Graduate chemistry student Olamide Ogundele attended Corteva Agriscience’s Developing Emerging Leaders and Talent in Agriculture (DELTA Symposium). Her trip was completely sponsored by Corteva Agriscience. 

Corteva is well-renowned as the only major agriscience company completely dedicated to agriculture. 

During the symposium, Ogundele presented her project, made valuable STEM connections and was offered multiple internships with the company.  

Passing through generations 

Contaminants, ranging from heavy metals to organic pollutants, have long been recognized as threats to both environmental and human health. 

Ogundele’s project, titled “Does Prior Exposure of plants to perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) affect the next generation?” focuses on how wheat and soybean seeds are affected over time by these forms of toxic waste. 

“The generational exposures of plants to contaminants are real in the environment, however, there is limited understanding of the pattern of the effects,” Ogundele said.  

In her study, Ogundele cultivated and grew seeds in soil with PFOS acid. 

“Plant stress and responses including plant growth and biomass, chlorophyll content, lipid peroxidation and enzyme activity were measured at short and long exposure periods,” she said. “The results from this study aim to provide insights into the effects of generational exposures to PFOS on cereals and legumes.”  

Ogundele is advised by Dr. Cyren Rico, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry. 

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A bountiful opportunity 

In addition to presenting her project, Ogundele experienced both plentiful educational and professional opportunities.  

“What I appreciated most was the opportunity to network with top management personnel,” she said. “The CEO of Corteva delivered a speech and the discussions were highly informative. The comfort provided at the event was also memorable.” 

Ogundele was also offered internships at three different departments within the company. 

“I received internship offers from the Biotechnology, Crop Protection and Development, and Regulatory and Stewardship departments,” she said. “I am expected to choose the department I would love to work with.” 

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