Chase Stratton

Chase Stratton and his wife grew up in Richmond, Virginia. He says, “Richmond will always feel like home but Vermont is a close second, and Kansas is sneaking up on us.” Chase earned a BS in Biology from Virginia Commonwealth University and then entered a PhD program in Plant and Soil Science at the University of Vermont the following year. His  focus has been on sustainable pest management since his undergraduate coursework and research. During his PhD, he tested plant essential oils for their ability to repel a difficult pest. The projects he will be working on at TLI continue to expand on what he has been doing for the past decade.

Q&A

What drew you to work at TLI?
TLI is redefining agriculture. The research being performed has the potential to revolutionize food production in a way that can literally save the planet. I am most drawn by the long-term goals in place that aim to regenerate the landscape.

What’s most inspiring about your specific position at TLI?
I am most inspired by the scale and potential influence that our research can attain. Agriculture is due for changes that promote sustainability while maintaining yield. Identifying new approaches that meet these needs is an exciting opportunity.

What would people never guess that you do as part of your role at TLI?
I spend a good amount of time writing code to increase the efficiency of statistical analyses and data manipulations.

What TLI perennial crop do you look forward to eating most, and how would you prepare it?
Kernza. Anything Kernza. I’ve had a beer brewed with Kernza and it was delicious.

What’s your motto / favorite quote?
“The solutions all are simple – after you have arrived at them. But they’re simple only when you know already what they are.”
– Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values