Peyton Higgins is a 2024 WISCIENCE STEM Public Service Fellow and a postdoc studying food science and plant breeding within the context of regenerative agricultural systems. After majoring in chemistry at Smith College, they joined the chemistry graduate program at UW–Madison, where their research focused on protein engineering in Prof. Andrew Buller’s lab. After completing their PhD in summer 2023, they moved across campus to use their chemistry background to study the nutrient composition of hazelnuts. That project is part of a large, collaborative effort to breed hazelnut varieties that are well-suited to grow commercially in the Upper Midwest. Outside of work, Peyton likes spending time with their wife and two dogs, playing hockey, going rock climbing, gardening, and learning various fiber arts skills. They also volunteer on the board of a local nonprofit called Sustainable Stoughton.
What has been your favorite part of the STEM Public Service Fellows program so far?
I’ve enjoyed getting to know the rest of the Fellows in our cohort! It feels good to spend time with folks who have similar career interests, especially when those interests (like community-engaged research) aren’t common in our home departments.
What are you looking forward to doing in this program?
I’m excited for the community partner practicum! I enjoy meeting new people and learning about new topics, so the practicum should be a fun step beyond my current comfort zone. I also think having an opportunity to do work outside of a typical academic setting will help me build a better sense of what type of career would be a good fit for me.
What are some of your career goals and how do you think this program will help you achieve them?
I feel drawn to the process of bridging academic research and real-world action, and I think community-engaged research is a great framework for making that happen. I’ve already been able to bring some of the concepts from my PSF coursework into my own research and my volunteer work with a local nonprofit.
What is one of the most valuable things you have learned as a Fellow?
One idea that’s stood out to me is the importance of connection—taking stock of all the resources, knowledge, individuals, and groups in a system and finding ways to bring them together. Building those connections can take a lot of time and effort, but they make new things possible and are essential to successful community-engaged work.
Learn more about STEM Public Service Fellows.