PLANT SCIENTISTS HAVE LONG LOOKED TO MODERNIZE METHODOLOGY FOR IMPROVING PLANT YIELD, RESISTANCE TO PATHOGENS AND PESTS, AND INCREASING NUTRITION IN CROP PLANTS. WE ARE CURRENTLY LIMITED IN DISCOVERY OF NEW TRAITS IN CROP PLANT DUE TO LIMITED MOLECULAR BIOLOGY TOOLS OUTSIDE OF MODEL PLANT SPECIES WHICH HAVE LITTE IMPORANCEECONOMICLY AND CULTURALLY. THE DURATION OF THIS FELLOWSHIP WILL FOCUS ON MODERNIZING OUR FUNCTIONAL GENETIC TOOLS TO ULTIMATELY LEAD TO INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF PESTS AND BENEFICIAL SPECIES IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS.