Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Legume Systems Research

As part of institutional capacity-building efforts, the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Legume Systems Research projects support international students to visit and study at U.S. universities.

Maria Mazala, a student from Zambia was awarded a scholarship from the NDSU collaborative project, Genetic Improvement of Dry Beans for Bruchid Resistance for Southern Africa. She is currently pursuing her master's degree in plant sciences at North Dakota State University (NDSU). Her advisor is Dr. Juan Osorno, NDSU professor and PI for the project.

Maria’s research focuses on evaluating the agronomic performance of newly developed bruchid-resistant lines and contributing to the development of bruchid-resistant bean varieties through the identification and validation of molecular markers that can be used to select bruchid-resistance genes.

In 2021, Maria also received the John H. Longwell Jr. Memorial scholarship from the plant Science department. The award is given to an NDSU graduate student involved in the genetic improvement of agronomic crops (plant breeding). 

Maria holds a bachelor's degree in plant science from the University of Zambia (UNZA). Prior to being enrolled at NDSU as a student, she was a research assistant for Dr. Kelvin Kamfwa at the UNZA Dry Bean Breeding program.

Becoming a plant breeder and traveling internationally has always been her dream. She is extremely grateful to have received the scholarship to study at NDSU. The opportunity has helped her to solidify her confidence to become the best version of herself. Her current research interests include plant breeding, molecular genetics, and statistics.

Mr. Junior Bruno Papa Mbar Ndiaye is a Native of Senegal, pursuing an MS degree in Sustainable Management of Horticultural Agroecosystems at the department of Animal Biology at Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal. He has a BS degree in Agricultural Sciences – Crop Breeding and Genetics from the Agricultural and Rural Training High Institute, of the University of Thies, Senegal. 

As research technician at the National Agricultural Research Center in Bambey, Junior had worked on different projects evaluating best management practices for upland rice production in in the southern Peanut Basin agro-ecological zone of Senegal.

Junior is one of the scholarship beneficiaries funded by the Legume Systems Innovation Lab. His research is focused on developing appropriate calibrating equations to predict nutritional quality of dual-purpose cowpea varieties using Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS). The field research component of his MS studies were conducted at the Senegalese Agricultural Research Institute, at the National Center of Agricultural Research in Bambey, Senegal (over the 2021 growing season).

Currently, at the Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center- Hays (from April through December 30, 2022) he is getting hands on training sample processing and utilizing NIRS for forage quality analysis.

"With the help of my supervisors (Dr. Obour and Dr. Keith Harmoney at Kansas State University), I have successfully established calibration equations that can be used predict forage nutritive value of dual-purpose cowpea samples brought from Senegal," shares Junior.

"I am currently writing my thesis and have gained significant experience in dryland cropping systems and soil management research with the direct involvement in ongoing my research activities in Dr. Obour’ s Soil Management lab. The analytical and research skills gained over the 9-month exchange program at Kansas State University have provided me with a considerable skill set in forage analysis using NIR and soil management expertise that will serve me well when I return to my home country."

Adefemi Oluwadamilola Olubunmi is a fourth-year Ph.D. student researcher in Agricultural Economics at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, now at Michigan State University (MSU) as a Visiting Scholar.

As a researcher he is interested in research to build empirically based policy recommendations and implementation. Having carried out a number of research projects over the years, he is able to meticulously manage, monitor, and evaluate projects. He describes himself as a great communicator, a self-starter, and a lover of people who is motivated by challenging situations.

He is working with MSU Professor Michael Olabisi as his advisor and Principal Lead Researcher on the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Legume Systems Research project, Mobile and Smartphone Technology Impacts on Rural Communities: A project work under Promoting Trade Integration in Regional Legume Markets with Mobile Technology. When not buried in research work, he loves video games, exploring, and learning new things.

Ashafa Salisu Sambo is a third-year Ph.D. student of Agricultural Economics at the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension/Center for Dryland Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. His areas of research include agricultural financing, rural-urban migration, food security, agricultural value chains, and farmers’ well-being.

As a Visiting Scholar at Michigan State University he is supported by the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Legume Systems Research.

He is working with professor Michael Olabisi. Ashafa will be working on a titled, Profit Margins in Grain Value Chains: Evidence from KasuwaGo Survey Respondents. KasuwaGo is a mobile app that connects grain farmers and traders.

Ashafa enjoys reading, watching documentaries, and playing table tennis in his spare time.