Find Academic Supervisors

Gustavo BoittView profile

Research Fellow

• Soil Science
• Phosphorus Cycling
• Biogeochemistry
• +3 more

Gustavo Boitt is an Honorary Research Fellow at The University of Western Australia's School of Agriculture and Environment, focusing on phosphorus dynamics in agricultural and natural systems. His research integrates advanced spectroscopic techniques, microbial studies, and biogeochemical approaches to improve nutrient management and reduce environmental risks. Current projects include optimizing fertilizer use in Western Australia's cropping systems and assessing long-term impacts of land management practices. Education: Ph.D. in Soil Science (Lincoln University, 2017), M.Sc. in Soil Science (Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, 2014), and B.Sc. in Agronomy Engineering (Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, 2011). Research Interests: Mechanistic understanding of phosphorus cycling, soil fertility, and sustainable agriculture. Key areas include phosphatase activity in rhizospheres, microbial population dynamics under biomass management, and phosphorus legacy effects in intensive agroecosystems. Recent work highlights include studies on phosphorus buffering in soils, the role of crop rotation in nutrient recycling, and long-term effects of mineral fertilizers vs. animal manures. His articles often address phosphorus depletion, enzyme activity, and symbiotic relationships enhancing plant nutrition. Grants and Projects: Investigator on projects such as 'Increasing profit from N, P and K fertiliser inputs in the Western Region' (GRDC, 2022–2023) and 'Linking phenotyping with genotyping for soybean root architecture' (UWA, 2022–2023). Collaborations span New Zealand, Brazil, and Australia. Labs/Teams: Co-creator of the 'Long term phosphorus and potassium cycling trials' dataset (UWA, 2023), emphasizing collaborative research in nutrient dynamics.

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Invasive Species Biology
• Agricultural Entomology
• +4 more

Hannah Burrack is a Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University (MSU), serving since January 2022. Previously, she held professorial roles at North Carolina State University (NC State) from 2007–2021, including leadership as inaugural Director of Education & Outreach for the NC Plant Sciences Initiative (2020–2021). Her research focuses on integrated pest management (IPM), invasive species like Drosophila suzukii (spotted-wing drosophila), and pollinator ecology in specialty crops such as blueberries, grapes, and hemp. She has secured $10.8M in research funding, authored 71 peer-reviewed publications, and delivered over 500 extension presentations to 28,000+ stakeholders. As department chair, she oversees MSU’s Entomology Department—comprising 145+ faculty/staff—managing budgets (~$19M annually), strategic planning, and collaborations with interdisciplinary programs like the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and MSU AgBioResearch. Her administrative role emphasizes bridging research, teaching, and outreach while addressing food security, biodiversity, and sustainable agriculture challenges. Research Priorities: Developing IPM strategies for invasive pests in specialty crops Understanding Drosophila suzukii biology and resistance dynamics Enhancing pollinator health in agroecosystems Evaluating pesticide impacts on non-target species Leadership & Outreach: Burrack collaborates with industry leaders, extension services, and international organizations to translate research into actionable pest management practices. She champions stakeholder engagement in emerging technologies like gene drives and advocates for equitable access to IPM tools. Her work aligns with MSU’s land-grant mission through community-based initiatives and policy-informing studies. Grants & Funding: Over $10.8M secured for research, including USDA-NIFA projects and industry partnerships. Current efforts focus on hemp pest management and pollinator conservation.

• Plant Parasitic Nematodes
• Soil Health
• Agricultural Extension
• +3 more

Dr. Marisol Quintanilla is an Assistant Professor and Extension Nematologist in the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University (MSU). She specializes in applied solutions for plant parasitic nematode problems in field, vegetable, fruit, and ornamental crops. Her work integrates research and extension to develop sustainable management practices, including testing biorational and conventional products, while emphasizing soil health and beneficial organism populations. Education: Doctorate (2009) and Master of Science (2004) in Entomology from MSU, and a Bachelor of Agriculture (2001) from Andrews University. She grew up on a Chilean family farm, fostering her interest in crop protection and agricultural extension. Research Focus: Applied nematology, soil health, and integrated pest management. Her studies include nematode community structure, disease complexes, and the efficacy of compost and manure-based amendments. She collaborates with faculty and extension agents to disseminate findings through workshops, publications, and field demonstrations. Grants & Impact: Awarded a $750K grant to address potato early die complex. Her work on soybean cyst nematode resistance management and ornamental plant nematode control has been widely adopted. Recent projects include pre-plant soil treatments in cherry orchards and hop cyst nematode diagnostics using PCR. Outreach: Leads extension programs to educate growers on nematode exclusion, host resistance, and sustainable practices. Her resources include the Michigan Hop Management Guide and Hosta Pests and Diseases bulletin, accessed over 11,000 times. Labs & Teams: Directs the MSU Applied Nematology Lab, focusing on acoustic signatures and soil microbiome interactions. Collaborates with the Soybean Cyst Nematode Coalition and the Michigan Wheat Program to address regional agricultural challenges.

