40 Under 40: Olufunke Ayegbidun

Olufunke Ayegbidun, a student at Washington State University, is currently pursuing her PhD and is set to graduate in spring 2026. Ayegbidun’s research focuses on identifying the specific genes responsible for elevated levels of iron and zinc in wheat, with the aim of breeding wheat varieties that are more nutritious and beneficial for consumption.

“Plant biology interested me initially because I wanted to understand how plants work and how we can use them to our benefit,” Ayegbidun said in a press release from Washington State University. 

In recognition of her academic excellence, Ayegbidun was awarded the D.W. Steiger Family Graduate Fellowship in both 2023 and 2024. This fellowship supports graduate students in crop and soil sciences who are conducting research related to wheat breeding and genetics.

Ayegbidun obtained her bachelor’s degree in plant biology from the University of Ilorin in Nigeria in 2019. She then pursued a master’s degree in biological sciences with a concentration in quantitative genetics and plant breeding from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2022 before joining the USDA-Agricultural Research Service wheat breeding team at WSU.

As a member of the ARS wheat breeding team, Ayegbidun works closely with her advisor Kim Garland-Campbell, a USDA-ARS research geneticist and adjunct faculty member at WSU. Garland-Campbell commended Ayegbidun’s contributions to the team, highlighting her skills in data collection and statistical analyses. Ayegbidun’s dedication to her research and collaborative spirit make her a valuable asset to the team, and Garland-Campbell looks forward to their continued work together.