Student Spotlight:
Christi Webster

Voiland School graduate student Christi Webster has recently received the Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation.

She shares her WSU experiences that have contributed to her success.

What does it mean to receive this award?

It is such an honor to receive a 2023 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, one of the oldest graduate fellowships for STEM. I am beyond excited to be awarded this prestigious award and extremely grateful for the support of my advisor, mentors, friends, and family throughout my research journey.

Why did you choose WSU and your program for grad school?

I attended Washington State for my undergrad and grew to love Pullman during those four years, so I applied to the Chemical Engineering PhD program. I was accepted into the NIH Protein Biotechnology Training Program, where I was able to complete three lab rotations to find the best fit for me.

What is your area of research?

I am researching electrochemically active biofilm in soil systems, which combines fields of chemical engineering, electrochemistry, and plant science. Biofilms are communities of microorganisms that form unique communities which can be found from soils to chronic wounds. The electrochemically active biofilm growth can be monitored as an electric current using electrochemical techniques. So, I am interested in understanding the signals produced by the electrochemically active species and how they relate to overall soil health.

How did you get interested in this field of research? Why do you think it’s important?

I started undergraduate research as a freshman in Dr. Beyenal’s lab working with bacteria which causes Citrus Greening Disease. This introduced me to interdisciplinary research that connected engineering, biology, and path pathology. In the summer of 2021, I completed a DAAD Research in Science and Engineering Internship at the Leibniz Center for Landscape and Agricultural Research in Germany. There I worked with the Fungal Interactions group researching the wheat fungus, Fusarium. This experience led to my interest in agriculture research, allowing me to apply my engineering skills to help develop methods to improve agricultural practices. My research project is looking at a novel method to analyze agricultural soils and is a new component to precision agriculture. Precision agriculture is a key component to more sustainable agricultural practices, and I want to contribute to this field through my studies at WSU.

How is grad school different than your undergraduate experience?

Compared to undergrad, I have had more time to focus on doing research and learning about my field of interest more directly through classes and research.

What advice would you give to students thinking about grad school?

My biggest piece of advice is to get involved in undergraduate research and talk to current graduate students about their experiences. I got involved early in my undergraduate career and had several graduate student mentors who helped me determine if grad school was a good fit for me. It is also a great way to make connections in your field of interest, even if you decide to not go to grad school.

What do you like to do on the Palouse when you aren’t working/studying?

I love to take walks around Pullman and the arboretum in Moscow, Idaho (especially in the spring and fall)!