Christine WatsonView profile

Professor

• Agricultural Systems
• Soil Science
• Nutrient Management
• +3 more

Christine Watson is Professor of Agricultural Systems at Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) and holds a Guest Professorship at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. She leads research in nutrient management across organic and conventional farming systems. Her work focuses on soil health metrics, legume integration in crop rotations, and optimizing crop-livestock systems. She directs multiple projects including Horizon Europe's Intercrop Values network and UKRI's AgriFood4NetZero initiative. Honors include Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies and KSLA Wallenberg Professor. She supervises 9 PhD students and has graduated 18 PhD candidates, contributing to 176+ research outputs.

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Agricultural Soil Management
• Climate Change Mitigation
• +3 more

Stephanie Jones is a Research Fellow in the Crop and Soils department at Scotland's Rural College (SRUC). Her work focuses on agricultural soil management, greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainable land use. She has contributed to projects like the RESAS Strategic Research Programme and the Soils Programme Research Partnership. Her research spans topics such as nitrous oxide mitigation, methane dynamics, and carbon sequestration in grasslands. Jones has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications and collaborates internationally on climate change mitigation strategies. Projects: RESAS 22-27: Agriculture Climate and Carbon (2022-2027) Soils Programme Research Partnership: Management for Soil Biology and Health (2017-2021) Research Interests: Her work integrates field measurements and modeling to understand soil-ecosystem interactions. Key areas include emissions from agricultural soils, grassland carbon dynamics, and the impacts of land-management practices on climate. Impacts: Her findings inform policy on agricultural emissions reduction and sustainable farming practices, with contributions to environmental policy frameworks.

• Soil Science
• Climate Change Mitigation
• Agricultural Sustainability
• +3 more

Sarah Buckingham is a Senior Consultant at Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), focusing on soil science, climate change mitigation, and agricultural sustainability. She holds a PhD from Lancaster University and leads the MSc Soils and Sustainability program, teaching courses on soil protection, ecology, and applications. Her research examines land management impacts on soil carbon and nitrogen, greenhouse gas emissions, and UK net-zero targets. Buckingham collaborates on projects like Hempcrete carbon analysis and Farming for Net Zero, supported by Scottish Government grants. She is affiliated with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and contributes to national policy initiatives on soil health and emissions reduction. Education: PhD in Soil Science (Lancaster University, 2008) Key Projects: Includes RESAS-funded research on climate-smart agriculture and Healthy Soils for a Green Recovery. She leads consultancy projects on carbon footprinting and land-use policy impacts. Teaching: Programme Director of SRUC's MSc Soils and Sustainability, organizing courses and supervising student research projects. Research Focus: Her work bridges biogeochemical processes in soils, GHG mitigation strategies, and sustainable land management. Recent studies address carbon sequestration, ammonia emissions, and agri-food system carbon footprints. Grants & Funding: Multiple Scottish Government grants (e.g., RESAS 22-27) totaling millions support her interdisciplinary projects. She collaborates widely with universities and institutes across the UK. Labs/Teams: Active in SRUC’s Agricultural and Environmental Research groups, leading multidisciplinary teams on soil health, climate policy, and land-use modeling.

