Find Academic Supervisors

Johannes SauerView profile

Professor

• Production Economics
• Natural Resource Economics
• Applied Econometrics
• +4 more

Prof. Dr. Johannes Sauer is a Professor at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), holding dual affiliations with the TUM School of Management and the TUM School of Life Sciences . His academic focus is on production and resource economics, with expertise in agricultural sustainability, policy evaluation, and circular economy strategies in Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Education: Bachelor’s/Master’s in Agricultural Economics from Universities of Tübingen, Hamburg, and Imperial College London. Doctorate (summa cum laude) in Agricultural Economics from the University of Bonn (2004). Research Interests: Prof. Sauer’s work spans productivity and resilience in agricultural systems, adoption of sustainable technologies, water resource valuation, and bioeconomic trends. He emphasizes smart technologies and circular economy applications in developing regions. His research employs econometric methods to analyze policy impacts and environmental-economic trade-offs. Key Trends in Publications: Recent articles highlight climate-smart agriculture, ICT adoption in rural China, and agroforestry’s role in reducing ecological-economic trade-offs. He explores behavioral drivers of policy participation and innovative tools like the IoFarm decision support system. Awards: 2021 Honorary Professorship at ANU OECD Fellow Awards (2010, 2016) Best Paper Awards (2008–2015) Consulting & Roles: OECD and Asian Development Bank consultant, ESRC Peer Review College member, and liaison lecturer for the German National Academic Foundation. He advises on agri-environmental policies and international development. Labs/Teams: Active in collaborative projects such as PONDERFUL Framework and IPM Popilia , focusing on nexus research and pest management strategies.

Gary BrewerView profile

Professor

• Field Crops Entomology
• Insect Ecology
• Insect Pest Management
• +3 more

Dr. Gary Brewer is a Professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with a 60% research and 40% teaching appointment. He has served as department head at NDSU (1997-2006) and UNL (2006-2018). His research focuses on field crops entomology, IPM of pasture cattle flies, salt creek tiger beetle conservation, and pollinator health. He has pioneered a push-pull strategy using coconut oil-derived repellents and led curriculum design for Rwanda’s Conservation Agriculture program. Education: B.S. in Zoology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1974) M.S. in Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1978) Ph.D. in Entomology, Kansas State University (1984) Research Interests: Brewer’s work spans insect ecology, pest management, and conservation. Key areas include stable fly and horn fly control, pollinator protection, and endangered species recovery (e.g., Salt Creek tiger beetle). His lab develops natural product-based pest repellents and evaluates biopesticides for sustainable agriculture. Grants & Contributions: $362,150 USDA grant for undergraduate research in beneficial insect protection (2018) $325,000 USDA grant for multi-tactic stable fly control (2017) NE Game and Parks funded salt creek tiger beetle reintroduction programs Labs & Teams: Brewer’s team collaborates with industry (e.g., Vestergaard Frandsen) and international partners to advance IPM strategies. His work bridges field research with applied solutions for farmers and conservationists.

Lina BernaolaView profile

Assistant Professor

• Host Plant Resistance
• Plant-Microbe-Insect Interactions
• Integrated Pest Management
• +3 more

Lina Bernaola is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University AgriLife Research. She holds a Ph.D. in Entomology and an M.S. in Agronomy from Louisiana State University, alongside a B.S. in Biology from Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (Peru). Her research focuses on plant-insect interactions, particularly rice pests, and explores the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in enhancing plant defense systems. She develops sustainable pest management strategies integrating agronomy, biochemistry, and ecology. Her expertise spans Host Plant Resistance, Plant-Microbe-Insect Interactions, and Integrated Pest Management. Recent work includes studies on rice delphacid control, biocontrol mechanisms, and the ecological impacts of mycorrhizal symbiosis. She is recognized for her leadership, becoming the first Latina president of the Entomological Society of America (ESA). Education: B.S. Biology, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos M.S. Agronomy, Louisiana State University Ph.D. Entomology, Louisiana State University Awards/Honors: Incoming President, Entomological Society of America (2023). Her research bridges fundamental and applied entomology, aiming to improve crop resilience through multidisciplinary approaches. Collaborations emphasize translational science for practical agricultural solutions.

