture (00:01:59)

3. Student Research Projects and Focus Areas (00:04:21)

4. Mentoring Across Educational Levels (00:09:01)

5. Building Virginia's CEA Industry Future (00:15:05)

6. Opportunities and Final Thoughts (00:21:38)

53 episodes