AMES, Iowa — January 5, 2026 — The Department of Agronomy at Iowa State University has announced the recipients of the prestigious C.R. Weber
Award for Excellence in Plant Breeding for Fall 2025. Established in 1981, the award recognizes outstanding academic and research accomplishments by graduate students in plant breeding and honors the legacy of Professor C.R. Weber, a pioneer in soybean breeding.
This year’s recipients are Joscif G. Raigne, a Ph.D. student in Dr. Asheesh K. Singh’s research group, and Joseph DeTemple, a doctoral student in the Interdepartmental Genetics & Genomics program working with Dr. Jianming Yu.
Raigne, who earned his B.S. in Biotechnology from Utah Valley University and completed his M.S. at Iowa State in 2024, has focused his research on integrating UAV and satellite-based multispectral and LiDAR imagery with statistical modeling and machine learning to improve seed yield prediction and phenology tracking. His interdisciplinary work includes collaborations with engineering and computer science teams to develop autonomous phenotyping platforms and IoT workflows. Raigne has also contributed significantly to outreach efforts, connecting research with producers and the agricultural community through events like the Farm Progress Show and SoyFest.
DeTemple, originally from southern Idaho, earned his B.S. in Biology from Brigham Young University, where he studied the genetic architecture of floral traits in the Gilia genus. At Iowa State, his research centers on understanding the genetic architecture of flowering time in maize using gene regulatory network approaches and growth chamber experiments. His work has been showcased at major conferences, including the Corn Breeding Research Meeting and Maize Genetics Meeting. Beyond research, DeTemple has played key roles in organizing symposia and field days, demonstrating leadership and commitment to the scientific community.
Each recipient will receive a cash award of $800. The C.R. Weber Award continues to inspire excellence in plant breeding, fostering innovation and leadership among graduate students who will shape the future of agriculture.