• Agricultural Engineering
• Precision Agriculture
• Control Systems
• +4 more

Dr. Alison McCarthy is an Associate Professor in Irrigation and Cropping Systems at the Centre for Agricultural Engineering , University of Southern Queensland . With a background in mechatronic engineering, she specializes in developing automated irrigation systems and machine vision technologies for cotton and dairy pasture management. Education: BEng (2006) and PhD (2010) from University of Southern Queensland Research Interests: Irrigation control systems Machine vision for soil and plant sensing Automation in agriculture Recent Publications highlight her work in nitrogen management, autonomous irrigation frameworks, and pest detection systems. These contributions align with her expertise in AI-driven agricultural solutions and sensor integration. Scientific Awards: 2024 Australian Future Cotton Leader 2021 WatSave Young Professionals Award 2018 Cotton Seed Distributors Researcher of the Year 2015 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science Award 2014 Science and Innovation Award for Young Professionals Research Affiliations: Centre for Agricultural Engineering (CAE) Association of Australian Cotton Scientists (Full Member)

Michael D ToewsView profile

Professor

• Entomology
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Invasive Species Ecology
• +3 more

Dr. Michael D Toews serves as the Associate Dean for Extension in the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), overseeing a team of over 1,000 faculty and staff across 4-H, family and consumer sciences, and agricultural/natural resources programs. A Kansas native, he holds a BS in biology from Fort Hays State University and advanced degrees (MS/PhD) in entomology from Oklahoma State University. His career includes postdoctoral work at Kansas State University and USDA-ARS before joining UGA in 2006 as a research entomologist specializing in pest ecology and integrated pest management (IPM). Dr. Toews has held key leadership roles including Assistant Dean of the UGA Tifton Campus (2020-2025), where he increased graduate enrollment by 48%, postdoctoral scholars by 57%, and research expenditures by 46%. His research focuses on invasive species management (e.g., kudzu bugs, sugarcane aphids), agricultural sustainability, and pest management strategies. He co-directed the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health and developed Extension programming addressing stored product entomology and urban pest control. His professional accolades include the 2015 Southeastern Branch Award for Excellence in Integrated Pest Management. Dr. Toews has secured over $21M in grant funding, authored 112 peer-reviewed manuscripts, and mentored 6 postdoctoral researchers while serving on 26 graduate student committees. His leadership emphasizes modernizing Extension operations, strengthening urban-rural connections, and advancing UGA's land-grant mission through interdisciplinary collaboration and infrastructure development.

Silvia RondonView profile

Professor

• Integrated Pest Management
• Insect-Plant Interactions
• Biological Control
• +2 more

Silvia Rondon is a Professor and Director of the Integrated Pest Management Center at Oregon State University (OSU), affiliated with the College of Agriculture and Department of Crop & Soil Science. She moved to OSU's Corvallis campus in September 2022 after extensive work in eastern Oregon. Education: PhD in Crop Sciences (2002), MS in Entomology (1999), BA in Biology/Zoology (1993) from Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (Peru) and University of Illinois. Research Focus: Ecological-based Integrated Pest Management for irrigated crops (potatoes, onions, corn, wheat) emphasizing insect ecology, biological/chemical control, and pest population dynamics. Her publications span potato psyllid management, zebra chip disease, wireworm genomics, and landscape-driven pest movement. Key awards include the Erasmus Teaching Award, Pacific Branch ESA Excellence in Extension, and multiple NACAA/OSU honors. She leads extension programs through on-farm demonstrations and train-the-trainer workshops, while mentoring graduate students in IPM research.

