Plants were a mainstay in Moon Twayana's childhood. Moon would tag along with her parents as they worked at farms outside of Kathmandu, Nepal. She's seen firsthand how food is grown and how pests could be detrimental to crops.
Now, through her research as a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology doctoral student, she's contributed foundational evidence that could lead to more aphid-resistant plants in the future. This could help save billions of dollars for the agricultural industry worldwide and boost food production because less plants would be lost. Aphids are small insects that can be catastrophic to plants by sucking out vital juices in leaves and stems, which can stunt growth, transmit plant viruses and promote growth of plant fungus.
"Aphids are one of the top pests for agriculture in the U.S. and farmers lose a lot of crops because of infestations," Moon says. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, pests are responsible for losses between 20 to 40% of global crop production each year.
Working with a model plant that's a close relative of mustard, Moon studied a gene that provides a natural defense against green peach aphids. She then successfully genetically modified other plants in the lab such as the oilseed plant, Camelina sativa and tomatoes to include this gene.
While studying plant science seems like a natural fit with her background, Moon never imagined she'd be doing it. After a hepatitis outbreak in Nepal, Moon decided she wanted to be a scientist, but back then she thought that meant studying potential medicines to treat diseases.
"The more I learned in science, the more I started getting interested in exploring plant science," Moon says. "I realized this is where I belong."
Moon came to UNT for its research strengths in plant science, especially through the university's BioDiscovery Institute, which houses an interdisciplinary team of researchers focused on creating bio-based solutions that work across industries for a more sustainable future. Her time at UNT has been important to her growth as a scientist and person, but the 10-year journey for her doctorate hasn't been easy.
Social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic meant less time in the lab for her work and power outages on campus during the 2021 winter storm damaged important research samples, setting back her work even further.
One of the biggest challenges Moon faced though was a personal struggle with her health.
Only one semester into the program in 2015, Moon started experiencing widespread pain that inhibited her quality of life. A year and a half later, she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a chronic autoimmune disorder that can cause severe pain throughout the body as well as fatigue and trouble focusing. There were some days Moon was so overwhelmed with balancing her health and the demands of grad school that she didn't think she could continue her studies.
"There were many times along the way that I wanted to quit, but my mentor Dr. Jyoti Shah encouraged me to keep going," Moon says. "It's been a blessing to have such a patient mentor. He's been my uplifting power in these years."
Moon is working to submit her doctoral research for publication in a major academic journal. She hopes it can be a key step in understanding aphid-plant interactions and eventually help farmers prevent aphids from devastating their crops.
After graduating she plans to work as a science communicator disseminating scientific advancements to audiences beyond academia.
"I know this is complex science and the ideas of scientific processes, and I want to put it out there in a way that others can understand, too. I want to help create a love for science in everybody."
The College of Science's commencement ceremony will be taking place in the UNT Coliseum at noon on Friday, May 10, 2024.
For more information about UNT Commencement, please visit https://www.unt.edu/commencement/
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