Lukas HörtnaglView profile

Researcher

• Environmental Science
• Biogeochemistry
• Ecosystem Fluxes
• +3 more

Dr. Lukas Hörtnagl is a Researcher at ETH Zurich's Department of Environmental Systems Science (D-USYS), affiliated with the Professorship for Grassland Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. in Terrestrial Ecology and Limnology from the University of Innsbruck (2011), with postdoctoral research focused on biogenic volatile organic compound fluxes. Since 2018, he has served as a Data Scientist at ETH Zurich. His expertise centers on ecosystem-atmosphere gas exchanges, including CH4, N2O, CO2, and VOC fluxes. He contributes to major projects like ICOS-CH (Integrated Carbon Observation System Switzerland) and SwissFluxNet, leading long-term monitoring of carbon and water fluxes across ecosystems. His work integrates field measurements, remote sensing, and modeling to understand climate-ecosystem interactions. Key research themes include drought impacts on forest ecosystems, agricultural greenhouse gas mitigation, and methodological advancements in eddy covariance systems. He has published extensively on topics such as ecosystem respiration, carbon sequestration dynamics, and the physiological responses of plants to environmental stressors. Dr. Hörtnagl collaborates globally on initiatives like FLUXCOM-X and the FLUXNET network, emphasizing standardized data collection and cross-site comparisons. His research bridges applied and theoretical ecology, with implications for climate policy and sustainable land management.

Afef MarzouguiView profile

Researcher

• Crop Science
• Remote Sensing
• Plant Disease Resistance
• +3 more

Dr. Afef Marzougui is a Researcher at ETH Zürich in the Department of Crop Sciences. Her work focuses on integrating remote sensing technologies and machine learning to advance crop phenotyping and disease resistance studies. She specializes in developing precision agriculture strategies for pest management and crop yield optimization. Her research interests include crop science, plant disease resistance mechanisms, and the application of high-resolution satellite and proximal sensing techniques in agricultural phenomics. Notably, she has contributed to projects like the Global Wheat Full Semantic Organ Segmentation (GWFSS) Dataset and studies on Aphanomyces root rot resistance in legumes. Her recent publications (2020–2025) emphasize interdisciplinary approaches combining computational methods with field data to address challenges in sustainable crop production. Key themes include disease impact modeling in livestock, multi-scale data fusion for yield estimation, and VOC-based biomarker identification for high-throughput disease detection.

• Crop Science
• Plant Pathology
• Sustainable Agriculture

Johanna Mayerhofer is a Lecturer affiliated with both ETH Zurich's Professorship for Crop Science and Agroscope research institute. Her work advances sustainable crop protection strategies. Research focuses on developing precision agriculture techniques for soil-borne disease management in horticultural systems. Current projects integrate crop rotation models with variable-rate fumigation approaches to reduce pesticide usage. Dr. Mayerhofer collaborates on interdisciplinary initiatives investigating plant-pathogen interactions and resilient farming systems.

Cristiane PilonView profile

Associate Professor

• Crop Physiology
• Peanut Production
• Plant Stress Biology
• +5 more

Cristiane Pilon is an Associate Professor in the Department of Crop & Soil Sciences at the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (CAES). Her research focuses on row crop physiology, particularly improving peanut production in Georgia through understanding crop growth, seed quality, water requirements, and environmental stress responses. She collaborates with UGA faculty, USDA-ARS, and the Georgia Peanut Commission. Her extension role includes supporting county programs, in-service training, and developing educational materials for peanut production. Her work integrates experimental and applied research to enhance agricultural sustainability. Key collaborations include the National Environmentally Sound Production Agriculture Laboratory (NESPAL). Research interests span crop physiology, stress biology, and agronomic practices. Her articles address topics like drought stress in crops, soil management, and silicon’s role in mitigating plant stress.

Ronald Scott TubbsView profile

Professor

• Peanut Agronomy
• Crop Rotation Systems
• Nutrient Management
• +2 more

Ronald Scott Tubbs is Professor of Crop & Soil Sciences at the University of Georgia's Tifton Campus, focusing on applied agronomic research for peanut production systems. His 65% extension appointment translates research on optimizing agronomic practices to farming communities. Research priorities include: Seeding rate and row spacing optimization Conservation tillage systems Nutrient cycling efficiency Cover crop integration

Aaron J GassmannView profile

Professor

• Integrated Pest Management
• Insect Resistance Management
• Plant-Insect Interactions
• +4 more