Morgane ChevalierView profile

Associate Professor

• Educational Robotics
• Computational Thinking
• E-learning
• +4 more

Morgane Chevalier is an Associate Professor at Vaud Teacher Training College (HEP Vaud) working within the Media, Digital Uses and Computer Science Teaching unit (UER MI). She specializes in multimedia pedagogical engineering, combining project management with e-learning scripting. Her work bridges educational theory and practical implementation of digital technologies in classroom settings, with particular focus on primary education. With prior experience teaching in primary schools in Seine-Saint-Denis (France), working in human resources in Montreal (Canada), and teaching in the Canton of Vaud, Chevalier brings diverse perspectives to her academic work. She holds a Master's degree in e-learning from IPM, Lille 1 and is currently pursuing a MAS in 'Theories, practices and training devices for teachers' to refine her understanding of institutional and social contexts of teacher training in French-speaking Switzerland. Her research interests focus on three complementary areas: online homework implementation in blended learning environments and fostering teacher communities of practice; how e-learning supports teacher professionalization; and robotics as a medium for knowledge, specifically examining how classroom robot integration impacts student learning and teaching practices. She is particularly interested in emerging communities of practice around educational technology. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on educational robotics as a vehicle for developing computational thinking in primary education. Her work consistently explores scaffolded learning approaches, intervention methods, and teacher perspectives on implementing robotics in classrooms. A recurring theme is the development of models to help teachers identify relevant computational thinking concepts during different phases of educational robotics activities. Chevalier serves in several organizational roles including as an Associate HEP Professor, delegate of the intermediate body to the HEP Council, delegate of the Specialized Pedagogy Study Commission, and scientific collaborator at EPFL's LSRO. She is also a member of the educanet2 Community. Her teaching spans Bachelor primary programs, MASPE education, and continuing education courses covering image creation and processing, media education, Thymio II robotics, and flipped classroom methodologies. She collaborates extensively with EPFL researchers, particularly on projects involving the Thymio educational robot, and has developed frameworks for creative computational problem solving through robotics. Her work demonstrates a commitment to translating research into practical classroom applications while supporting teacher development in the digital age.

• Agricultural Ecology
• Sustainable Food Production
• Evidence Synthesis
• +4 more

Professor Nicola Randall is a Professor of Evidence Synthesis and Agroecology at Harper Adams University, where she leads the Centre for Evidence-Based Agriculture (CEBA) and the Agroecology for Sustainable Agri-food (AFS) research group. She holds a BSc (Hons), PhD, and a CertTHE in higher education. Her research focuses on agricultural ecology, sustainable food systems, and evidence-based decision-making in environmental and agricultural policies. She chairs the EU-NESA Network (CA23107 2024-2028) and serves on advisory boards for organizations such as the Food Standards Agency and Ceres2030. Her work emphasizes systematic reviews, evidence synthesis methodologies, and bridging gaps between research and policy. She has secured over £1 million in research funding, collaborating with bodies like BBSRC, DEFRA, and EU H2020. Education: BSc (Hons), PhD, CertTHE Teaching Roles: Course leader for Agroecology MSc, module leader for Fundamentals of Agroecology and International Agroecology Professional Memberships: British Ecological Society (Agroecology Committee), Society for Conservation Biology Her research spans topics like regenerative agriculture, pollinator ecology, and humane slaughter practices. She advises on international projects, including FAO initiatives and smallholder farming interventions in Africa. Her work bridges academic research with practical applications for sustainable agriculture and environmental governance.

Matthew ChappellView profile

Professor

• Plant Breeding & Genetics
• Specialty Crop Production Systems
• Controlled Environment Agriculture
• +7 more

Matthew Chappell is a Professor and Director at the Virginia Tech Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center (TAREC), affiliated with the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences. Previously, he held faculty positions as Assistant, Associate, and full Professor & Extension Specialist in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Georgia, where he conducted research and extension work on ornamental nursery crops and plant breeding. His research interests include Plant Breeding & Genetics , Specialty Crop Production Systems , Controlled Environment Agriculture , Integrated Pest Management (IPM) , and Inventory Management using sUAS platforms . His work emphasizes the development of superior plant varieties, optimization of production systems, and adoption of innovative technologies such as sensor-based irrigation and drone-assisted inventory. The most recent publications reflect a strong trend in precision horticulture, focusing on automated irrigation systems, responses to saline irrigation, plant propagation protocols, and the integration of RFID and drone technologies for nursery inventory. These works span disciplines in agricultural engineering, plant physiology, and sustainable production. Honors and awards include multiple recognitions from the American Society for Horticultural Science and the Southern Region for outstanding extension education materials, particularly in IPM and irrigation management. He also received the UGA Horticulture Professor of the Year award and Career Advocate Recognition from the UGA Career Center. 2015 Southern Region of the Am. Soc. for Horticultural Sci. Extension Communications Award 2015, 2017, 2018 ASHS Outstanding Education Materials Award 2017 Southern Region Blue Ribbon Extension Publication Award (twice) 2017-18 UGA Horticulture Professor of the Year 2019, 2020 UGA Career Center Career Advocate Recognition Dr. Chappell has led and contributed to numerous extension programs, including the Southern Nursery IPM Working Group, and has advised students in plant propagation, breeding, and sustainable horticulture. His work is supported by collaborative grants and institutional funding focused on improving economic and environmental outcomes in specialty crop production. He has been instrumental in developing experiential learning workshops and mobile applications like IPMPro to enhance grower adoption of best practices. He leads research and extension initiatives at TAREC, working with interdisciplinary teams to advance technologies in plant inventory, irrigation efficiency, and disease management. His lab integrates field trials, controlled environment studies, and digital agriculture tools to support the nursery and ornamental industry.

