In this series, we introduce you to the people behind CropXR. Who are they, what do they do, and why are they passionate about their work for CropXR?
Name: Hazel van Waijjen
What is your CropXR role?
I am a PhD student, working on the team of work package C5.1/5.2: Flowering regulation under stress.
Can you describe this role in a nutshell?
The coming four years, I will be working on the regulation of flower induction and architecture under drought and heat stress in Arabidopsis. This plant is considered a model plant and therefore it is ideal for research. I investigate how the plant’s response to drought affects flowering. Premature flowering significantly reduces the yield. Similarly, flowering that occurs too late causes problems related to the harvest and diseases. If we understand the plant’s response to drought, we can better breed new crops for future wet or dry periods that are likely to occur in a changing climate.
Why are you driven to contribute to the CropXR project?
I love nature-based solutions and I am convinced that introducing more diversity in agriculture will increase its robustness. I am excited about CropXR because of the holistic approach that takes both social, biological, technical and natural aspects into consideration. This can create a future-proof agricultural revolution. It is a great feeling to contribute to a project that includes so many aspects and so many new colleagues.
I love nature-based solutions
What is the main challenge you face?
I have only just started, so I am still finding my way in all the different CropXR parts. I think the main challenge we all face is to stay critical (in a positive way) of literature and our own research. In my opinion, a good scientist is open-minded and non-biased towards new or unexpected results.
What do you personally hope to achieve within CropXR in the next (10) years?
I mainly want to enjoy my time as a PhD candidate. I would like to learn a lot, teach students what I have learned and be a part of something bigger. Instead of focusing on achievements, I think it is more important to concentrate on different things. Such as fully experiencing this time and learning more about the things I find interesting. Moreover, I would like to contribute to the project, to the experience and to the learning curve of my peers.