Sustainable Ag Major Named National Science Foundation Research Fellow

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 21, 2026) — A senior in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences will be able to continue her graduate studies at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University thanks to a prestigious, research-based fellowship from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Sydney Bryson, a sustainable land and food systems major in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design, was named an NSF Graduate Research Fellow in late April. She is the first CAES student to be awarded the fellowship since 2007, according to NSF award data.

Bryson, a lifelong advocate for sustainable agriculture, said she’s maintained a love for protecting the planet that started when she was a child.

“When I was young, seeing single-use plastics or machinery that’s not built to last, and later on seeing the consequences of hurricanes, longer droughts and wildfires that come as a result of irresponsible agricultural practices — it made me upset,” said Bryson. “So being able to tackle those problems will help improve our environment and make it last for future generations.”

Since 1952, the program has recognized and supported outstanding graduate students who are pursuing full-time research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, including STEM education. The fellowship provides three years of support over a five-year fellowship period.

Bryson’s research proposal, as part of her fellowship application, centered on advancing the understanding of soil-plant interactions and nutrient dynamics, with a particular emphasis on how soil physical, chemical and biological processes influence crop performance by focusing on soil-driven stress response.

Bryson will continue her graduate studies in fall 2026 under the supervision of Arnab Bhowmik, Ph.D., associate professor in soil science. She has worked in his Soil Sustainability Research Lab in since 2024, and is an Undergraduate Research Scholar, focusing on root trait analysis in fiber hemp.

“(Sydney)’s success in earning the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship is a well-deserved recognition of her talent, dedication, and potential to make meaningful contributions to agricultural and environmental sciences,” said Bhowmik.