NYBG Grad Students: Annie Virnig

Posted in NYBG Grad Students on July 17, 2014 by Matt Newman

Annie Virnig is no stranger to tackling formidable challenges. Whether she’s hiking through the dense tropical forests of Colombia in search of rare plant species, noting her findings in the laboratory, or blocking a header on the soccer field, she employs the same diligence and problem-solving tactics to ensure the best possible result.

As a grad student at NYBG, Virnig’s work focuses on the neotropical blueberries that so often cause a stir in our Haupt Conservatory. The exotic shapes and colors of the Conservatory’s collection are only a small sample of their incredible diversity in South America, where the wealth of species goes well beyond the common blueberries, cranberries, and huckleberries that we associate with this plant tribe in the U.S. Zoning in on the historic and cultural uses of these plants, as well as the antioxidants and other health benefits provided by them, Virnig has found herself drawn to the town of El Queremal in Colombia, where an eponymous flower has captured imaginations for centuries.

Check out our recent interview with this up-and-coming Ph.D. student to get an idea of what she does here at the Garden and why she’s so passionate about these fantastical plants. And if you’re wondering who she was rooting for in the World Cup finals, your guess is as good as ours!

Stay tuned to Science Talk as we speak with more graduate students from our laboratories, and discover the varied backgrounds and disciplines that brought them to NYBG.