Published on Dec. 12, 2024
As Avery Rayle was exploring plant sciences degree programs at colleges across the state, she said there was one thing that stood out about the University of Missouri – ample opportunities to conduct meaningful undergraduate research right away. Nearly four years later, Rayle is finishing her plant sciences degree with a stellar research portfolio.
“I knew I wanted to study plant sciences, and as I was comparing programs at different universities, none of them had an emphasis on research like Mizzou,” Rayle said. “There are so many dedicated programs here for getting undergraduates in the lab as soon as possible, and that was really the big decision maker for me.”
Through the Discovery Fellows program, a scholarship offered through the Honors College, Rayle was able to begin her research journey during her first semester. She began working with Sherry Flint-Garcia, an adjunct professor in Division of Biological Sciences and the Division of Plant Science and Technology. Flint-Garcia is also research geneticist for the USDA-ARS. As a Discovery Fellow, Rayle was able to be part of Flint-Garcia’s lab for two years. When Rayle’s time in the program came to an end, Flint-Garcia brought her back as one of six undergraduate hires in her lab.
“The dynamic in her lab is unmatched,” Rayle said. “I’ve learned so much from her. Even when I was just starting out and cleaning petri dishes or something similar, she would explain why the work I was doing mattered so much. That was so important. I’ve witnessed a lot in the way she interacts with others and communicates her research. I definitely want to take that with me moving forward.”
The Flint-Garcia lab researches several aspects of genetic diversity in maize. For the past year, Rayle has had her own research focused on fungal diseases in maize.
“We work with a lot of heirloom varieties of maize, and my project is looking at fungal diseases in those varieties,” Rayle said. “Some of those heirlooms are better adapted to drought and have a higher flood tolerance. There is more of a need for those varieties, too, as the changing climate is causing a lot of new, emerging fungal diseases that are destroying hybrid corn. I’ve been studying data related to that, basically trying to show that there is significance there; that there is definitely less disease in the heirloom varieties than the hybrids.”
Rayle’s interest in plants began in high school. It was actually a book that sparked her interest.
“This is going to sound cheesy, but I read The Martian by Andy Weir,” Rayle said. “My dad and I became obsessed with the book, and I knew I wanted to do something related to the environment. I had always had an interest in the environment, but the book really solidified that. Plant sciences just made a lot of sense for me.”
While Rayle was excited about the research opportunities at Mizzou, she was also familiar with the campus through the Missouri Scholars Academy (MSA).
“MSA was amazing; I’m still in group chats with friends I made during the experience,” Rayle said. “It was also really nice to be back in Mark Twain (Hall) during my freshman year, as it was such a fun place to be during my time in the Academy.”
Along with her work in the field, Rayle has been incredibly active in the Honors College, beyond her Discovery Fellows scholarship. Rayle took all four courses in the Humanities Sequence, earning her certificate earlier this year. She also served on the Honors Curriculum Committee and earned the Charles M. Hudson Scholarship last year.
“The Humanities Sequence was really great,” Rayle said. “I loved how the courses related to each other and dove deeper into literature, architecture, philosophy, music and art in ways that I hadn’t experienced before. It was also an exciting change of pace for me. I was doing a lot of science-related work through my major, so it was nice to be invested in discussion of this nature, too.
“Overall, Mizzou does a great job of connecting students with each other, and the Honors College was a huge bow on top of that for me.”
Rayle will also serve as the commencement speaker during the Honors College ceremony.
“Finding out I was going to be giving a speech during commencement was kind of crazy,” Rayle said. “When I told my mom, I think she was more excited than I was.”