Learning from Dr. Helen Tai’s Journey in Plant Genetics and the Potato World

The following in an excerpt from an interview conducted by PhD student Emma Terris (Groves/Schoville labs) of Dr. Helen Tai, Research Scientist, Fredericton Research and Development Centre, New Brunswick, Canada. The article appears in the June 2026 issue of the Potato Association of America’s PAA Connect newsletter. Read the full article (PAA login required).

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As a newer member of the community researching the potato agroecosystem—in my case, insecticide resistance evolution in the Colorado potato beetle—I find it a privilege to hear from career scientists who have made instrumental contributions to the field. When presented with the opportunity to interview Dr. Helen Tai, a research scientist with the Fredericton Research and Development Centre in New Brunswick, Canada, I was eager to learn more about her journey to becoming a plant geneticist.

Finding a Path in Plant Science

I first asked Dr. Tai to look back over her career and think about what kind of scientist she has become. This is a question often posed by my own advisors, Dr. Russell Groves and Dr. Sean Schoville, as we make decisions about my research direction and what kinds of scientific questions to pursue. I have always found this question difficult, and often somewhat anxiety-inducing, as it has felt more like something I could get wrong than an opportunity for excitement. Dr. Tai’s answer helped me reframe my own thinking to be more excited about the possibilities research opens up:

“After my Ph. D. in mouse genetics, I was looking for a change to work on another organism. I was fortunate to find an opportunity to do a post-doctoral fellowship in tree genomics and found myself researching the fascinating world of plants. I have been hooked on plant science ever since. The applied aspects of plant genetics and genomics were also very exciting with applications for improving crops through breeding. In 2006 I accepted a position as a research scientist in potato genetics and genomics with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).”

When asked which decisions along the way were most instrumental in shaping the path she is on now, Dr. Tai had a very heartwarming answer that honored her father, George Tai, who was a potato breeder at AAFC before her.

“He was a quantitative geneticist and potato breeder, so I had heard about potatoes my whole life. As I had a background in molecular genetics, I approached my research in potatoes in a very different way than my father and we had many good discussions and debates. My father passed away last year and when I look back, it was a real treat to have had the chance to share a field of study with him.”

Beyond the University: Research in the Agri-Food Sector

As I approach the start of my third year pursuing a Ph.D. in Entomology at UW-Madison, I have been contemplating what a career in potato research can look like. Students in research laboratories see the inner workings of academia as we progress through our degrees, but we don’t always see other options unless we deliberately seek them out. I asked Dr. Tai how working as a research scientist in the agri-food sector compares to being university faculty.

“As a research scientist at AAFC there is a mandate for applying our research. I do have some freedom to do some basic research and much of the knowledge gained does contribute to developing more applied projects later on.”

When asked if her current role allows freedom to engage across research spheres, she answered, “I have affiliations with four universities and supervise undergraduate and graduate students in my lab. Supervision of students has been a very rewarding aspect of my career. I don’t do classroom teaching as professors do, but this does give me more time to do research, which I very much enjoy.”

The Value of a Broad Foundation

One part of the academic world that I have always found to be the most exciting is studying across a diverse range of topics. In undergrad I pursued degrees in Genetics and Genomics, Spanish, and Global Health; my M.S. was a joint degree in Agroecology and Entomology; and now I am pursuing Entomology for my Ph.D. I have always thought that having a well-rounded knowledge base is an asset to being a good researcher, but occasionally it feels like it limits my depth in my own research area. I was grateful to learn about Dr. Tai’s thoughts on the matter.

When asked about her own research and the wide range of topics it spans, she answered, “The part of my job I really enjoy is working with other scientists. I have been able to work on a wide range of topics because of the generous sharing of expertise and collaboration in the potato science community.”

I asked Dr. Tai if she sees this breadth as an asset in her current research, to which she said she very much does:

“At AAFC, we are very much encouraged to build multidisciplinary projects and I have learned so much from my colleagues both at AAFC and around the world. This breadth of knowledge and experience has really enriched the research I do and enabled me and my collaborators to make better progress on gaining scientific knowledge and developing solutions to breed potatoes and improve its production.”

Relatedly, and in terms of advising current students on being the best scientists they can be, Dr. Tai kept her answer simple and relatable, telling me the best advice she has for students is to keep an open mind, be curious, ask a lot of questions, and most of all, have fun.