Griffin Campus

For high school students interested in agriculture, food and environmental sciences, the University of Georgia offers the opportunity to have hands-on learning with world-renowned research scientists through the Young Scholars Program (YSP). YSP is a six-week long paid summer internship organized by the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences which hopes to broaden students interests in various fields of study. Students can apply to be part of the program at three UGA campuses: Athens, Griffin and Tifton, with applications being accepted now through January 31, 2023.

While in the program, students are assigned to work with a researcher and their staff on campus. They learn about the research that is ongoing in that department, how to use lab equipment and work in the field, as well as completing their own research project under the guidance of their mentor. On the UGA Griffin Campus, students spend Fridays with fellow young scholars where they attend site visits of many departments, participate in college and career related workshops and play interactive games to give them a chance to know each other.

YSP concludes each year with a pre-collegiate conference at the University of Georgia campus in Athens. Students have the chance to interact with other YSP students from the Athens and Tifton campuses, stay in the dorms, learn about the UGA admissions process and take part in behind the scenes tours of various university departments.

Srijana Thapa Magar, a PhD candidate in horticulture on the University of Georgia Griffin campus, was recently named the recipient of the Marie Fort Garden Club Scholarship for 2022. The local club has presented the $1,000 scholarship annually since 2014 to a UGA-Griffin student in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. They awarded the scholarship during a club meeting in October.

“Our membership has supported this project each year,” said Diane Lamb, President of the Marie Fort Garden Club. “We work with the scholarship committee each year and support their recommendation. We feel that each year we have given the scholarship to a very deserving student.  If our scholarship can make a difference in a student’s life, we feel like we have accomplished what we set out to do. In a small way we can support and encourage a student in reaching their academic goal.”

Thapa Magar was thrilled when she received the news she was this year’s recipient and knew exactly how the scholarship would help in her college career.

Since first making their appearance in Georgia in 2014, Joro spiders have steadily expanded their range in Georgia, and now — just in time for Halloween — the spooky-looking species has reached the University of Georgia Research and Education Garden on the UGA Griffin campus.

Native to Japan and China, Joro spiders are believed to have made the trek overseas by hitching a ride in a shipping container. The striking arachnid spotted at UGA-Griffin is thought to be the first documented sighting of the species in Spalding County. So far, sightings have been limited to the northern region of the state. Spalding County is located about 40 miles north of the Georgia fall line, which separates the Piedmont region of the state from the Coastal Plain.

Jeffrey F.D. Dean, a distinguished scholar and academic leader whose interdisciplinary research focuses on forestry, plant biology and biochemistry, has been named assistant provost and director of the University of Georgia’s Griffin campus, effective Jan. 1, 2023. In this role, he will oversee all research, extension and academic programs at UGA Griffin.

Since 2014, Dean has served as a professor and head of the department of biochemistry, molecular biology, entomology and plant pathology at Mississippi State University, one of the largest academic units in the university’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

“Dr. Dean has a tremendous track record of growing enrollment, developing innovative academic programs and strengthening partnerships with communities and industry,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “I believe he will be a catalyst for advancing scholarship, research and outreach at our Griffin campus, and I look forward to welcoming him to our leadership team.”

If you’ve ever wished that the orange juice you buy from the grocery store tasted like you squeezed it yourself — and stayed fresh at home — you may be interested in an electrifying project at the Food Product Innovation and Commercialization Center (FoodPIC) on the University of Georgia Griffin campus.

Food technology company Food Physics is working with FoodPIC scientists to perfect a technique known as pulsed electric field technology (PEF). An alternative to thermal pasteurization for processing food products, PEF uses short bursts of high voltage —15,000 volts per centimeter (V/cm) — to inactivate any harmful bacteria that may be found in the product.

“The idea is to have a product taste as close as possible to fresh-squeezed, but be safe and have a commercially feasible shelf life,” said Jim Gratzek, director of FoodPIC.

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The fall favorite event, “Scarecrows in the Garden”, is back at the UGA Research and Education Garden, located at 129 W. Ellis Road in Griffin. The scarecrows, which were made by local businesses, clubs, families and organizations, will be on display now through October 31. The garden is open for visitors Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday October 22 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. and Sundays in October from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Be sure to come check out these wonderful creations!

Food technology entrepreneur James Gratzek will serve as the next director of the Food Product Innovation and Commercialization Center (FoodPIC) on the University of Georgia Griffin campus, according to the Department of Food Science and Technology at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES). Gratzek will begin his new role July 1.

Gratzek comes to FoodPIC from Food Physics USA, a food technology start-up focused on sales and applications for pulsed electric field technology — a way to preserve food using short pulses of electricity — where he served as technical and business development director.

Gratzek also founded Gratzek Food Technology, a Minneapolis-based food technology consulting company.

According to Manpreet Singh, food science and technology department head, Gratzek has been a leader in the food industry for more than 25 years. During his career, Gratzek has served as director of aseptic technology (a food processing technique) and project applications with TetraPak; director of innovation, technology and quality with General Mills; and senior vice president for research, quality and innovation with Sunopta Inc.

The University of Georgia Griffin campus held its Spring Graduation Celebration and Brick Ceremony for 29 members of the Class of 2022 on May 12, representing all five colleges that offer degrees at UGA Griffin.  

Each student graduating from UGA Griffin is honored with a lasting mark on campus, a brick featuring their name and class year is installed in the walkways around the Student Learning Center. In previous years, graduates’ bricks were placed at the Naomi Chapman Woodroof Pavilion.

David Buntin, Interim Assistant Provost and Campus Director for UGA Griffin, told the graduates that the bricks will mark their time at UGA for generations to come, expressing hope that the bricks of future graduates will cover the walkways of the campus in the future.

Spring is in the air, which means it is time for Springfest in the UGA Research and Education Garden. The free event returns this year on Sunday, May 1 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. It is open to the public and everyone is invited to come enjoy the afternoon learning about nature.

For the event, several UGA Griffin departments and local clubs will be offering information as well as hands-on activities. The Flint River Gourders will be creating colorful, dipped gourds for attendees to take home at their booth, while the Flint River Astronomy Club will have a scale solar system for viewing and offering tips on using a telescope to view the stars and planets.

The University of Georgia Griffin campus recently named Ashley Biles and Clary “Ree” Rosser as the 2022 Classified Employees of the Year. The designation was made at the 33^rd Annual Employee Recognition Ceremony held on Thursday, March 17 at UGA Griffin.

David Buntin, Interim Assistant Provost and Campus Director for UGA Griffin, opened the ceremony by congratulating all the honorees on their nominations. He stressed how important the staff is to UGA Griffin, noting much of the success of the campus comes from their hard work. He also added how glad he is there is an event to recognize the efforts put forth by such a dedicated group of people.

“I think this is one of the most important events we do all year to recognize the classified staff for all of the great things that they do,” said Buntin.