Chase is a third year PhD student at the University of Minnesota in the Applied Plant Sciences Program, advised by Dr. Kevin Smith in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics. He obtained his B.S. degree from Iowa State University in Agronomy and Philosophy. His research focuses on improving seedling vigor within Silphium integrifolium through a recurrent selection experiment, and conducting genomewide association studies on the Silphium Domestication Panel for agronomically important traits. He actively participates in student governance at the University of Minnesota serving as the Council of Graduate Students Representative to the Student Senate Consultative Committee. Hobbies he enjoys include gardening, philosophy, and sneaker collecting.