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FVSU Graduate Student Connects Plant Conservation, Biotechnology and Medicinal Plant Research

Skyler Armstead, a graduate scholar in Fort Valley State University’s Master of Biotechnology program, expanded her research and professional network this summer through participation in two national plant science conferences, where she was recognized as a travel scholar and presented research from her master’s thesis. She is conducting her MS thesis research in the plant biotechnology lab under  Nirmal Joshee, Ph.D., professor of Plant Science, on in vitro plant conservation.

In June 2026, Skyler attended the Southeastern Plant Symposium in Raleigh, North Carolina, hosted by the JC Raulston Arboretum and Juniper Level Botanic Garden. The symposium focused on horticulture, gardening and the conservation of rare plants. As a recipient of a travel scholarship, Skyler had the opportunity to engage with horticulture professionals and academics from around the world and explore the role of botanical gardens in conserving plant diversity.

Presentations and discussions addressed plant exploration, collection and curation, as well as the practical and ethical considerations involved in bringing wild plants into cultivation. The experience broadened Skyler’s understanding of ex-situ conservation and provided valuable insight into career opportunities in horticulture, public gardens and plant conservation.

"I'm incredibly thankful to FVSU for allowing me to conduct research while exploring the world of plant science, share my findings, and advocate for my research on a larger stage," said Armstead.

Later that month, Skyler attended the 14th Annual Conference of the American Council for Medicinally Active Plants (ACMAP) at the Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania. She was again recognized as a 2026 travel scholar and received a travel award supporting her participation. During the conference, Skyler presented a portion of her master’s thesis research examining reproductive barriers, poor seed set and in vitro conservation of the federally threatened plant Scutellaria montana Chapman.

The ACMAP conference exposed Skyler to a broad range of research involving medicinal plants, including phytotherapy, phytonutrients and plant metabolites, neurological health, preclinical considerations for plant-based products and the translation of botanical research into clinical settings. She also attended student presentations from universities across the country, gaining insight into diverse approaches to medicinal plant and natural products research.

Together, the two conference experiences strengthened Skyler’s understanding of how plant conservation, biotechnology and medicinal plant research intersect. They also provided opportunities to learn from researchers and practitioners in the field, connect her work on Scutellaria montana to broader conservation efforts, and explore the potential of threatened plant species as subjects of scientific and medicinal research. The experiences further reinforced the value of interdisciplinary training and positioned Skyler to continue developing her research at the intersection of conservation and biotechnology.

 

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