Pivot to Plants Fellows Take the Next Step in Their Science Careers
The goal of Pivot to Plants is right there in its name: to help people translate their existing experience, curiosity, and potential into careers in data, plant and agricultural sciences.
For Kristiana Thong and Drew Van Eaton, that next step arrived ahead of schedule. Before completing the year-long fellowship at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, both accepted positions where they can put their new skills to work. This fall, Kristiana will join Spectrum Brands as an entomologist, and Drew will join the controlled environments team at Bayer Crop Science.
Their success demonstrates what can happen when motivated people receive intensive technical training, hands-on research experience, and the support of a world-class scientific community.
A Practical Path into Science
Launched in 2025 with support from the National Science Foundation (award 2347188), Pivot to Plants is a one-year, paid training program for adults with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree who want to enter plant science, data science, bioimaging, or related STEM fields in emerging technology but have limited research experience.
Fellows spend a year embedded in Danforth Center laboratories, developing skills in areas such as molecular biology, data analysis, bioimaging, and plant phenotyping. They also receive mentorship and professional development while building connections within St. Louis’s growing bioscience and agtech ecosystem.
“Scientific careers do not all begin in the same place or follow the same path,” said Parag Bhatt, PhD, Danforth Center data science trainer and P2P program manager. “Pivot to Plants gives talented people the opportunity to build practical skills, contribute to meaningful research, and demonstrate what they can offer an employer. Kristiana and Drew securing positions before the program ends is a sign that this approach is working.”
Finding Her Way Back to Science
Kristiana’s interest in agriculture began when she visited her parents’ home country of Cambodia at age 10 and witnessed poverty and food insecurity firsthand. Years later, a college plant science course helped her see how she might contribute to addressing challenges like those she had observed.
After earning a degree in plant, soil, and insect sciences, Kristiana moved to Cambodia to work in integrated pest management on a palm oil plantation. Stationed hours from the nearest city, she spent her days monitoring crops for pests. She later moved into marketing, but the desire to return to science remained.
Pivot to Plants gave her that opportunity. Working in the laboratory of Danforth Center principal investigator Katie Murphy, PhD, Kristiana studied how different varieties of maize respond to heat stress and limited nitrogen. The research seeks to understand what makes some plants more resilient to rising temperatures and lower fertilizer inputs.
This fall, Kristiana will become an entomologist at Spectrum Brands, testing the effectiveness of products used to control household pests.
Asked what advice she would give to others considering a similar pivot, Kristiana emphasized the value of the experience they already bring. “Don’t feel discouraged if you don’t have the research background or technical skills. That’s something you can learn,” Kristiana said. “If you’re coming from the field or industry, don’t undervalue that, because you have real-world experience and understand why the research matters. Stay curious, ask questions, and find mentors you can learn from.”
From Airline Operations to Plant Science
Drew spent much of his twenties in aviation, working his way from the ramp at the United Airlines station in Lafayette, Louisiana, to supervising ground operations. Although he valued the experience, he wanted a career more closely connected to his interest in the natural world.
He returned to college to complete a degree in environmental science. Work in a plant adaptation and evolution laboratory introduced him to research and ultimately led him to Pivot to Plants.
At the Danforth Center, Drew joined the laboratory of principal investigator Ivan Baxter, PhD. Drew studied how plants respond to elevated carbon dioxide, research that could help scientists better understand how plants use water and eventually inform efforts to develop more drought-resilient crops.
Drew will continue building his research experience during a 12-month position at Bayer Crop Science, where he will work alongside 2025 Pivot to Plants alum Tess Rogers. He plans to apply to PhD programs next year.
As he prepares for his next step, Drew encourages future fellows to make the most of the program from the beginning. “This program has so much to offer you,” Drew said. “Come ready to get to work immediately and take advantage of your time here. It goes by fast.”
Why It Matters
Kristiana and Drew are two of five fellows in the 2026 Pivot to Plants cohort. As the remaining fellows complete their research projects, their experiences will add to the growing impact of a program built around a simple idea: scientific potential can be found along many different paths.
By helping people convert that potential into marketable skills, Pivot to Plants expands access to scientific careers, strengthens the regional bioscience workforce, and prepares more people to contribute to research that can improve lives.
Your Pivot Starts Here
Interested in being a part of our next Pivot to Plants cohort? Applications are open now through September 15.