Arti Singh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agronomy at Iowa State University. Her research focuses on plant breeding, soybean diseases, genomics, and phenomics, with a strong emphasis on integrating artificial intelligence and high-throughput technologies into agricultural systems. She leads projects involving AI-driven disease identification, precision agriculture, and crop improvement strategies. Her expertise includes developing machine learning models for real-time weed and insect classification (e.g., WeedNet and InsectNet), deploying drones and ground robots for crop phenotyping, and leveraging genomic data to map traits like flowering time and disease resistance in legumes. Singh collaborates on initiatives like the AIIRA Institute for Resilient Agriculture and the BioTrove biodiversity dataset. Singh’s work spans plant stress phenotyping, digital twin technologies for plant sciences, and multi-sensor phenotyping for early disease detection. Her research bridges computational methods with traditional agronomy, aiming to enhance crop resilience and sustainability in the face of environmental challenges. Her recent projects include optimizing robotic navigation for precision agriculture, improving soybean yield estimation via video analysis, and dissecting genetic architectures of traits in mungbean and soybean using GWAS and genomic tools. She actively contributes to conferences and publishes in high-impact journals, advancing both foundational and applied aspects of agricultural science.
David L Jordan is the William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University. His appointment consists of 50% Extension, 25% Research, and 25% Academic responsibilities. He serves as a Crop Science Extension Specialist with a focus on peanut production and weed management, working closely with the North Carolina Peanut Growers Association, private consultants, industry representatives, and farmers. Dr. Jordan received his educational background from North Carolina State University and the University of Arkansas: PhD in Agronomy, University of Arkansas, 1993 MS in Crop Science, North Carolina State University, 1988 BS in Agronomy, North Carolina State University, 1985 AS, Chowan College, 1983 Dr. Jordan's research focuses primarily on peanut-based cropping systems, integrated pest management in peanut production, and the applied biology and management of weeds. His work addresses critical challenges in sustainable agriculture, including herbicide resistance management, crop rotation strategies, and aflatoxin mitigation in peanut production. He has developed significant expertise in developing risk tools to assist peanut growers and their advisors manage pests. His international work extends to Africa, where he collaborates with colleagues to develop more effective and sustainable pest management strategies for peanut (groundnut) and to improve food safety through aflatoxin mitigation. His recent publications reveal a strong focus on optimizing agricultural practices for peanut, cotton, and soybean production. Key themes include crop rotation effects on weed populations, nematode management in peanut systems, herbicide resistance evolution in agricultural weeds, and international peanut production practices. His research integrates field studies with practical extension applications to address real-world agricultural challenges across multiple continents. Dr. Jordan has received numerous prestigious awards throughout his career: Fellow of multiple professional societies including the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Weed Science Society of America, and Southern Weed Science Society William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor (2015) Academy of Outstanding Faculty in Extension and Engagement, North Carolina State University (2022) Outstanding Extension and Engagement Award, North Carolina State University (2022) Dow AgroSciences Award for Excellence in Education from the American Peanut Research and Education Society (2010) Dr. Jordan has mentored numerous graduate students, serving as advisor or co-advisor for 3 MCS, 13 MS, and 12 PhD students, and has served on 40 MS, 45 PhD, and 7 MA graduate committees. His grant funding totals over $11.9 million from Louisiana State University Agricultural Center (1993-1996) and North Carolina State University (1996-present). He has led multiple USAID-funded international projects focused on peanut production and aflatoxin mitigation in countries like Ghana, Haiti, and Malawi. Dr. Jordan leads a comprehensive research and extension program focused on peanut production systems. His work involves close collaboration with multiple departments at NC State including Entomology and Plant Pathology and Biological and Agricultural Engineering. Internationally, he works with colleagues across Africa to develop sustainable pest management strategies. His program emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration among many individuals, disciplines, and institutions with the common goal of improving the quality of life of people through agricultural improvements, education, and science.
