In celebration of IR-4’s 60th year, we are highlighting some of the exceptional people of IR-4, from region to region and from field to lab. Today, meet Bronson Hung—Analyst and Sample Control Officer for IR-4’s Western Region, based at the University of California, Davis. Bronson was generous to press pause on his busy schedule and give us a glimpse into daily life in one of IR-4’s analytical laboratories.
A 27-year veteran of The IR-4 Project, Bronson emigrated from Hong Kong to the United States during high school.
“When I first came here, every time we had P.E., I had to run a mile—I’d never heard of that,” he exclaimed. In Hong Kong, he enjoyed playing popular sports like ping pong and badminton, but American P.E. class was a bit of a culture shock. Bronson emphasized, “We don’t do running!”
Luckily, Bronson hit his stride in the science lab. He graduated from the University of California, Davis in 1995 with a degree in biochemistry. His leap into professional life began in a frog lab, where it was his job to conduct dissections.
“I always had a strong interest in working in a laboratory environment,” shared Bronson. Although, reflecting on the countless hours he spent in the company of frog cadavers, he confessed, “Working with animals is not my thing… I much prefer working with plants.”
Day to Day in the Lab
As an analyst and sample control officer, Bronson receives hundreds of specialty crop samples from IR-4 field studies throughout the year that must be promptly processed.
“On average, we receive 20 IR-4 studies every year in this lab, and this represents over 800 frozen samples—they all have to be chopped, they all have to be processed, they all have to be packaged, they all have to be moved and analyzed,” he explained.
As a lab manager, Bronson supervises two other researchers and assigns tasks to ensure that samples are processed in an efficient, accurate manner. With so much to coordinate, Bronson has become an expert in time management. The lab’s busy season typically spans from June to November, when many specialty crops are being harvested. Spreading other documentation and lab upkeep tasks throughout the year helps his team focus and move efficiently during the bustling sample-processing months.
A typical day for Bronson starts around 6:00 am with emails and ends around 3:00 pm after a full day of lab work, record keeping, and facility maintenance. Depending on the season, Bronson can be found doing anything from preparing storage stability samples for the studies, performing supercritical carbon dioxide and ethanol extractions, or reviewing analytical summary reports.
Bronson enjoys the fast pace and varied nature of lab work because “there’s always something new to learn!” The consistent variety and energy of the work makes motivation easy to find. Bronson emphasized the importance of teamwork and the collaborative environment that his colleagues help create, where he always feels confident to ask questions or seek help when he needs it.
Full Time Scientist, Full Time Dad
When Bronson isn’t in the lab, his personal life stays just as active. “I really enjoy spending time with family. I have an eight year old daughter. She has a very busy schedule, which makes me very busy—I am very proud of her!” Bronson commented. When both of them have free time, they enjoy adventurous outings to local attractions like Six Flags and the water park.
What does 60 Years of IR-4 mean to you?
Reflecting on IR-4’s 60th year, Bronson shared, “I am so happy to be part of 60 years with the IR-4 family! This organization has such a long history of success. It is amazing to know what kind of impact we can make, with such relatively small funding, to the whole country!”
Thank you Bronson for taking the time to speak with us, and best of luck in your busy season. Sixty years of impact wouldn’t be possible without you and the Western Region Analytical Lab team!
Are you an IR-4 team member interested in being featured & sharing more about your daily work? Contact our team at ir-4_project@ncsu.edu. We’d love to shine a light on what you do & how it impacts our organizational mission.
About The IR-4 Project
The mission of the IR-4 Project is to facilitate regulatory approval of sustainable pest management technologies for specialty crops and specialty uses to promote public well-being. By working directly with local crop growers across the country, IR-4 conducts research and develops data necessary for the registration of pest management tools, ensuring that they are safe for use. To learn more, visit our website.