Hazel ParryView profile

Researcher

• Insect pest management
• Climate change
• Biosecurity
• +7 more

Dr Hazel Parry is a Senior Research Scientist at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), with a focus on environmental drivers of pest and disease outbreaks. Her work integrates ecological and economic dimensions to advance Area-wide Integrated Pest Management (AW-IPM) and Digital IPM through spatiotemporal and simulation models. Education: PhD in Geography (Ecological Modelling), University of Leeds (2006) BA (Hons) in Geography, University of Cambridge (2002) Research Themes: Movement ecology of pests and beneficial species (e.g., Lepidoptera, fruit bats, fruit flies) AW-IPM in dynamic socio-agroecological systems Best practices in spatiotemporal and MLAI-based pest population forecasting Her work bridges multi-agent simulation , GIS , and ecological modelling to address food security and biosecurity challenges. Current Projects: Pest READI (Hort Frontiers funded, project leader) Canola Allies (GRDC funded, collaboration with Universities of Adelaide and Murdoch) Area-wide management of Queensland Fruit-fly (Rural R&D for Profit funded, project leader) Improved Management of Rutherglen bug (GRDC funded, project leader) Collaborations: University of Queensland, University of Wisconsin, Macquarie University, Queensland University of Technology, INRAE (France), Jagun Alliance Aboriginal Corporation, and industry bodies like GrowCom. Supervision: Co-supervised PhD student Jaye Newman (Graduated 2023, QUT) and currently supervises postdoctoral researchers in projects like Precision Pollination (ARC Linkage) and Winanga-y Fellowship .

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Digital Identification Tools
• Crop Protection
• +3 more

Dr. Geoff Norton is a faculty member at the School of the Environment , University of Queensland. His work focuses on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) , Digital Identification Tools , and Agricultural Sustainability , with a particular emphasis on rice planthoppers, sweetpotato diagnostics, and weed science. He has developed interactive software platforms like Diagnosis and Sweetpotato DiagNotes to enhance crop protection training and decision-making. Research Trends : His publications span Digital tools for pest and species identification Collaborative approaches to rice pest management Scenario-based educational software Weed surveillance systems Labs & Teams : Norton has collaborated with institutions such as Imperial College London, Springer, and the International Society for Horticultural Science. He contributed to the Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Pest Management and developed tools for tropical plant protection and biosecurity.

Rhoda BurrowsView profile

Professor

• Sustainable Horticulture
• Food Safety
• Vegetable and Fruit Production
• +3 more

Rhoda Burrows is a Professor and SDSU Extension Horticulture Specialist at South Dakota State University (SDSU). She specializes in supporting commercial fruit and vegetable production, focusing on small-scale and beginning growers. Her roles include organizing food safety workshops, securing funding for educational programs, and collaborating with regional and national extension initiatives. She co-coordinates the South Dakota Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program and assists with Native American gardening programs. Education: A.A. in Liberal Arts, Golden Valley Lutheran College, 1979 B.S. in Horticulture Science, Montana State University, 1983 M.S. in Horticulture Science, University of Minnesota-St. Paul, 1987 Ph.D. in Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota-St. Paul, 2001 Research Interests: Sustainable horticultural production, soil-microbe interactions, food safety compliance (FDA Food Safety Modernization Act), and viticulture. She develops educational materials and collaborates with organizations like the South Dakota Specialty Producers Association to enhance grower education and marketability. Awards: John Robertson Memorial Award in Horticulture Gamme Sigma Delta Extension Award Phi Kappa Phi Grants & Advising: Overseeing grants totaling millions, including $2.6M for Northern Grapes research and $657K for food sovereignty programs on Native American reservations. Her work emphasizes stakeholder engagement and systems approaches to food safety and agricultural sustainability. Labs/Teams: Leads SDSU Extension West River Ag Center initiatives and collaborates with the eXtension Grape Community of Practice to disseminate research on viticulture and IPM strategies.

