Audrey Pelikan is a PhD student in Agronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with plans to graduate in the summer of 2026. Her research focuses on examining mechanisms and agronomic factors that influence nitrate accumulation in Beta vulgaris (table beet and Swiss chard). She previously earned her MS in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics also at UW-Madison, where she studied genomic regions associated with flavor traits in Beta vulgaris.
Audrey was inspired to pursue a career in the seed industry because she believes the seed is the foundation of everything we do in agriculture – from production and profitability to food security and nutrition. She hopes to contribute to improving both food quality and quantity through the intersection of plant breeding and agronomy. Outside of research, Audrey enjoys spending time in the kitchen cooking, baking, and canning.