Dr. David Burton is a Professor in the Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences at Dalhousie University's Faculty of Agriculture. He serves as Director of the Centre for Sustainable Soil Management and leads initiatives in soil health, greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainable agricultural practices. His teaching spans undergraduate and graduate courses in soil science, nutrient management, and climate change. Research focuses on microbial metabolism in soil, nitrogen cycling, and the environmental impacts of agricultural practices. He co-founded the Atlantic Soil Health Lab and manages the Greenhouse Gas Analysis Lab. Key affiliations include the Canadian Society of Soil Science (Fellow), Soil Conservation Council of Canada, and Fertilizer Canada's 4R Research Network. Recent work emphasizes soil's role in climate resilience, including presentations on regenerative farming and soil carbon sequestration. He collaborates with government and industry to develop climate-smart soil management policies and tools for nitrogen management optimization. Awards: Fellow of the Canadian Society of Soil Science Labs: Centre for Sustainable Soil Management, Greenhouse Gas Analysis Lab, Atlantic Soil Health Lab Grants: NSERC CREATE Climate Smart Soils
Dr Orin Chisholm is a program director at the Sydney Pharmacy School (University of Sydney), an Adjunct Associate Professor at UNSW Sydney, and teaches at Arizona State University. Her work focuses on regulatory science, pharmaceutical policy, and capacity-building in the therapeutics industry. BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry , University of Sydney PhD in Molecular Biology , University of Sydney Graduate Certificate in University Learning and Teaching , UNSW Sydney Her research explores regulatory frameworks for emerging therapeutics, horizon scanning of medical technologies, and competency-based education in pharmaceutical sciences. Recent projects include NHMRC Partnership Grant (2025-2028) for horizon scanning and national medicines policy reviews. Her publications analyze regulatory reforms, benefit-risk methodologies, and educational transformations in pharmaceutical medicine. Key themes include precision medicine , clinical research , and medical device regulation . TOPRA Award for Excellence in Regulatory Education (2017) Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) (2018) Fellow of the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (FRAPS) (2021) Fellow of ARCS Australia (FMPP) (2025) She supervises higher-degree research students, including Owen Smith (AAV gene therapies) and Matthew Britland (Medical Affairs and Quality Use of Medicines). Grants include funding for nanoparticle immunotherapy platforms and peptide-drug conjugate manufacturing.
Dr. Renske Hijbeek is an Associate Professor at the Plant Production Systems group of Wageningen University & Research. Her research focuses on nutrient management in arable farming systems, emphasizing soil fertility improvement through organic waste recycling, legume cultivation, and minimizing environmental impacts like greenhouse gas emissions. She teaches courses including 'The Carbon Dilemma - A Soil Perspective' and 'Analysing Sustainability of Farming Systems'. Key projects include the GRA Benchmarking Nutrient Circularity and EDF Soil Carbon Sequestration initiatives. Her work integrates agronomy with ecological principles to achieve sustainable agricultural practices globally. Research Contributions: Dr. Hijbeek's projects address nutrient circularity, soil carbon dynamics, and organic amendment efficiency across temperate and tropical regions. Recent work explores dietary impacts on nitrogen fertilizer dependency and systemic redesign of food production systems. Collaborations: Active in international collaborations like the Global Crop Nutrient Removal Database and the CATCH-C Legumes project in Tanzania. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges crop science, environmental management, and policy analysis.
Bruno Basso serves as the Hannah Distinguished Professor in the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences at Michigan State University, based in 307A Natural Science Building. He teaches GLG 446: Water and Food and maintains active research in sustainable agricultural systems, with contact via 517-353-9009 or basso@msu.edu. His work bridges academic research with practical farm applications across the US Midwest. His core research interests include: Food Security and Plant Resilience mechanisms Soil Science with emphasis on organic carbon dynamics Precision Agriculture technologies (drones, remote sensing) Climate-Smart Agriculture practices Nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiency Yield stability analysis through spatial-temporal modeling Regenerative agriculture impacts on greenhouse gas emissions Ecosystem services valuation in crop-livestock systems Analysis of his 2023-2025 publications reveals a dominant focus on quantifying climate benefits from regenerative practices using multi-model ensembles. His work consistently addresses scalability for farmer adoption, with strong emphasis on N₂O emissions mapping, soil carbon durability, and yield stability zones. Key methodological innovations include hybrid SAR-remote sensing integration and AI-driven nutrient prescription systems, primarily applied across Midwest corn-soybean systems. No scientific awards were documented in the provided materials. While specific advising details are absent, his leadership in the LTAR cropland common experiment and Soil Inventory Project indicates active mentorship of graduate researchers. His research likely attracts significant USDA and NSF funding given the scale of field experiments and modeling initiatives focused on decarbonizing agriculture. Dr. Basso co-leads the Soil Inventory Project at Kellogg Biological Station, developing integrated sampling, data repository, and modeling frameworks for regenerative agriculture. His team combines ground observations, remote sensing, and biophysical modeling to quantify soil carbon and greenhouse gas fluxes, collaborating with farmers, industry partners, and international researchers to translate science into on-farm practices.
