b'Cracking the Code of Soybean Cyst Nematode ResistanceResearch scientist Julia Daums lifes work culminates in the first SCN trait to come to market in more than 60 years.By Aimee Nielson, Seed World EditorRESEARCH SCIENCE MAYseemdiverse experiences and her willingness like an unseen, almost secretive art.to embrace different scientific challenges, Yet, for Julia Daum, a research scientisteach adding another layer to her expertise.and manager at BASF, its a passion thatBut Julias return to agriculture was has shaped her career and fueled a questinevitable. She found herself drawn back to develop innovative solutions for farm- to plant science, where her early knowl-ers worldwide. Hailing from Iowa andedge of nematodes and greenhouses journeying through academic and cor- and her passion for high-stakes research porate corridors, Daums story is one ofcame together at BASF. perseverance, passion and an unwavering commitment to pushing the boundariesNavigating the Challenges of of plant science. Scientific BreakthroughsI grew up in Iowa, Julia begins,Most great R&D ideas encounter chal-leaning into her story with an easy smile.lenges along the way, and Daums path She holds a bachelors and a mastersto discovering a potential solution to the degree in food technology from Iowasoybean cyst nematode was anything State University (ISU), and what shebut straightforward. But despite the always wanted to do, she explains, wasbumps along the nearly two-decade-researchreal, hands-on and meaningfullong road, two things did not change: research.Daums passion for science and relent-Her path, however, took a few twistsless focus to find a novel solution for before leading her to BASF and theJulia Daum has been working to tackle SCNSCN control, and the camaraderie with discovery of a groundbreaking nematodefor most of her career.PHOTO: BASF colleagues who shared the same intense control trait thats poised to shake up thefocus. nematode control fight.I always had people who were incred-skills she would later use to solve complexible scientists around me, and we really A Curious Mind in the Lab agricultural challenges. worked well together, she says with After graduating from ISU, the next stepDaums career then led her into a post- admiration for her teammates. For me, in her journey took her to the Universitydoctoral position, which she humorouslyits important to have an environment of Toledo in Ohio, where she immerseddescribes as a way to delay growing up.where you are surrounded and supported herself in nematology research, first as aThis phase of her life wasnt directly tiedby brilliant colleagues who provide input, research technician and later earning ato agriculture, as she moved into the fielddetails, thoughts, and direction from Ph.D. in the biology. She wasnt studyingof cancer biology, first at Duke Universitytheir areas of expertise as we navigated plants at that time but instead delvingand then at Eli Lilly and Company. There,through the complex problem we were into animal parasitic nematodes, whichshe honed her skills in hypothesis-drivenworking to solve. Our success with gave her a unique perspective.research, a discipline she describes withCry14Ab is the result of the input from I worked there for quite a few years,enthusiasm.many colleagues bringing their expertise she recalls, saying the experience wasIt was lab work. I love lab work. I loveto the project that allowed the progres-foundational, even if not directly tied tobig numbers, she says. This part of hersion and eventual success in creating the plant breeding, as it provided her with thejourney reflects Daums penchant forproduct, Nemasphere.8/ SEEDWORLD.COMDECEMBER 2024'