Growing Futures: USU Grad Students Selected for Bayer Mentorship Program

Four graduate students from Utah State University’s Department of Plants, Soils and Climate have been selected to participate in the university’s newly established chapter of the Bayer Crop Science University Mentoring Program.

Also known as “B4U,” the program is a global initiative that pairs graduate students and postdoctoral scholars with industry professionals to help develop the next generation of scientists. Through one-on-one mentorship, participants receive career coaching, professional skills training, and networking opportunities. The program emphasizes collaboration, professional growth, and work-life balance to prepare students for careers in industry and beyond.

At USU, students applied to be part of the 2025 cohort through a competitive process that included application review by university faculty and Bayer representatives. Candidates were evaluated based on academic achievements, research interests, career goals and graduate program status.

Four USU students were selected for this year’s cohort:

• Claire Spickermann
• Madigan Eckels
• Olanrewaju E. Adeyemi
• Saroj Burlakoti

“The B4U program has helped me break out of the perpetual mental state of graduate school and start thinking about the future I want after graduation,” said Eckels. “I’m gaining a new perspective on the balance between academia and industry, and I genuinely look forward to each meeting with my mentor, Kevin Cope.”

“I’ve had a great time so far learning from amazing mentors in academia, and I’m excited that the B4U program will provide an opportunity to gain a complementary perspective from the industry side,” said Adeyemi.

The four students represent diverse disciplines within plant science, including plant physiology, plant breeding, horticulture and weed science. Each has been matched with a Bayer mentor in a related field. The mentoring relationships are already underway, with students outlining their career goals, building professional connections, and identifying key skills to develop throughout the yearlong program.

“Students benefit greatly by having a good understanding of research and opportunities in private industry, and this program does just that,” said Paul Johnson, professor and head of the Department of Plants, Soils and Climate. “I’m pleased that Dr. Felipe Sabadin has served as the liaison and connected our students with this excellent opportunity. I appreciate how this mentoring focuses on skills that may not get as much attention during a degree. We professors can learn from this too.”

“The B4U program is a great opportunity for students to connect with professionals in the industry sector and increase their understanding of that environment,” said Sabadin, assistant professor of small grains genetics and breeding and faculty lead for the B4U initiative. “Students will be mentored by experienced Bayer scientists and encouraged to hone soft skills, grow their professional networks, and participate in career and self-development activities.”

By launching a B4U chapter at Utah State, the university joins 26 other partner institutions across North America. The program includes more than 380 mentees and is supported by volunteer Bayer scientists who provide personalized mentorship, as well as webinars, site visits and networking events.

This multifaceted approach gives late-stage graduate students and postdoctoral researchers tools to succeed while also strengthening long-term partnerships between academia and industry in support of Bayer’s global mission: “Health for All, Hunger for None.”