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The Potato Leadership, Education, and Advancement Foundation (Potato LEAF) has announced Hannah Johnson, a Ph.D. candidate at Washington State University, as the recipient of the organization’s 2025-26 academic scholarship. The $10,000 scholarship is awarded annually to a graduate student whose research significantly furthers the U.S. potato industry. The winner is selected based on several criteria, including academic achievement, leadership abilities, research in potato-related areas, benefit to the U.S. potato industry, commercial value, extracurricular activities, and grades.
Johnson’s research focuses on the relationship between in-season production practices and tuber dormancy, with the goal of improving potato emergence and stand uniformity. She also works to extend the sprout-free period for stored potatoes, which is critical for minimizing market rejection, especially for exports. Her work includes evaluating plant hormones to improve emergence and testing different application timings of plant growth regulators to control sprouting in various potato varieties.