Early Career Award – Ms. Uyen Cao Chu

The SIVB Early Career Award for 2026 was presented to Ms. Uyen Cao Chu, Crop Transformation Senior Research Associate, Corteva Agriscience. Ms. Chu has made significant and original contributions to plant biotechnology through the development of genotype-independent transformation and genome editing methods for major crops including wheat, canola, cotton, and sorghum, thereby accelerating trait development pipelines and expanding the utility of advanced tissue culture and CRISPR/Cas-based technologies. Ms. Chu’s work includes pioneering somatic embryogenesis approaches for dicot plants, establishing protoplast gene-editing workflows for vegetatively propagated crops, and optimizing regeneration and transformation systems across multiple species. These contributions are supported by her strong publication and patent record, including peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals such as Frontiers in Plant Science and In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology–Plant, as well as co-inventorship on patents. Beyond research, Ms. Chu has demonstrated impactful mentorship and leadership by training graduate interns, junior researchers, and cross-functional teams in transformation protocols, experimental design, data analysis, tissue culture optimization, and Design of Experiment methodology, while also managing complex transformation pipelines and serving in governance roles such as CTS/CGE/GS CAMS Lead. Since joining SIVB in 2018, she has actively contributed to the Society as a reviewer for In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology–Plant, judge for the Student Presentation Competition, and organizer and speaker for DoE workshops and sessions, reflecting a sustained commitment to scientific excellence, education, outreach, and the advancement of the Society’s mission. Congratulations to Ms. Chu on this well-deserved achievement! Submitted by: Nagesh Sardesai and Geny Anthony