Brian Viner
Protector of Human Health
Brian Viner
I am a doctorate student in the Agronomy Department at Iowa State University where I am working toward a degree in Agricultural Meteorology. I grew up in Iowa and spent much of my life living next to fields of soybeans and corn. My dad worked as a soil conservationist so I was introduced to a number of farmers and held great appreciation for what they do. While I did not begin college in agronomy, I am glad my research has become something that would benefit agronomists.
I originally came to Iowa State University in 2001 where I obtained a B.S. degree in meteorology. During that time, I found I enjoyed using computer models to simulate small-scale atmospheric motions such as local wind and turbulence. My senior thesis focused on modeling two-dimensional wind fields and examining how they were influenced by the presence of windbreaks. My first experiences with agronomy came at this time, when I worked with a graduate student who used the wind fields I modeled to predict the dispersion of corn pollen.
In 2005, I chose to remain here to get my M.S. degree in Agricultural Meteorology, giving me the chance to apply my knowledge in computer modeling to ‘real-world’ scenarios. My research, while working with my major advisor Dr. Ray Arritt, has focused on continuing the work of simulating the dispersion of corn pollen. With the development of genetically modified plants, accurate modeling of pollen dispersion is needed to assess the risk of cross-pollination. Being able to have an impact on research that is impacting current methods of pollen confinement has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. While I did not have an extensive background in agronomy when I started my degree, I have come to appreciate how diverse the field is.
While I was looking for doctorate schools, I decided that I wanted to remain in the Agronomy Department and continue my dispersion research because I am able to see the immediate impacts of my research in the world and because the Agronomy Department has some of the best mentors and researchers I have known. I am very excited to be accepted into the Research Training Fellowship Program because I know this program will give me skills and experiences that I would not obtain simply as a research assistant. I also saw this as a chance to meet more people in the Agronomy Department and learn about other areas of research in the department as well as collaborate with other graduate students on research projects. With the inter-disciplinary nature of the department, which extends to fields such as food and nutrition or seed production, I hope to find more ways that my background in meteorology can be applied to current issues in agronomy.
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