Interview with Women in Science: Meet Angela Records
This International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we interviewed six women in science from the United States Agency for International Development to discover their journeys in this field. Meet Angela Records and learn more about her experience and advice for the next generation of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Can you give us a brief introduction about yourself?
I am a Science Advisor in the United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Food Security, and I’ve been with the Agency for seven years. Before working for USAID, I obtained my doctoral degree in plant pathology from Texas A&M University, where I conducted research on plant-microbe interactions. After my postdoctoral research at the University of Maryland, I accepted a fellowship with the American Phytopathological Society, which led me to the opportunity to work at USAID.
How did you get into STEM and your line of work specifically?
A: I always knew that I wanted to go into STEM, but I wasn’t always sure exactly which area. In high school, I took an advanced biology course where we learned about genetics, and I was hooked. I was fascinated by the fact that tiny strands of DNA are responsible for our physical appearance, our personalities, and even whether we are susceptible to certain diseases. Ultimately, I did my undergraduate degree in biology. I wanted to help people, so I thought the obvious course after college was to become a medical doctor. But my love of laboratory work led me to pursue graduate school. I chose to study bacterial infections and joined a laboratory focused on understanding the tools that bacteria use to infect plants. My graduate studies of bacterial plant infections really excited me, but l longed to feel that my work was really helping people. I eventually found my way to USAID, where I am able to apply my scientific knowledge to international development. I have since had the opportunity to visit developing countries and witness the work we do at USAID in action. For example, I’ve met smallholder farmers using improved seeds that produce nutritious, high-yielding crop varieties resilient to environmental stresses, including plant pathogens (diseases).
Q: What are some of the most exciting projects you’ve worked on or are working on currently?
A: USAID recently started a new program called the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Crop Improvement, which is a five-year program led by Cornell University that will deliver cutting-edge tools and technologies to plant breeding programs in the developing world. The Innovation Lab focuses on providing smallholder farmers in developing countries with tools to help them produce crops that are nutritious, climate-smart, and that align with consumer interest. What’s unique about this Innovation Lab is that it’s motivated by local consumer demand, not the university’s choice. This helps the program meet different communities’ needs. I’m a project manager for the Lab; while I don’t do research, I get to review proposals, decide on investments, and help guide the Lab’s resources and expertise to meet stakeholders’ needs.
Q: Where do you see your career heading in the next 5–10 years?
A: Like most scientific disciplines, the fields of plant pathology and crop improvement will always be impacted by technology. These days, technology often brings massive amounts of data. The way we generate and handle this data will have big impacts on the field. I like that we are moving toward an interdisciplinary approach to research. You can see this at USAID, as we bring in people from many different disciplines!
One particularly fascinating area that has really blossomed in recent years is the study of phytobiomes, the microbiomes surrounding plants. We’re starting to investigate how we can control the phytobiome to our advantage and influence plants to grow better. I could see this impacting my role at USAID as we try to harness our understanding of phytobiomes to help farmers in countries where soils may be depleted and resources may be limited.
Q: What do you see as some of the biggest challenges to work and progress in crop resilience?
A: It’s tough to ensure that new and improved varieties of crops reach farmers in developing countries, especially those with limited access to seed systems and infrastructure. Recent data suggests that many farmers in developing countries are growing crop varieties that are more than 20 years old, while farmers in the United States are utilizing the latest varieties of those crops — often only three years old. This signals a disconnect, but it’s not always easy to communicate the benefits of new varieties to farmers in developing countries. Often times the improved species are more expensive — it can be a tough sell. Likewise, not every farmer has access to the latest options. We can do all kinds of cool, cutting-edge science; but if technologies are not being implemented in the field, we must do better. We’re always striving to make better connections between our research and the farmers who actually plant the crops. How do we market these seeds, and how do we communicate that they’re worth the farmers’ efforts?
Sustainability — broadly defined — is also a big topic. I’ve worked with several Innovation Labs that specifically focused on climate-resilient crop varieties. These improved varieties are more resilient to heat, drought, and even plant diseases. It’s important that we support research on crop resistance so that we’re prepared for plant disease outbreaks. In 2012, for example, coffee plantations in Central and South America were significantly impacted by a disease called coffee rust. We supported researchers developing varieties with resistance to the disease, so that farmers can begin growing coffee plants that could survive.
Q: What advice do you have for young girls who want to pursue STEM?
A: Definitely go for it! It’s such a rewarding career. I’m fortunate to have had many opportunities available to me, I just had to work for them and keep my eyes open. I can assure you that pursuing a doctoral degree is a long and daunting process, but it’s worth it. Don’t get discouraged. Whether you’re pursuing a master’s degree or a doctoral degree, nobody can take that away from you.
Q: Who have been some of your role models over the course of your career?
A: I’ve had a few role models over the years. In the past, not many of them have been women — especially at the professor level. That has definitely changed. At one point a few years ago, the chain of command between me and the USAID Administrator was all women! One of my role models is Dr. Jan Leach, a plant pathologist now in an administrative role at the Colorado State University. She is a great scientist and an excellent human.
The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the interviewees and do not reflect the official policy or position of the initiative.