Anthony LeBudeView profile

Associate Professor

• Nursery Crop Production
• Horticultural Best Management Practices
• Plant Propagation
• +3 more

Anthony LeBude is an Associate Professor and Nursery Extension Specialist at North Carolina State University. He focuses on developing practical solutions for nursery growers, including automation strategies, best management practices, and pest management systems. His work bridges research and extension through collaborative programs with industry stakeholders. Education: PhD in Rooting and Physiology of Stem Cuttings of Loblolly Pine (NC State University, 2005) MS in Agricultural Education (NC State University, 1998) BS in Horticulture (Virginia Tech, 1990) Research Interests: Automation technologies in nursery production Integrated pest management (IPM) adoption Water and nutrient management systems Microbiome dynamics in ornamental crops Propagation techniques for woody ornamentals His work emphasizes translating scientific findings into actionable tools for growers, such as mobile apps (e.g., IPMPro) and standardized best practice guides. Advocacy and Grants: Collaborated on multi-state pest management strategic plans Received grants for automation research and extension workshops Promoted experiential learning through hands-on IPM workshops Lab/Team: Works closely with the NC State Extension network and industry partners like the Southern Nursery Association to address real-world production challenges.

• Irrigation control systems
• Machine vision for soil and plant sensing
• Automation in agriculture
• +5 more

Associate Professor Alison McCarthy is a mechatronic research engineer at the University of Southern Queensland, affiliated with the Centre for Agricultural Engineering. She specializes in irrigation and cropping systems, focusing on automation, machine vision, and sensor-based control technologies to improve agricultural efficiency and sustainability. Research Interests: Irrigation control systems Machine vision for soil and plant sensing Automation in agriculture Variable-rate irrigation Agricultural spatial analysis and modelling Her recent research output demonstrates a strong trend in developing and evaluating automated, real-time systems for irrigation, nitrogen management, and crop monitoring across cotton, dairy, and grain crops. She leverages machine vision, AI, and sensor networks to enable precision agriculture solutions that reduce labor, optimize inputs, and improve yields. Scientific Awards: 2024 Australian Future Cotton Leader 2021 WatSave Young Professionals Award (International Commission on Irrigation & Drainage) 2018 Cotton Seed Distributors Researcher of the Year Award 2015 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science Award 2014 Science and Innovation Award for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 2011 Travel Fellowship (Irrigation Australia Limited) NPSI/IAL Travel Fellowship 2010 Dr. McCarthy actively supervises research students and leads industry-collaborative projects funded by organizations such as Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Grains Research and Development Corporation, and Hort Innovation. She has secured multiple research grants focused on smarter irrigation, nitrogen management, and pest monitoring technologies. Her work bridges academic research and practical on-farm applications, emphasizing technology transfer and industry engagement. Laboratories and Research Teams: She is a key member of the Centre for Agricultural Engineering at USQ, contributing to interdisciplinary teams working on smart irrigation, precision agriculture, and agricultural automation. Her research integrates with projects like 'Smarter Irrigation for Profit' and 'Future Farm', involving collaboration with engineers, agronomists, and industry partners.

• Plant Pathology
• Ornamental IPM
• Ornamental Diseases
• +3 more

Dr. David L Clement serves as Principal Agent at the Home & Garden Information Center (HGIC) within the University of Maryland's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. His expertise spans Plant Pathology, Ornamental IPM, and Ornamental Disease Management. He leads HGIC's mission to address pest, plant, and landscape challenges for Maryland residents through educational outreach and diagnostic services. Education & Background : While specific academic qualifications are not detailed in the text, his role as a Principal Agent implies advanced training in plant sciences, likely including a PhD in Plant Pathology or related field. Experience includes over 40 years in extension services and plant diagnostics, as evidenced by publications dating to 1980. Research Interests : Focuses on practical solutions for ornamental plant health, integrated pest management strategies, and gardening best practices. Specializes in diagnosing and managing diseases affecting woody plants, herbaceous perennials, and vegetables. Pioneered smartphone apps for early detection of invasive plant diseases and pests through collaborations like the National Plant Diagnostic Network. Labs & Teams : Oversees the HGIC team providing statewide gardening consultations via phone, online resources, and workshops. Collaborates with extension agents, researchers, and community groups to promote sustainable gardening practices.