Vipan Kumar

Vipan Kumar is an Associate Professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University, specializing in weed science. His research focuses on integrated weed management, herbicide-resistant weeds, and precision agriculture technologies. He leads statewide programs addressing weed challenges in field crops like corn, soybean, and small grains. Previously, he was an Assistant Professor at Kansas State University, where he studied weed biology and dryland agroecosystems.

Education:

• Ph.D., Montana State University (2015)
• M.Sc., Louisiana State University (2011)
• B.Sc., Punjab Agricultural University (2008)

Research Interests:

• Development of cost-effective integrated weed management strategies
• Surveillance and management of herbicide-resistant weeds
• Integration of AI for precision weed control
• Ecological studies of invasive species like Palmer amaranth

Key Achievements:

• Recipient of multiple early-career awards from the Weed Science Society of America and Crop Science Society of America
• Over 80 peer-reviewed publications on herbicide resistance, weed ecology, and precision agriculture
• Leader of a lab investigating novel mechanical tools (e.g., electric weeders, interrow mowers) and sensor-based sprayers

Outreach: Delivers research-based recommendations to farmers via field days, crop schools, and extension publications. Collaborates with Cornell Cooperative Extension and industry partners to address regional weed management challenges.

Labs/Teams: Directs the Kumar Weed Lab at Cornell, emphasizing sustainable solutions through multi-pronged approaches (chemical, mechanical, cultural).