Name: Fred Engstrom   Title: Agricultural Science Research Technician Organization: USDA-ARS-MWA-PIRU Role/Crops/Team: Fred serves as an Agricultural Science Research Technician for the Germplasm Enhancement of Maize Program (GEM) at the Plant Introduction Station in Ames, Iowa. His responsibilities include providing technical support for nursery and yield trial plots, processing germplasm and inventory management, recording characterization data and other field notes, and performing analyses and assessments. Fred maintains and manages planting, harvest and lab equipment. Special Interests: Currently, Fred’s interests focus around development and implementation of resources and tools that improve GEM yield trial management including data collection and field equipment. His expertise is in development, fabrication and modification of research equipment utilized in the lab and field. He enjoys whistling while he works and is involved with adapting the use of a twin plot combine for GEM yield trials. Fred is working on his M.S. in Agronomy. Education:   B.S. Agronomy, Iowa State University, 1999 Employment History: 2005-Current: Research Technician, Germplasm Enhancement of Maize, USDA-ARS, Ames, Iowa.   2000-2005: Research Assistant, Monsanto Corn Testing Program, Ames, Iowa.   1999-2000: Assistant Farm Manager, Iowa Acres Incorporated, Ames, Iowa.   1999: Demonstration Farm Specialist, Genetica, Nova Kahovka, Ukraine.   1994-1999: Field Technician, Iowa Acres Incorporated, Ames, Iowa.