UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A group of fifteen Penn State graduate students and postdoctoral scholars have been selected to participate in the Bayer Crop Science 2025 University Mentoring Program (B4U), a global initiative that pairs students with industry professionals for career guidance and professional development.
B4U engages university partners to help develop the next generation of scientists. Through one-on-one mentorship, students receive career coaching, professional skills training and networking opportunities. The program emphasizes collaboration, professional growth and work-life balance to prepare participants for careers in academia, industry and beyond.
At Penn State, students and postdocs were selected through a competitive process, which included an application review by University faculty and Bayer representatives. Candidates were evaluated based on academic achievements, research interests and career aspirations, with finalists participating in interviews to assess their goals and potential benefits from the program.
Through a partnership with the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences and the Penn State Corporate Engagement Center, Bayer provides participants with the opportunity to set career goals, expand their networks and refine essential skills such as communication and collaboration. The Penn State students will join more than 380 mentees from 27 partner universities across North America through B4U.
“Partnerships like this are essential in bridging the gap between academic research and industry applications,” said John Peterson, director of corporate engagement at Penn State. “Having Dr. Thomas Slewinski, a Penn State graduate and Bayer Crop Science team leader, involved in this initiative highlights the lasting impact of our educational programs. He has paired the students with their Bayer mentors, ensuring they were matched with industry professionals who can support their growth. By connecting our graduate students with experienced mentors at Bayer, we are equipping them with the skills, insights and professional networks necessary for success in an evolving scientific landscape.”
This is the first year of B4U program at Penn State. The selected students and postdocs represent several disciplines, including plant science, plant biology, plant pathology and entomology.
“This program provides our students with an invaluable opportunity to gain insight into industry research and career pathways beyond academia,” said Surinder Chopra, professor of maize genetics at Penn State and faculty lead for the B4U initiative. “By working with experienced scientists, they will develop essential professional skills, expand their networks and gain a deeper understanding of how their expertise can translate to real-world applications.”
Volunteer Bayer scientists dedicate their time to personalized mentorship, supplemented by webinars, site visits and networking events. This multifaceted approach helps provide late-stage graduate students and postdoctoral researchers with the tools they need to succeed. The mentoring program also fosters long-term university partnerships in support of Bayer’s global mission: “Health for All, Hunger for None.”
The selected Penn State students and post-docs are:
- Arash Feizollah Maleki, postdoctoral scholar, entomology
- Sandra Senyo Fometu, postdoctoral scholar, plant science
- Sergio Perez Limon, doctoral student, plant science
- Bipana Paudel Timilsena, postdoctoral scholar, entomology
- Jeremy Held, doctoral student, plant biology
- Livleen Kaur, dual-title doctoral student, agricultural and environmental plant science
- Quinn Loudy, graduate student, agricultural and environmental plant science
- Sujay Manoj Paranjape, doctoral student, entomology
- Gurkirat Singh, doctoral student, agricultural and environmental plant science
- Manoj Paudel, graduate student, agricultural and environmental plant science
- Meredith Persico, postdoctoral scholar, plant science
- Pradip Poudel, doctoral student, agricultural and environmental plant science
- Shiran Ben Zeev, postdoctoral scholar, plant science
- Bryan Paul Panek, doctoral student, agricultural and environmental plant science
- Ya Chi Nien, doctoral student, plant biology