Dr. Grebenok’s $750,000 grant opens doors to research opportunities for students

By: Javohir Aminov, Asst. News Editor

Dr. Robert Grebenok of the Canisius biology department recently received a $750,000 research grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). His research will focus on how crops can defend themselves against outside factors, like insects, while relying less on pesticides that have a chance of harming them. Grebenok’s USDA grant will prompt students to present and publish their own research, thus giving them the confidence in their ability to make significant contributions in their communities. 

By getting his research funded, Grebenok opens the door for his students to help tackle real-world issues, like how some farmers invest in pesticides that may cause leaf burn or wilting, which can also be harmful to any pollinators that come into contact with the crop. Pollinators like bees and butterflies that can help an ecosystem prosper will start to die out as they encounter more lethal pesticides. Therefore, using crops that have a more natural defense against insects will help the environment by minimizing the usage of toxic pesticides and increase the biodiversity in the habitat overall.

Participation in research opportunities like Dr. Grebenok’s can be beneficial to undergraduates because they receive support from their professors to learn leadership skills. Through this, students are building their professionalism prior to acquiring a job, where they can apply what they have learned during their research to it.

According to Berry College, 41% of US employers are more likely to hire someone with research experience as an undergraduate than someone without it. Conducting research and experiments can also build professional confidence needed when finding permanent careers, since students acquire skills and knowledge helpful for the future, such as graduate programs or jobs. Students are also actively involved in their research, compared to the traditional teachings in the classrooms, where the information presented is different. Through research, students are actively captivated in their studies and can apply what they’ve learned to real-world issues.