Summary - International Phytotechnologies Scholars Program, Preparing Next Generation
Global Leaders in Our Profession - Serbia 2018
As part of the 15th Annual International Phytotechnologies Conference we hope to support
student participation in the International Phytotechnologies Scholars Program that will help train
and inspire the next generation of professionals and academic researchers. The meeting is to be
held October 2-6 in Novi Sad, Serbia and is hosted by the International Phytotechnology Society.
The International Phytotechnologies Scholars Program (PhytoScholars) is a unique student-
oriented scholars program, with the specific aims to:
• To provide students with professional skills and development opportunities and the chance
to network with international professionals working in the field of phytotechnologies;
• To directly support student training and education in phytotechnologies and sustainable
technologies as strategies for environmental remediation, management, and stewardship;
• To increases student awareness of the broader roles of phytotechnologies in the protection
of public health, risk assessment and the improvement of ecosystem function.
As part of this program, students will be supported to attend the conference by offering support
for partial coverage of travel and lodging fees for an expected 10 selected scholars. PhytoScholars
will be offered the opportunity to travel internationally, and will directly interact with international
leaders in the field to learn scientifically and grow professionally. All PhytoScholars will be tasked
to offer a presentation, meet professional leaders, offer specified feedback, and meet learning
objectives, which include not only scientific objectives but also cultural and professional
development objectives. All PhytoScholars’ presentations will be evaluated by a minimum of two
professional leaders, many listed below. The selection process will aim to invite applicants in
groups underrepresented in STEM fields. The selection committee, listed below, is a diverse group
of accomplished scholars that has interacted with past conferences and PhytoScholars programs.
All selection committee members will be invited to the conference to offer talks and engage with
the PhytoScholars.
Table 1. Selection committee for the 2018 PhytoScholars program.
Name and nationality Affiliation
Basis for participation on
selection committee
David Tsao (USA)
America's Technology Manager,
British Petroleum IPS President
Barbara Zeeb (Canada)
Professor, Department of
Chemistry and Chemical
Engineering, Royal Military
College of Canada IPS Executive Vice President
Om Parkash (USA)
Associate Professor, University
of Massachusetts - Amherst IPS Vice President
Liz Rylott (UK)
Senior Researcher, University of
York (UK) IPS Vice President
Elizabeth Nichols (USA)
Professor, North Carolina State
University IPS Secretary
Ronald Zalesny (USA)
Research Plant Geneticist, US
Forest Service
Conference Vice Chair and
IPS Board
Joel Burken (USA)
Professor, Missouri University of
Science and Technology
PhytoScholars PI and
Founder, IPS Board
Andrej Pilipovic (Serbia)
Assistant Director, ILFE,
University of Novi Sad (Serbia)
Conference Chair and Host
Site Representative