Feng Feng is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Oklahoma State University, where he has been employed since August 2020. His research focuses on understanding how plants interact with microbial communities in their rhizosphere under various environmental conditions. Dr. Feng received his Ph.D. in Plant Molecular Biology from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China (2008-2012), followed by an M.S. in Microbiology and B.S. in Biotechnology from Henan Agricultural University in Zhengzhou, China. Ph.D., Plant Molecular Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China (2008-2012) M.S., Microbiology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China (2005-2008) B.S., Biotechnology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China (2001-2005) Dr. Feng's research interests center on plant-microbe interactions, particularly how plants balance immunity and symbiosis signaling pathways when encountering both pathogenic and beneficial microbes in the rhizosphere. His work examines how environmental conditions affect plant decisions to promote or inhibit microbial colonization, with the goal of developing cropping systems that require less chemical fertilizer and are more resilient to climate change. Using molecular, cell biology, genetic, and biochemical approaches, his lab investigates how abiotic environmental factors regulate plant-microbe interactions and how immunity and symbiosis signaling pathways influence broader microbial communities. Dr. Feng's scholarly output shows a consistent focus on plant immunity and symbiosis mechanisms, particularly involving LysM receptor-like kinases and their role in distinguishing between pathogenic and symbiotic microbial signals. His recent work has increasingly emphasized the ecological context of plant-microbe interactions and the potential applications for sustainable agriculture. Dr. Feng serves as an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Microbiology (since 2022) and has editorial roles with several other journals including Frontiers in Plant Science, Horticultural Plant Journal, and iMeta. Associate Editor, Frontiers in Microbiology (2022-present) Editorial Board, Frontiers in Plant Science (2021-present) Editorial Board, Horticultural Plant Journal (2021-present) Editorial Board, iMeta (2021-present) Dr. Feng actively mentors graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, with his lab currently recruiting Ph.D. students and postdocs interested in plant-microbe interactions. He has secured multiple research grants including funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST). His laboratory investigates the molecular mechanisms by which plants regulate their interactions with rhizosphere communities, with particular focus on how environmental conditions influence the balance between immunity and symbiosis signaling pathways.
Bo Lu is a Professor of Biostatistics and Statistics at The Ohio State University. His research focuses on advancing early detection technologies for forest pathogens and pests using spectroscopy, machine learning, and metabolomics. He specializes in understanding plant defense mechanisms against invasive species and climate-driven disease dynamics. Key research areas include: Non-invasive disease diagnostics via FT-IR/Raman spectroscopy Machine learning applications in plant health monitoring Molecular basis of plant-pathogen interactions Environmental risk modeling for emerging forest diseases Notable projects include developing early detection systems for ash dieback, beech leaf disease, and soybean cyst nematode infestations. His work integrates statistical modeling with biochemical analysis to improve forest biosecurity strategies globally. He advocates for international collaboration in addressing the global forest health crisis through improved diagnostic frameworks and resistance breeding programs.
Eunchun Park serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas, concurrently holding the position of Director of the Experiment Station (DREX). A specialist in Bayesian spatial statistics and econometrics, his research focuses on agricultural risk analysis with particular emphasis on crop insurance mechanisms and financial commodity markets. His methodological expertise addresses critical data scarcity challenges in federal crop insurance premium calculations through advanced spatial modeling techniques. Dr. Park's academic foundation includes: Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Oklahoma State University (2017) M.S. in Food and Resource Economics from Korea University (2013) B.S. in Food and Resource Economics from Korea University (2010) His research program centers on extreme price and yield risk quantification in agricultural commodities, employing sophisticated Bayesian modeling frameworks to overcome data limitations in spatial risk assessment. Current work develops innovative approaches for measuring catastrophic risks in crop production systems and refining insurance rating structures through spatial smoothing of yield densities. This research bridges theoretical econometric advances with practical applications for risk management tools used by farmers and policymakers. Analysis of Dr. Park's recent publications reveals a consistent trajectory in spatial risk modeling for agricultural insurance systems, with increasing focus on prevented planting coverage factors, commodity market volatility around information releases, and climate-related production risks. His work demonstrates methodological progression from theoretical Bayesian frameworks toward actionable risk assessment tools, particularly through the application of kriging techniques to non-normal yield distributions and extreme event modeling. Dr. Park's scholarly contributions have been recognized through: Outstanding Contribution to Applied Risk Analysis Award (2020) from the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Outstanding Graduate Student Paper Award (2018) from the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award (2018) from the Southern Agricultural Economics Association While specific details of current advisees and grant funding are not provided in available materials, his active publication record in top agricultural economics journals suggests an ongoing mentorship role for graduate students and potential involvement in externally funded research initiatives related to agricultural risk management. His work on spatial smoothing techniques and extreme risk modeling likely informs collaborative projects with agricultural extension services and federal risk management agencies. No specific laboratory facilities or dedicated research teams are mentioned in the available documentation, though his methodological expertise suggests collaboration with spatial statistics and agricultural risk modeling groups within the university's research infrastructure.