Dr. Thilina Halloluwa is a Teaching Focused Lecturer in the Department of Human-Centred Computing at The University of Queensland (UQ). He holds a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction from Queensland University of Technology (2019) and a Computer Science undergraduate degree from the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology. With over 15 years of academic and industry experience, his research emphasizes real-world impact in education technology, financial inclusion, smart agriculture, and HCI. Educational Background: PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, Queensland University of Technology (2019) Bachelor of Computer Science, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology Research Interests: Education for All: Leveraging technology to enhance collaborative learning and social experiences in education. Human Money Interaction: Designing ethical AI solutions for financial services, particularly for underserved communities. Smart Agro: Developing AI-driven tools for crop disease detection, yield optimization, and precision agriculture. Software Project Estimation: Improving effort estimation accuracy through explainable AI (Metrix project). Key Contributions: Developed UrbanAgro (tomato disease detection) and BellCrop (bell pepper disease datasets). Pioneered Dhana Labha , a financial management tool for rural Sri Lankan communities. Advanced online exam proctoring systems for low-resource settings. Previous Roles: Lecturer at University of Sydney (2023) Senior Lecturer at University of Colombo (2013–2023) Lab/Team Affiliations: Smart Agro Project: AI-driven agricultural solutions Metrix Initiative: Software project estimation frameworks
Alfons Oude Lansink is a Professor and Chairholder in Business Economics at Wageningen University, Netherlands. He holds adjunct professorships at Universitas Padjadjaran (Indonesia) and the University of Florida (USA), and serves on the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture's CDM committee and Rabobank's scientific advisory board. His academic career spans roles as director of Wageningen School of Social Sciences (WASS) and Secretary-General of the European Association of Agricultural Economists. Education: MSc and PhD in Agricultural Economics from Wageningen University Leadership: Head of Business Economics group since 2003 His research focuses on dynamic technical and economic efficiency , sustainable performance of food supply chains , and economics of plant health . Recent work examines climate adaptation strategies, circular economy applications, and cross-border agri-food innovation dynamics using advanced econometric models. Key projects include MINDSTEP (modeling farm decisions), Closing the Loop (insect-based agriculture), and Food Pro-tec-ts (transboundary food technologies). Publications address topics like: Technical efficiency in dairy and arable farming Economic impacts of climate change on agriculture Corporate social responsibility in food manufacturing Policy evaluation for biogas and organic farming He serves as: Secretary/Treasurer of agricultural economics journal foundation Advisor to Universitas Padjadjaran (Indonesia) on policy and PhD supervision Editorial board member of Agronomy Journal and European Review of Agricultural Economics
Ueli Grossniklaus is an Ordinary Professor at the University of Zurich within the Faculty of Mathematical and Natural Sciences , affiliated with the Department of Plant and Microbiology . His work focuses on plant developmental biology, particularly epigenetic and genetic mechanisms governing reproduction and adaptation. Key Courses: Epigenetics, Plant Biology Workshop, Group Seminars on Current Research Laboratory Techniques: Advanced methods in plant cell mechanics, transcriptomics, and genome editing Research Interests span plant epigenetics, reproductive biology, and the interplay between environmental stress and genetic regulation. He investigates: Mechanistic control of gametogenesis and fertilization Epigenetic contributions to plant adaptation Evolutionary implications of asexual reproduction Biophysical forces in plant cell growth Publication Trends (2025–2018) reveal expertise in: Arabidopsis and fern model systems Epigenetic regulation (DNA methylation, histone dynamics) Apomixis and hybrid seed failure mechanisms Biomechanics of pollen tubes and carnivorous plants Genome editing tools (CRISPR) and long-read sequencing Scientific Collaborations include interdisciplinary projects on: Microfluidic devices for plant cell analysis Gene drive ecology and ethics 3D imaging of plant reproductive structures Advising and Grants focus on mentoring through research internships in developmental biology, genetics, and systems biology. His lab engages in: Epigenetic response to environmental stress Cell wall mechanics in reproduction Computational modeling of plant growth Laboratory Teams integrate plant biologists, bioengineers, and computational scientists to study: Mechanistic gene regulation Evolutionary developmental biology Microrobotics for cellular force measurement
