Connor Nehls-Ramos earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Syracuse University and is currently working towards a PhD in Biological Sciences at Lancaster University. His research is focused on how the protein Rubisco, that is central to capturing CO2, is limited by other chemicals, and how to solve this challenge. Within the RIPE project, Connor is focusing on improving Rubisco, specifically investigating the various inhibitors of Rubisco and understanding the roles and functions of lesser-researched inhibitors. He also wants to see how researchers can work with these inhibitors to enable higher Rubisco efficiency while maintaining crop visibility. In 2021, Connor won the Birge Award for Exceptional Performance in Undergraduate Research.