Aracely Watson (she/her) is a PhD student in the Plant and Microbial Biosciences program within the Roy and Diana Vagelos Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences. She earned her Bachelor of Arts with highest honors in Biology, with a certification in Spanish and concentration in Latino Studies from Williams College in 2025, where she was awarded the Henry A. Dwight, 1829, Botanical Prize. Growing up surrounded by and working on apple orchards inspired Aracely’s initial interest in plants and agriculture which was translated into undergraduate research on plant-plant communication. Aracely was awarded a Dr. Herchel Smith Fellowship to earn a Masters of Philosophy in Biological Sciences (Plant Sciences) from the University of Cambridge (to be conferred October 2026). Aracely is excited to uncover how plants build complex small molecules and harness these chemical pathways for real-world applications.