Lea R. Winter is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at Yale University's School of Engineering & Applied Science. Her research focuses on electrified processes at the nexus of food, energy, water, and climate, with emphasis on sustainable CO 2 conversion, green nitrogen fixation, wastewater valorization, and plasma-electrochemical systems. She leads an active research group and mentors multiple PhD students, postdocs, and undergraduates. Ph.D., Columbia University B.S., Yale University Dr. Winter's research interests lie at the intersection of sustainability and chemical engineering. She pioneers electrified membrane technologies, plasma-activated reactions, and catalytic processes for converting waste streams (CO 2 , nitrates, wastewater) into valuable fuels, chemicals, and fertilizers. Her work integrates electrochemistry, plasma chemistry, and heterogeneous catalysis to develop distributed, circular solutions for environmental challenges. Key themes include green ammonia production , on-demand fertilizer synthesis , and electrified water treatment with resource recovery. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on electrified membranes for nitrate and CO 2 conversion, plasma-activated co-processing of N 2 and C 1 gases, and single-atom catalysis for environmental applications. Her research spans fundamental reaction mechanisms to scalable engineering solutions, often published in high-impact journals such as Nature Water , PNAS , and Joule . The work demonstrates a consistent trajectory toward enabling a distributed hydrogen and nitrogen economy through sustainable electrochemical and plasma-driven technologies. Scientific Awards: Beckman Young Investigator Award (2024) Department of Energy Early Career Award (2024) Caltech Young Investigators Lecture Series Award (2022) NEWT Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship (2020) NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2015) North American Catalysis Society Kokes Award (2019) Dr. Winter actively mentors students and has advised several who have gone on to PhD programs and faculty positions. Her lab receives significant research funding, as evidenced by her early-career awards from DOE and NSF. She leads projects on mining nontraditional water sources for hydrogen, plasma-based fertilizer synthesis, and electrified membrane systems. The Winter Lab fosters a collaborative, creative, and safe research environment centered on the principles of CRISP: Creativity, Respect, Investment, Safety, and Partnership. She also contributes to scientific discourse through invited viewpoints on climate education and critiques of emerging technologies like seawater electrolysis. Her lab collaborates widely, including with researchers at Columbia, Caltech, and international institutions.
Tri Setiyono is an Assistant Professor in the School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences at Louisiana State University (LSU). Previously, he served as a Scientist at the Sustainable Impact Platform of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Baños, Philippines (2011–2021), and as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2007–2011). He is affiliated with the LSU AgCenter and the LSU College of Agriculture, contributing to research and extension services in precision agriculture and crop resilience. Education: PhD in Agronomy, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2007) MS in Agronomy, Kansas State University (2003) BS in Agronomy, Bogor Agricultural University (1998) Research interests focus on precision agriculture, remote sensing, and AI applications to enhance crop production resilience against climate change. He specializes in GIS for agronomic research, crop growth models (e.g., ORYZA, SoySim), and integrating SAR and MODIS satellite data for yield estimation. His work emphasizes sustainable practices and technology-driven solutions for row crops in dynamic environments. Publications highlight advancements in rice monitoring systems, soybean and maize modeling, and decision tools for nutrient management. These contributions bridge technological innovation with practical agricultural challenges in Asia and the US. Scientific awards: None explicitly mentioned in the text. Advising and grants: No formal advisees/students are listed. Professional experience includes roles at IRRI and UNL, suggesting involvement in grant-funded research projects, but specific grant details are not provided. Labs/Teams: Associated with Louisiana State University AgCenter research stations and collaborative projects like the RIICE initiative, but no specific lab names or teams are detailed in the text.
