Welcome! You’ve reached the right place to learn about the Botanical Society of America’s PLANTS grant, Preparing Leaders and Nurturing Tomorrow’s Scientists.

The PLANTS grant is a travel award for underrepresented undergraduates to attend the annual Botany conference, including mentorship from both peer and experienced mentors within the field of botany.

If you are an undergraduate would like to apply to be a PLANTS scholar, you can learn more about the PLANTS program and application process by selecting “Become a PLANTS Scholar” on the left.

If you are a graduate student, post-doc, or professional in the field of botany and would like to learn about how to mentor an undergraduate at the Botany conference this year, selct “Become a PLANTS Mentor”.

The Botany and Beyond: PLANTS III pathway program is funded by the National Science Foundation (DEB-2138730) and Botanical Society of America to bring a talented and diverse group of undergraduates to BOTANY 2025 in Palm Springs, CA from July 25-31, 2025, where we will provide mentored training opportunities. BSA leads this program, in conjunction with our partners at the American Society of Plant Taxonomists and the Society for Herbarium Curators, in support of a more inclusive and accessible culture in the botanical community.

Congratulations to the 2025 awardees and thank you, mentors!

Ormary Alvarez, Lehman College, Advisor: Cecilia Zumajo

Mickie Barraza, New Mexico State University, Advisor: Sara Fuentes -Soriano

Abbigale Baum, Utah Valley University, Advisor: Michael C. Rotter

Kathryn Bourlier, Old Dominion University, Advisor: Erik Yando

Leo Case, Oregon State University, Advisor: Gail Langellotto

Gianna Claude, Old Dominion University, Advisor: Nicholas Flanders

James Davis, Oklahoma state university, Advisor: Cody Howard

Muriel Draper, Old Dominion University, Advisor: Erik Yando

Marissa Falla, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Advisor: Mare Nazaire

Nova Hodgson, Oregon State University, Advisor: Gar Rothwell

Abigail Kohn, University of Michigan, Advisor: Selena Smith

Jada Martinez, University of North Texas, Advisor: Elinor Lichtenberg

Marissa Mc Lean, SUNY Cortland, Advisor: Elizabeth McCarthy

Victor Melendez Maldonado, Christopher Newport University, Advisor: Janet Steven

Maylin On, Cal Poly Humboldt, Advisor: Alana Chin

Tyler Radtke, University of Florida, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Advisor: Pam Soltis, Doug Soltis

Andrew Ruegsegger, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Advisor: Maribeth Latvis

Charlotte Saltsman, Murray State University, Advisor: Ingrid Jordon-Thaden

Icyss Sargeant, Louisiana State University, Advisor: Laura Lagomarsino

Alysha Schjelderup, University of California Santa Cruz, Advisor: Jarmilla Pitterman

Dailyn Wold, University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, Advisor: Nora Mitchell

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (DEB-2138730). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.