October 14, 2024

Lilijana Oliver is a doctoral student in plant biology from Rush, New York. She earned her B.S. at Yale University and now studies polyploidy in plant development under the guidance of Adrienne Roeder at Cornell.

What is your area of research and why is it important?

My research focuses on the role of polyploidy in plant development using the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana. Polyploidy occurs when a whole genome duplication event results in more than two copies of a genome per somatic cell. This may occur across every cell of an entire organism or only in specific cells. Polyploidy is widespread amongst plants, and has been linked to everything from their evolution, to stress response, to cell and organ size, and more. I aim to understand the mechanisms by which polyploidy alters plant morphology and performance, as well as how plants may regulate development in order to accommodate and/or benefit from changes in genome copy number.

What are the larger implications of this research?

Polyploidy can be found across every kingdom of life. Amongst plants, polyploidy is associated with increased size and thus plays a significant role in the biomass yielded from major crops. In humans, polyploidy is essential to the specialized functions of various cell types, yet often contributes to cancer if occurring at the wrong place or time. In many species, polyploidy of individual somatic cells is linked to stress responses. Understanding the fundamental biology surrounding polyploidy will yield insights into a plethora of questions faced by society.

What does it mean to you to have received an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship?

I feel extremely grateful to have received the NSF GRFP. The successful application reflects the support of peers and mentors for both this research project and my path to pursue it.

What will your fellowship allow you to do that you may not have been able to otherwise?

This fellowship, unique to most funding opportunities, allows a great deal of flexibility in the topic of research which I can now pursue. As many can attest, graduate school is an unpredictable time; embracing unexpected results can mean the difference between projects evolving in a new direction versus petering out. The flexibility of the NSF GRFP enables adaptability and confidence towards pursuing my research topics of interest.

If you participated in any of the Graduate School’s NSF GRFP programming last fall, either an information session or peer review session, how did it help you prepare your application?

I did not participate in any of this programming, but I was extremely fortunate that my peers in the field of plant biology provided tips and resources to build a successful application. It was very helpful to speak with previous applicants whose research interests were similar to my own.

What are your hobbies or interests outside of your research or scholarship?

I enjoy running, hiking, biking, kayaking, rock climbing, nature photography, and almost any activity that allows me to spend time outdoors and amongst friends. Additionally, I’ve recently renewed my interest in reading for fun (not just scientific journal articles) based on the sci-fi and fantasy recommendations of friends and family.

Why did you choose Cornell to pursue your degree?

I chose Cornell first and foremost for its plant science community. Until my first visit to Cornell, I had never been surrounded by so many like-minded individuals motivated to pursue research using plants. Regardless of which direction of research I chose, I knew I’d be supported and have the ability to make meaningful contributions in return.