PSC Grad Students Gain Career Insights Through Bayer Mentoring Partnership

For the past eight months, four graduate students from the Plants, Soils, & Climate (PSC) Department have participated in the Bayer Crop Science University Mentoring (B4U) Program. This groundbreaking initiative pairs graduate students with Bayer industry scientists to foster career development and provide students with firsthand insight into working in the agricultural industry.

In late February, each student was matched with a dedicated mentor from Bayer Crop Science. These mentor-mentee pairs met monthly to explore essential aspects of career growth, including differences between conducting research in industry versus academia, networking strategies, exploring career paths, and preparing job application materials such as résumés, LinkedIn profiles, and cover letters tailored to specific roles.

Unique Opportunities & Experiences

Beyond personal mentor-mentee meetings, USU mentees took part in various enriching B4U events designed to supplement their learning:

A Site Visit to Bayer’s Facility in Soda Springs, ID

In July, the mentees were accompanied by Keith Merrill, a Bayer scientist, on a tour of Bayer's Soda Springs, ID site. This facility, which processes local phosphate ore, plays an essential role in Bayer’s production of glyphosate—the active ingredient in the popular herbicide Roundup. Students were able to observe the intricacies of industrial-scale processes and understand the important role this facility plays in global agriculture and the local economy.

“The Soda Spring visit was a great experience. It was interesting to see the work that goes on behind the scenes in the industry before chemical products, like glyphosate, become available to growers. Observing the phosphorus mining process firsthand gave me a new appreciation for the steps involved in producing these essential agricultural inputs”, Olanrewaju Adeyemi, USU graduate student participating in the B4U 2025 Chapter.

Virtual Speed-Networking Event

In August, the USU mentees joined their Bayer mentors for a virtual speed-networking session. Each student prepared and presented a short bio, highlighting their professional and personal backgrounds. This interactive event allowed mentees to receive valuable feedback directly from their mentors, connect with additional Bayer scientists outside of their mentor-mentee pairings, and ask questions about career advancement in the agriculture industry.

“The speed networking event gave us a chance to receive advice and mentoring from people other than our assigned mentor. This is valuable as each mentor only sees a part of Bayer due to the size of the company. By talking with the different mentors one on one I was able to learn about divisions of the company, both in task and geography, that my mentor has not seen. I especially appreciated this as the mentors had a variety of job descriptions in different areas, so I never felt like conversations repeated or that I was receiving repetitive information. Beyond information I learned, the opportunity to practice my conversation skills with several people who have varied styles of communication was beneficial. The online networking event was valuable in a variety of ways, and I am glad I attended”, said Claire Spickermann, USU graduate student participating in the B4U 2025 Chapter. 

The Annual B4U Summit

In October, two USU mentees were sponsored by the PSC department to attend the B4U Summit held at Bayer Crop Science headquarters in Chesterfield, MO. This one-day summit is a flagship event for the program, bringing together mentees and mentors from universities across the United States. Attendees had the world-class opportunity to present their graduate research, network with Bayer scientists, tour Bayer’s state-of-the-art research and innovation facility, and participate in workshops focused on professional development.

“Attending the B4U Summit was an incredible learning experience that broadened my perspective on career paths in agricultural research and industry. My mentor, Jose Tovar, provided valuable guidance on how to align my academic training with real-world applications and shared practical advice on leadership, networking, and professional growth. The Summit itself was an inspiring opportunity to meet Bayer scientists, connect with peers from other universities, and learn about the innovation happening across different sectors of agriculture”, said Saroj Burlakoti, USU graduate student participating in the 2025 B4U Mentorship Program.

Looking Ahead

The first year of USU’s B4U chapter has undoubtedly been a resounding success. Participants have gained invaluable professional perspectives, developed tangible skills, and built networks that may shape the future of their careers.

This achievement would not have been possible without the efforts of Felipe Sabadin, who served as the dedicated USU Liaison for the program, and both Kevin Cope and Keith Merrill, who serves as the USU B4U Chapter Co-Leads at Bayer. Together, they helped lay the foundation for this partnership. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the PSC department for its support in establishing the B4U chapter at USU and for championing career development for students.

Applications for the next cycle of the Bayer University Mentoring Program will open in mid-December. This year’s participants highly recommend the program to late-stage graduate students in the Plants, Soils, and Climate program or related disciplines.

“My experience in the B4U program has been overwhelmingly positive, and I recommend that every PSC graduate student applies to be a mentee as they near graduation. My mentor, Kevin Cope, has shared invaluable insights on how to leverage personal strengths, set and achieve goals, make and maintain connections, and how to take control of my own career so I can continue to grow as an intellectual. I’ve made connections with incredible scientists working in all aspects of industry and academia, including those at Bayer, the Danforth Center, and numerous small startups, and learned about the diversity of careers that are available to new graduates like myself. The more you put into this program, the more you get out, and the B4U Summit was just the cherry on top” said Madigan Eckels, USU graduate student participating in the 2025 B4U Mentorship Program.

“The B4U Mentorship Program allows students to build meaningful professional connections. By engaging with Bayer mentors and peers from across the country, students not only expand their professional networks but also gain a deeper understanding of how their academic work connects to real-world agricultural and environmental challenges. That is an amazing opportunity for students, and I strongly encourage them to apply for the next cycles”, said Felipe Sabadin, assistant professor of small grains breeding and genetics and faculty lead for the B4U initiative at Utah State University.

“The B4U Mentorship Program represents exactly the kind of experiential learning we want our graduate students to engage in,” said Dr. Matt Yost, head of the Plants, Soils, and Climate Department. “It bridges the gap between academic research and industry application, giving students an unparalleled opportunity to explore career paths, strengthen professional skills, and connect directly with leaders in agricultural science. I strongly encourage our students to apply and take advantage of this exceptional program.”

For more information on how to apply, please email to felipe.sabadin@usu.edu. This is a rare opportunity to connect with industry professionals and gain a competitive edge in pursuing your career goals. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the next cohort of USU’s B4U mentees!

Graduate students and postdocs interested in participating in the next cycle 2026 B4U Mentorship program, please click on this link.