Miler T. Lee is an Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh , focusing on gene regulation during early embryonic development through high-throughput experimental and computational genomics. He earned his Ph.D. in Genomics and Computational Biology in 2009 from the University of Pennsylvania under Dr. Junhyong Kim, followed by postdoctoral work with Dr. Antonio Giraldez at Yale University. Joining the university in 2016, his research spans maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT), RNA stability, pluripotency networks, and evolutionary developmental biology, utilizing model organisms like zebrafish, Xenopus, and Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus. Key Research Themes: Maternally inherited RNA dynamics during embryogenesis Mechanisms of RNA degradation and transcriptome remodeling Evolution of pluripotency networks in hybrid species Role of zinc signaling in fertilization barriers Computational tools for RNA regulation and sensing Scientific Awards: Pan-American Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology Junior Faculty Award (2024) Outstanding New Investigator – International Xenopus Board (2023) Basil O'Connor Scholar – March of Dimes (2017-2019) Recent publications highlight his work on enhancer classification, RNA degradation mechanisms, and cross-species MZT comparisons. His lab develops innovative methods like RESA for regulatory sequence analysis and studies evolutionary divergence in RNA localization patterns. While the articles span computational and experimental approaches, they consistently address RNA's role in cellular identity, developmental timing, and evolutionary adaptation. Applications include understanding pluripotency, designing RNA biosensors, and elucidating fertilization barriers. Prospective Ph.D. students are encouraged to contact him for opportunities in gene regulation, development, evo-devo, and computational genomics.
Dr. Mario Tenuta is a Senior Industrial Research Chair in 4R Nutrient Management and Professor of Soil Ecology at the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. His research focuses on soil ecology, nematology, and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural systems. He leads the Applied Soil Ecology Lab, conducting impactful studies on nutrient management, soil health, and crop-nematode interactions. Dr. Tenuta holds a PhD from the University of Western Ontario and has held the Canada Research Chair in Applied Soil Ecology (2006–2017). **Education**: Post-Doctoral Fellowship (Nematology), UC Davis, USA PhD (Plant Science), University of Western Ontario, Canada MSc (Soil Science), University of Guelph, Canada BSc (Botany & Physical Geography), University of Toronto, Canada **Research Interests**: His work addresses soil ecology challenges such as nitrogen cycling dynamics, cover crop effects on emissions, and nematode management in crops like soybean and potato. Key projects include 4R nutrient management practices, fall nitrification inhibition, and surveying pest nematodes across Canadian prairies. **Key Publications**: Recent work explores green ammonia applications, nitrous oxide emission reduction via 4R practices, and nematode distribution in Manitoba. Over 200 peer-reviewed articles highlight his contributions to sustainable agriculture and climate science. **Awards**: - Senior Industrial Research Chair (University of Manitoba) - Canada Research Chair (2006–2017) - Pioneering research recognized globally in soil science and environmental policy. **Labs & Teams**: Directs the Applied Soil Ecology Lab, collaborating with industry partners on projects like the NICCEE Living Lab Green Ammonia initiative. His team develops diagnostic tools for crop diseases and integrates field surveys with molecular analyses.
Benjamin Simons is the Royal Society EP Abraham Professor and Herchel Smith Professor of Physics at the University of Cambridge. He serves as Director of the Gurdon Institute, Senior Group Leader at the Gurdon Institute, Principal Investigator at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, and member of the Theory of Condensed Matter physics group. He is also a Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. His research integrates quantitative approaches from physics and mathematics with experimental biology to investigate stem cell fate regulation in tissue development, maintenance, and cancer pathogenesis. Research focuses on: Stochastic cell fate decisions in epithelial tissues Self-organization principles in tissue morphogenesis Single-cell lineage tracing and gene expression analysis Mathematical modeling of stem cell dynamics Cancer initiation through stem cell reprogramming Publication analysis reveals consistent themes: spatial dynamics of stem cell niches, mechanical regulation of cell fate, computational modeling of tissue organization, and evolutionary principles in cancer development. Recent work emphasizes in vivo lineage tracing, single-cell omics, and interdisciplinary approaches bridging physics and biology. Scientific Awards: Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedSci) Leads an interdisciplinary research group combining wet-lab experiments (lineage tracing, single-cell genomics) with theoretical modeling. Research supported by EPSRC, MRC, Wellcome Trust, Cancer Research UK, and Royal Society grants. Current projects include gliomagenesis mechanisms, spermatogenic wave regulation, and injury response pathways co-opted in cancer.
