John E. Brown Scholars Program

A Glimpse Into the Scientific Life

While It Will Be Years Until His Ph.D. is Achieved, A JB Scholar is Introduced to Research and Business

Monsanto is a company with a reputation for solid research in agriculture since its founding in 1901. In January 2008, the National Academy of Sciences awarded the company's chief technology officer the prestigious Award for the Industrial Application of Science for his efforts to improve crops through biotechnology.

That's the kind of company that fits well into the goals of Jonathan Kaiser, a MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources' John Brown Scholar who interned at the company. While his studies toward a Ph.D. in biochemistry will keep him in the classroom for the next few years, his experience at the company has given him insight into how a large company handles its research and development, an area that Kaiser intends to pursue.

"I want to be on the cutting edge of what is being done in science," he said. "After awhile, I hope to transition to a supervising scientist position and possibly enter the business side of the company." Kaiser discovered that he loved science during classes at the DeSmet Jesuit High School in his native St. Louis.

After a week at Monsanto he became more comfortable with the idea of entering industry as a scientist, he said. "I believe I can thrive there. I came to realize that there are individuals who have science backgrounds who are leading the business side of the company."

The aspect of research and management is new and intriguing to him. "They have their national seed brands, they lease their technology to other national seed companies and they own about eight percent of the best regional seed companies," he said. "They are truly focused exclusively on agriculture. Monsanto really is a global company, affecting agriculture all over the world."

Kaiser became interested in JBS after his experiences as a Dickinson Scholar at MU. "I was eager for the opportunities that John Brown offered," he related. "To me, both programs are really about having new and unique experiences. It challenges students to step out of their comfort zones and into the business world where they can learn about the real world. This program is like no other, it puts students in touch with leading professionals."

He was surprised at how long it takes a company to successfully produce a product—typically eight to ten years and $50-100 million in investment. He was also surprised that the emphasis on people is as important as that of equipment and research. "At Monsanto they believe that their people are their biggest asset," he said. "They spend a lot of time attracting and retaining the best talent, and there is just two percent employee turnover worldwide."

The JBS program gives students a preview of what it takes to be successful beyond the classroom, he said. "You get an in-depth look into the corporate atmosphere and how a successful company does business. Also it gives you possible internship and employment connections that may not have been open to you otherwise."

John E. Brown Scholars Program

A Glimpse Into the Scientific Life

While It Will Be Years Until His Ph.D. is Achieved, A JB Scholar is Introduced to Research and Business

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