Alison Gerken, Ph.D., a research ecologist with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, was one of the recipients of a 2024 ORISE Mentor Award for her excellence in mentoring young scientists. In this conversation with ORISE Featurecast host Michael Holtz, Gerken discusses the importance of mentorship for herself and for young scientists. She says learning to use the tools of experimental design and biology to answer questions about behavior and ecology fueled her passion for research, particularly in researching how farmers can protect their investment in providing safe food for Americans and the rest of the world. To learn more about ORISE research opportunities at the USDA-ARS, visit https://orise.orau.gov/usda-ars/index.html