By: Jazmine Robinson
Agriculture has always been a cornerstone of human progress, but as our global climate shifts, the need for sustainable, resilient crops has never been more urgent. At the heart of this challenge is plant reproduction, the intricate process that determines how a crop passes its best traits from one generation to the next.
For Charity Goeckeritz, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at HudsonAlpha, the key to a more secure food future may lie in the reproductive strategies of wild plants. By studying apomixis, a unique phenomenon in which plants produce exact genetic clones of themselves through their seeds, Charity is helping farmers preserve high-quality crops year after year.
In this Faces of Innovation conversation, Charity reflects on her journey from a childhood garden in Utah to the forefront of plant genomics. She shares how a chance discovery on Twitter led her to HudsonAlpha, why she believes science is a deeply human endeavor, and how her passion for mentoring the next generation of scientists keeps her motivated amid challenges.
Jazmine Robinson: Hi, Charity. Thanks for joining me today. Can you explain what you study here at HudsonAlpha?
Charity Goeckeritz: I work on a phenomenon called apomixis. Let me set the stage for what exactly that means. Most of the high-quality crops we eat today are “hybrids.” Farmers and seed companies create them by crossing two very different parent plants to produce a superior offspring, a phenomenon called hybrid vigor. This offspring is faster-growing and more productive.
But if a farmer saves the seeds from that amazing hybrid plant and grows them next year, the next generation is often weak or inconsistent because the genetics have shuffled during sexual reproduction. This forces breeders to painstakingly recreate the original cross every single year, which is expensive and time-consuming.
This is where apomixis comes in. Apomictic plants have evolved the ability to produce seeds that are exact clones of themselves, rerouting certain molecular pathways involved in sexual reproduction. My research in Alex Harkess’ lab focuses on identifying the “molecular triggers” or genes that tell a plant to skip processes underlying sexual reproduction and start growing an embryo on its own.
If we can understand the genetic basis of this trait in wild blackberries, apples, and more, we could potentially transfer it to major food crops or use this understanding to design new plant breeding strategies we may not have even thought of yet.
It’s really interesting from a basic biology standpoint because you get to work with some really cool science, but you also know that what you’re doing has a real impact on plant breeding.
Jazmine: How long have you been interested in science and plants?
Charity: Growing up in Utah, I loved discovering things – especially when it came to plants. We had a large yard with fruit trees lining it, a really big vegetable garden, and flower beds in the front yard where I would always plant marigolds with my mom every year. My dad and I bonded over our love of nature and camping, and he took us on annual vacations to some of Utah’s national parks. The beauty and utility of plants always intrigued me, no matter where I was or what I was doing.
When I started at the University of Utah, the biology advisor, Dr. Dave Gard, asked me, “What do you want to do with your life?” I simply said “Plants.” Actually, Dave’s cell biology class was a turning point for me, where I realized I was really interested in the molecular side of things. Dave was an incredibly supportive mentor who saw my excitement and made space for me to dig deeper.
Upon graduating with my degree in Organismal Biology, a few of my mentors suggested that I pursue a PhD if I wanted to keep developing a career in science. I took a gap year before starting at Michigan State University, during which I worked at a nursery and volunteered in Thailand, rehabilitating wildlife. Those experiences opened my eyes to how plants serve people and our world.
When I returned, I attended a conference and realized that I wanted to study horticulture and plant breeding – especially how it related to our own interactions with plants, whether that be for aesthetic or health reasons.
During my PhD research, I became more interested in genomics, recognizing the stories plants tell through their evolution and how those stories translate into traits we can use to make agriculture more sustainable.
As I was wrapping up my PhD, I knew I would need to do a postdoc to reach my dream job. I found Alex on Twitter after reading his paper on sex determination in asparagus. In that paper, he studied the specific genes that actually switch the sexes in different asparagus genotypes. That was an “a-ha” moment, where I realized that reproductive plant biology is what I want to do. He tweeted that he was looking for postdocs for his lab, so I cold-emailed him, and we chatted for two hours on zoom.
The following year, I completed my PhD research, wrote my dissertation, and was awarded an NSF postdoctoral fellowship to study apomixis as part of the Plant Genome Research Program (PGRP). I still remember the night I got the news – Alex called me to congratulate me, and after the phone call, I looked at my husband and said, “Okay, I guess we’re moving to Alabama.” We cracked open a bottle of wine and blasted ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ on our bluetooth speaker.
Jazmine: How much longer do you have on the grant?
Charity: My fellowship ends in August 2026.
Jazmine: Do you have any idea of what you want to do next?
Charity: I plan to pursue a career in academia and establish my own research program. I want to expand my study of apomixis across the flowering plant family tree, including more Rosaceae (rose family), grasses, daisies, and lesser-known plant families where it’s been documented. I’ve been using USDA germplasm collections, like the apple collection in Geneva, New York, to gather materials. These kinds of resources are so important for ensuring we have the tools necessary to tackle any agricultural problem, and I see my future lab as a place where we get to learn from nature and apply our research to real-world solutions.
I also really love teaching students. It’s much more fun to discover new things together, and seeing the students “get it” is really exciting.
Jazmine: Based on what I have heard from some of the students in Alex’s lab, I think you’re already a phenomenal teacher and mentor. What would you consider to be the most exciting or the most challenging aspects of working with students?
Charity: I think one of the most exciting things is when I see my students becoming more independent, witnessing that natural initiative and discovery. It makes me feel like I’m doing something that’s bigger than myself, which motivates and excites me. We’re learning about nature, we’re alive, understanding why we’re alive, and why other things are alive. It’s a beautiful, interconnected network.
There’s such awe in not knowing and finding out, then not knowing even more. We are discovering something, then realizing there’s even more to uncover. But sometimes things don’t work when we really feel like they should. So in a way, the most challenging thing is also the most exciting thing.
Jazmine: Outside of research, what are some of your hobbies and interests?
Charity: My husband, Indy, and I enjoy going on hikes, camping, traveling whenever we can, and spending time with our four black cats. I also really love painting watercolor landscapes. Painting is an activity where I get to express my love and appreciation for our planet, and really just enjoy the beauty of biological systems. It all takes a great deal of time though! I used to be more of a gamer, but I would get so competitive it was unhealthy, haha! Now I just play the occasional RPG or platformer for fun.
Jazmine: What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing a career in genetics and genomics research?
Charity: It’s impossible not to take today’s social climate into context. While there are many incredible students in the STEM pool, there are suddenly fewer opportunities. It’s disheartening because a lot of these students have been driven by the same things that drive me, but now we are hitting this wall after years of dedication and study. So first I would tell them to “keep going” as my PhD advisor would always tell me – and to be kind to themselves when they have to take new directions.
Additionally, something I struggle with is tying my self-worth to scientific achievement. My advice would be to follow your passions as much as you can, but also recognize that it’s okay to rest, fail, and adapt. Wherever those adaptations take you, it will be perfect. Just trust the process. That is something I’ve really just started learning this year, and I’m going to continue learning about it throughout.
Something my mentor Dave told me that I have kept in the back of my mind is that science is done by people. That always stuck with me. We’re trying to understand things to make lives better and to improve the environment – but always remember you are human, and we are stronger together. Reconnect with your purpose however you can, especially as things become more challenging.
