William Samson

Ph.D Candidate

William is a fifth year Plant Pathology PhD Candidate. His involvement in plant pathology research began his Junior year of undergrad when he interned for a post-harvest plant pathology lab. William then worked for two years in the agricultural industry before starting his graduate studies. He is passionate about the development of sustainable agriculture practices and biorational crop inputs. He is currently responsible for managing the UCR Black soldier fly (BSF) steady state system, which recycled more than a metric ton of food waste in a year using BSF larvae. The other aspect of his work focuses on the development of applications for BSF rearing by-products (insect frass and exoskeletons) as soil amendments and biostimulants for California agriculture. After completing his PhD, William intends to pursue a career working as an interdisciplinary scientist in plant pathology, soil science, and field agronomy for academia, USDA, or the DOE. In his freetime, William enjoys hiking and cooking.