Professor Georg Guggenberger is a distinguished academic at Leibniz University Hannover, where he serves as Professor of Soil Chemistry within the Department of Soil Science at the Institute of Earth System Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences. In addition to his research and teaching responsibilities, he holds several significant administrative positions including Vice Dean for Research in the Dean's Office of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Executive Management at both the Institute of Soil Science and Department of Soil Science levels, and Chair of the Selection Committee for the M.Sc. Landscape Sciences program. Prof. Guggenberger's research program focuses on fundamental processes governing soil organic matter dynamics across diverse ecosystems worldwide, from Arctic to tropical regions. His work investigates biotic and abiotic factors influencing the formation, transport, and stabilization of soil organic matter, with particular emphasis on soil fertility maintenance. He employs advanced methodologies including stable isotope approaches, biomarker analyses, microspectroscopic techniques (XPS, ESEM, NMR, NanoSIMS), and molecular biological methods to study biogeochemical interactions on mineral surfaces, dissolved organic matter dynamics, plant-mycorrhizal-soil interactions, permafrost soil organic matter, and impacts of land use and climate change on soil organisms. Analysis of Prof. Guggenberger's recent publications reveals a strong interdisciplinary research program spanning soil biogeochemistry, carbon cycling, soil microbiology, and climate change impacts. His work integrates field experiments along environmental gradients with laboratory manipulation studies to identify underlying mechanisms. The research shows particular strength in understanding organic matter stabilization mechanisms, microbial contributions to soil processes, and development of sustainable soil management practices that address climate change challenges. Prof. Guggenberger actively contributes to academic service through his leadership roles in examination boards and committees, including the Examination Board for Geosciences programs and the Selection Committee for Landscape Sciences. His administrative responsibilities as Vice Dean for Research demonstrate his commitment to advancing research within the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Leibniz University Hannover.
Raju Vatsavai is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at North Carolina State University, affiliated with the Center for Geospatial Analytics. He joined NC State in 2014 as part of the Chancellor’s Faculty Excellence Program cluster hire in Geospatial Analytics. Education: PhD and MS in Computer Science from University of Minnesota Prior Roles: Lead Data Scientist at Oak Ridge National Lab, roles at University of Minnesota, IBM Research, AT&T Labs, and C-DAC (India) His research in geospatial analytics spans big data management , spatiotemporal data mining , deep learning for remote sensing , and high-performance computing , with applications in national security, climate change, and crop monitoring. Recent work includes deep learning frameworks for cloud imputation , multi-sensor satellite data harmonization , and transfer learning applications in crop classification . He has been a leading investigator on grants from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Department of Energy, and Department of Homeland Security. Labs: Associate Director of the Center for Geospatial Analytics Expertise: Spatial computing, Earth observation, nuclear proliferation detection via remote sensing
Miguel Castillo is an Associate Professor in the Crop and Soil Sciences Department at North Carolina State University (NC State), leading the Forage & Grassland Program and serving as Grassland Science Specialist. He holds a Ph.D. in Agronomy from the University of Florida and an MBA from NC State. His work focuses on improving ecosystem services in agricultural and pasture-based livestock systems through integration of silvopasture, agroforestry, and advanced technologies like near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for management decisions. Dr. Castillo's education includes a B.S. in Plant and Animal Sciences from Zamorano University (2006), followed by M.S. and Ph.D. in Agronomy from the University of Florida (2009, 2013). His research spans international collaborations in tropical/sub-tropical environments, with expertise in forage crop management, bioenergy grasses, and sustainable livestock systems. He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. Research Interests: Forage-Livestock Systems Optimization Silvopasture Development Bioenergy Crop Production NIRS Applications in Agriculture Pasture-Based Livestock Management Climate Resilient Forage Crops Recent work emphasizes NIRS for rapid forage quality analysis, evaluating new bermudagrass cultivars, and advancing silvopasture systems in the southeastern U.S. and Peruvian Amazon. His publications address topics like poultry litter impacts, switchgrass management post-freeze, and frost-seeding clover into tall fescue pastures. Grant-supported research includes USDA-funded projects on forage conservation techniques and bioenergy crop development. He advises graduate students on forage systems and collaborates with industry partners on applied agronomic solutions. Labs/Teams: Directs the Forage & Grassland Program at NC State, collaborating with USDA and international research networks. Active in extension programs, publishing guides on forage management, hay production, and silvopasture implementation.
