Rasmussen lab: Some of the most compelling science stories are the ones where research moved from the lab to the community. Growing up with an agricultural background in Hawai’i, I learned to appreciate the innovation of science by means of the Rainbow papaya. This delicious genetically modified fruit was created to be resistant to the papaya ringspot virus. On a small scale, the Rainbow papaya symbolizes the potential of translational research to save agricultural industries from devastating diseases. Stories such as that of the Rainbow papaya fuel my interest in translational research. I am excited about the Plants3D program because of the opportunity to think seriously about solutions to the world’s critical food and health needs. This program creates a framework and means to consider the way my research can contribute to crop improvement and human health. Often as a PhD student, we become engrossed in the details of our project and fail to see the potential for impact. I look forward to participating in a collaborative environment and challenging myself to think creatively about a project under the “discover, design, and deploy” framework.