What’s your name?

Quentin Herzig

What's your major?

Crop Sciences with a concentration on plant biotechnology & molecular biology.

Where are you from?

Evanston, IL

Why or how did you pick your major in the Department of Crop Sciences?

In high school I took AP Environmental Sciences, and my teacher’s infectious passion for global issues got me particularly interested in global food security. I loved science growing up and as I got older molecular biology fascinated me, so studying plant biotechnology as it relates to crops and improving food security was a perfect match.

What is your favorite part of being a student in the Department of Crop Sciences? 

The resources available are amazing, there are lots of opportunities for supplemental learning, connecting with faculty and potential mentors, and performing research. The faculty are very down-to-earth and approachable, I have built many long-lasting professional relationships and mentorships with faculty here simply by stepping into their office and discussing research topics and interests.

Tell us a little bit of what you do outside of classes?

Outside of my classes, I work in a molecular biology lab implementing systems that accelerate the evolution of genes in E. coli and algae, and I just started another position researching how to modify cell development in Arabidopsis thaliana to improve photosynthesis engineering potential. I also enjoy skateboarding and reading in my free time.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?

My ultimate goal is to keep studying and researching molecular biology to improve global food security. Soon I hope to start a PhD researching how to genetically engineer photosynthesis to perform better under high heat and drought conditions.

What is one thing you want people to know about being an undergraduate student in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois?

There are so many opportunities and funding for travel, research, and scholarships, and the faculty is very willing to help you create or find opportunities that suit you. If you’re a student here and want to do something, ask around and someone can point you to the right resources! For example, in one of my first crop science lectures, my professor spoke about his background working all over the world to improve food security. As someone aspiring to do the same, I reached out to him to ask for his mentorship to follow in his footsteps. We kept in touch and a year later he helped me get in contact with an opportunity to travel to the Philippines to do rice research through a fully funded program in partnership with Purdue University and the International Rice Research Institute.