Christopher Shepard

Christopher Shepard is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Kentucky's Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. He holds a Ph.D. in Soil, Water and Environmental Science from the University of Arizona (2018), complemented by M.S. (2014) and B.S. (2011) degrees in Environmental Science.

Research focuses on pedology and soil formation processes, with emphasis on fragipan genesis, mineral-organic interactions, and topographic influences on soil properties. His work employs advanced spectroscopic techniques and geospatial analysis to understand soil health in agricultural and natural systems.

Award recognition includes multiple graduate research prizes from the Soil Science Society of America. Recent publications examine phosphorus cycling, mineral weathering, and karst landscape soil variability, frequently utilizing Kentucky's diverse geological settings as model systems.