Jo Heuschele

Jo Heuschele is a Research Agronomist (Biochemistry) at the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in St. Paul, Minnesota, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota. Her work bridges plant science, biochemistry, and engineering to improve forage quality and crop resilience.

Research Interests: Dr. Heuschele's research focuses on plant cell wall composition, lignification, and stem structure, aiming to enhance digestibility of forages for ruminants. She integrates plant physiology, genetics, and physics to study how climate affects plant movement and lodging resistance. Her lab develops novel biochemical tools and field-based sensors in collaboration with engineers to advance applied plant research.

Scientific Awards:

• Outreach, Diversity and Equal Opportunity (Supervisory): for Exemplary Mentoring of Young Scientists to Enhance Diversity of the ARS Workforce (2024)

Advising and Mentoring: Dr. Heuschele is recognized for her mentorship of young scientists, particularly in promoting diversity within the ARS workforce. While specific students are not listed, her leadership in outreach reflects a strong commitment to education and inclusion.

Labs and Teams: She leads interdisciplinary research teams involving civil, agricultural, and materials engineers, working on sensor development and chromatography innovations to study plant responses in real-world conditions.