Name: Samuel N. Flomo   Title: Agricultural Specialist I Organization: USDA-ARS-MWA-PIRU; Iowa State University Role/Crops/Team: Mr. Flomo assists the Amaranth curator in the management and enhancement activities of plant germplasm for numerous crops and wild relatives, including Amaranthus, Celosia, Chenopodium, Coronilla, Dalea, Galega, Melilotus, Perilla, Spinacia, miscellaneous Umbelliferae, and the millets Echinochloa, Panicum, and Setaria. Mr. Flomo manages the crew of student workers assigned to the team. As a technician, some of Mr. Flomo’s duties include, but are not limited to the following: plants and maintains germplasm growing in greenhouse and field plots; monitors plants for disease and insect pests and collects and enters descriptive data and digital images using various recording media; and pollinates plants for seed increases. In addition, he hand harvests seed increases, monitors and assesses quality of increases and provides feedback to the curator. Special Interests: Mr. Flomo has a long term interest in genetic resources dating from rice breeding research in Liberia. He continues this interest with work in germplasm conservation and enhancement plant breeding. He is directly involved in digital imaging and processing of digital images. He also manages substantial field and greenhouse plantings. Mr. Flomo is also aware that one wrong seed can contaminate the whole batch. Therefore, he emphasizes this point when he trains and supervises new student employees, whether in harvesting crops, seed processing, or using machines and hand tools, to ensure purity of genetic material stored or distributed by the station. Education: M.S. Plant Breeding, Iowa State University, 1993. B.S. General Agriculture, University of Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia, 1985. Employment History: 2003-Current: Agricultural Specialist I, North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station, Ames, Iowa. 1994-2002: Research Aide Crew Leader, North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station, Ames, Iowa.   1993-1994: Seed Science Laboratory Aide, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.   1992-1993: Research Assistant, Iowa State University, Agronomy Department, Ames, Iowa. 1985-1989: Teaching Assistant, Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Liberia, Agronomy Department, Monrovia, Liberia.