<p><strong>Washington, DC</strong><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The National Potato Council is awarding Michael Hardigan, graduate student in Michigan State University’s Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology Program, its 2012 – 2013 Academic Scholarship. The NPC believes that Mr. Hardigan’s academic focus on implementing modern, highly advanced genetic and genomics techniques will further enhance U.S. potato production.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Mr. Hardigan’s research seeks to identify drought tolerance characteristics in wild potatoes along with the genes responsible for hybrid vigor, which contribute to fitness—according to a press release. Hardigan states, “These projects, along with my ambition to pursue a future career in potato research, will play an important role in moving U.S. potato production forward into the 21st Century.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The NPC awards one $5,000 scholarship each year to a graduate student that aims to enhance the potato industry through his or her research. These scholarships are awarded based on academic aptitude, leadership, and potential commercial value of the students’ research.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.nationalpotatocouncil.org/" target="_new"> National Potato Council</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