Dr. Aaron J Gassmann is a Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University. His research focuses on entomology, particularly integrated pest management (IPM), insect resistance to Bt crops, and plant-insect interactions with an emphasis on corn and western corn rootworm. He joined Iowa State in 2008 after postdoctoral training at the University of Arizona and UC Riverside. He holds a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution from Stony Brook University (2003) and a B.A. in Biology from the University of St. Thomas (1997). His research spans three major areas: resistance evolution to Bt corn in rootworm populations, fitness costs of resistance traits, and agro-ecological IPM strategies. Key projects include field and laboratory studies on Bt resistance mechanisms, ecological factors influencing pest management, and tritrophic interactions involving entomopathogens. His work emphasizes practical applications for sustainable agriculture and resistance delay strategies. Dr. Gassmann has authored 84 peer-reviewed articles, 6 book chapters, and numerous outreach materials. In 2021, he was elected a Fellow of the AAAS. He teaches courses such as ENT 376 (Fundamentals of Entomology), ENT 570 (Plant-Insect Interactions), and ENT 590N (Population Genetics). His lab, the Cardinal Aaron Gassmann Lab , collaborates on projects involving Bt crop efficacy, pest population genetics, and agricultural sustainability. His research highlights include identifying field-evolved Bt resistance in rootworm populations, quantifying fitness costs of resistance, and evaluating integrated pest management tools. He actively engages with farmers and policymakers to translate research into actionable practices.

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Neuroscience
• +4 more

Anil Kumar serves as a Professor and Dean at the University of Georgia's College of Veterinary Medicine, leading the Isakson Center for Neurological Disease Research. His work focuses on biomedical engineering, nanotechnology, and neurological disorders, with a particular emphasis on antimicrobial surfaces, stroke therapies, and regenerative medicine. He has pioneered innovations in nitric oxide-releasing materials and nanoparticle drug delivery systems. Research Interests: Development of antimicrobial surfaces for medical devices Neurological therapies targeting ischemic stroke and neurodegenerative diseases Nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery systems Biomedical applications of hydrogels and superhydrophobic materials His recent articles explore advancements in graphene-based energy storage, machine learning for product design, and translational stroke therapies in porcine models. Kumar's work bridges veterinary and human medicine, emphasizing cross-disciplinary approaches. No explicit awards or grants are noted, but his contributions are highlighted through prolific publication in high-impact journals.

Hailong JinView profile

Associate Professor

• Applied Econometrics
• Macroeconomics
• Mathematical Economics
• +6 more

Hailong Jin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at South Dakota State University (SDSU), affiliated with the Ness School of Management and Economics. He holds a B.A. from Jilin University, an M.S. from Tsinghua University, and a Ph.D. from Iowa State University. His research focuses on applied econometrics, macroeconomics, and mathematical economics, with a particular emphasis on economic modeling, time series analysis, and international monetary systems. His work addresses critical issues such as farmer perceptions of agricultural practices, currency intervention policies, and economic development challenges. Dr. Jin’s academic responsibilities include teaching advanced courses like Advanced Macroeconomics, Risk Management, and Mathematical Economics. He has contributed to interdisciplinary research on topics ranging from precision agriculture profitability to the impacts of extreme weather on farming. His recent work highlights farmer perspectives on conservation practices and rotational grazing in the U.S. Great Plains, reflecting a commitment to bridging economic theory with real-world agricultural challenges. His research has been published in journals such as Ecological Economics , Precision Agriculture , and China Economic Review . He is active in professional organizations like the Mt. Plains Business Association and collaborates with institutions on projects addressing sustainable land use and economic policy. His office is located in Harding Hall 123 on the SDSU campus.

Christopher GrahamView profile

Associate Professor

• Nitrogen Cycle
• Plant Physiology
• Soil Microbiology
• +6 more

Christopher Graham is an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist-Agronomist at the Department of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science, South Dakota State University (SDSU). His roles include academic teaching, research, and extension activities focused on sustainable agricultural practices in semi-arid regions. Education: B.S. from Arizona State University, M.P.A. from Columbia University, and Ph.D. from Cornell University. His research emphasizes interactions between plants, soils, and microbes, with a focus on nitrogen cycling, crop physiology, and legume-based cropping systems. Key research areas include: 1) Nitrogen fixation in pulse crops under abiotic stress, 2) Soil health dynamics during grassland-to-crop conversion, 3) Cover crop integration in dryland farming systems, and 4) Climate-smart agricultural practices in the Northern Great Plains. He leads trials on wheat, oats, field peas, sorghum, and sunflower varieties. He collaborates with SDSU’s West River Research Farm, South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, and Extension programs. Notable projects include evaluating microbial community shifts during land-use changes, optimizing nitrogen management in winter wheat, and developing climate-resilient cropping systems.