Carlos Sanchez
Hello! This week’s featured scientist is Carlos Sanchez, a Master’s student at the University of Minnesota. He is a member of the Soybean Physiology and Management Laboratory in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics at the University of Minnesota. Carlos has a fondness for everything and anything that involves agriculture. Most of his research interests are focused on managing plants, specifically soybean and corn.
When Carlos isn’t focusing on soybean and corn, he likes to explore other topics related to the interaction of plants and insects. Testing new strategies, techniques, and methods to enhance crop yield and reduce farming costs is something Carlos is also interested in because it contributes to the finding of effective and environmentally sustainable alternatives that support global food security.
Q&A
How did you get into the work that you do?
Since I was a kid, my dad taught me the importance of agriculture in the world. Many experiences in this field of science fed me with enough motivation that cannot quench the desire to work in agriculture and positively impact the production of enough food to feed the global population.
What questions do people always ask when they learn about what you do? What is your typical response?
When people learn what I do, they typically ask “What is the most challenging part of what you are doing?”
I always smile and try to narrow down my ideas. Still, most of the time it is impossible to describe all the fantastic things that involve research and the extraordinary amount of knowledge that I gain every day by working on my project and learning from others.
What is one of your favorite aspects of your work? What is the most challenging?
Undoubtedly, my favorite aspect of my work is that during the summer, I get to travel and go to the field nearly every day, but things are not always as we expect. I would say that what is most challenging is when I have to plan time-sensitive activities in the field, and I see that the forecast does not look good for my specific work plans.
If you could study any one topic or idea, and money/time/equipment/ were not an issue, what would you study?
I would love to study the growth of different cultivars in space environments.
Outside of your scientific studies, what other subjects or interests do you enjoy?
When it comes to enjoying life out of my studies, I can tell you that I love traveling the world, getting to know people from different backgrounds, and trying authentic food from the places I visit.
What is a fun fact that few people would guess about you?
A fun fact about me is that I can listen to music for about eight or more hours a day. That means that I have good skills in picking songs when I am with my friends and family.
Header Photo by Dan Meyers