Dr. Mohsen Yoosefzadeh Najafabadi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph, Ontario Agricultural College. He holds a PhD in Plant Breeding from the University of Guelph (2022), following M.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees from the University of Tehran. His research focuses on dry bean breeding, computational biology, and integrating omics technologies to enhance crop resilience and productivity. Key areas include developing stress-tolerant dry bean varieties, leveraging remote sensing for trait prediction, and optimizing genomic selection methods. He leads the Dry Bean Breeding & Computational Biology Program and has contributed to over 30 peer-reviewed publications since 2017. Education : PhD, Plant Breeding, University of Guelph (2022) M.Sc., University of Tehran B.Sc., University of Tehran Research interests emphasize computational tools development (e.g., AllInOne preprocessing framework), omics-based selection strategies, and non-Mendelian heredity mechanisms. His lab combines machine learning with field phenotyping to address agricultural challenges such as disease resistance and climate adaptation. Collaborative projects include soybean cold stress analysis and cannabinoid profile prediction in cannabis. Publications span genomic approaches to crop improvement, remote sensing applications, and transcriptomic studies. He teaches courses in plant breeding methodologies and actively engages in technology transfer initiatives. Lab activities include developing high-yielding dry bean cultivars resistant to biotic/abiotic stresses and advancing data-driven pipelines for crop breeding. Future work aims to synergize AI with multi-omics data to enhance crop resilience in diverse environments.
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.
Mehdi Kabbage is a Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison . His research focuses on necrotrophic fungal pathogenesis, particularly the role of oxalic acid and programmed cell death (PCD) in plant-pathogen interactions. He teaches courses in fungal biology and plant-microbe interactions. Education : Ph.D. in Plant Pathology (Kansas State University), M.S. in Plant Pathology (Kansas State University), B.S. in Engineering (Ecole d'Ingénieurs de Purpan, France) Dr. Kabbage investigates how Sclerotinia sclerotiorum manipulates plant PCD through oxalic acid secretion and explores strategies to inhibit this process for crop protection. His work spans molecular mechanisms of fungal virulence, plant stress tolerance, and genetic resistance in soybeans. Recent publications highlight his research on fungal effector proteins, host-induced gene silencing, oxalic acid signaling, and autophagy-based resistance strategies. He collaborates extensively on soybean and dry bean pathosystems, with a focus on integrated disease management and climate resilience. His lab develops transgenic approaches for stress tolerance, studies BAG protein family functions in plant defense, and investigates fungal enzymatic virulence factors like alcohol oxidases and laccases. Current projects include chemical genomics for resistance pathway discovery and novel antifungal agents such as poacic acid.
Dr. Donna Harris is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Wyoming, based at the Sheridan Research & Extension Center. Her academic career includes roles as Senior Scientist at BASF Vegetable Seeds (2015–2020), Research Professional III at the University of Georgia (2007–2015), and prior industry experience with Monsanto and Pioneer Hi-Bred International. She holds a PhD (2014) and MS (2001) in Crop Science from the University of Georgia, alongside a BS (1998) in the same field. Her research focuses on plant breeding and genetics, addressing crop needs for Wyoming producers and consumers. Key areas include soybean rust resistance, quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis, and germplasm evaluation for disease resistance. She has contributed significantly to soybean breeding programs, identifying novel resistance genes and developing resistant cultivars. Dr. Harris has published extensively on soybean pathology and genetics, with work appearing in Theoretical and Applied Genetics , Molecular Breeding , and Crop Science . Her publications emphasize molecular mapping of resistance genes, germplasm screening, and disease management strategies. While no awards are explicitly listed, her impactful research has shaped soybean improvement efforts in the U.S. and globally. Her professional experience spans academic and industrial settings, with expertise in both theoretical genetics and applied breeding. Current research integrates field-based evaluations with genomic approaches to enhance crop resilience against biotic stresses.
Mary Catherine Aime is a Professor of Botany & Plant Pathology at Purdue University's College of Agriculture, where she serves as Director of the Purdue University Herbaria (Arthur Fungarium and Kriebel Herbarium). Her research program focuses on the systematics, biodiversity, and evolution of Fungi, with particular emphasis on the earliest diverging lineages of Basidiomycota, rust fungi, fungi in tropical ecosystems, and fungal diseases of tropical tree crops. Dr. Aime's research interests span fungal systematics, biodiversity, and evolution. Her lab employs diverse methodologies from genomics to field studies in remote regions to investigate vastly underexplored fungal lineages. She has made significant contributions to the understanding of rust fungi (Pucciniales) taxonomy, establishing a comprehensive higher-rank classification based on molecular, morphological, and ecological data. Her work has important implications for plant pathology, agriculture, and biodiversity conservation. Dr. Aime's publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to fungal systematics, particularly in rust fungi research. Her work spans taxonomic revisions, molecular phylogenetics, biodiversity documentation, and the development of practical identification tools like Rust HUBB. Her research shows a clear progression from foundational taxonomic work to the development of molecular resources that benefit the broader plant pathology community. As Director of the Purdue University Herbaria, Dr. Aime oversees one of the most important collections of rust fungi (Pucciniales) in the world through the Arthur Fungarium (PUR). Her leadership in maintaining and expanding these critical research collections supports global mycological research efforts.
Stefanie Wienkoop is a University Professor at the University of Vienna's Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology within the Life Sciences faculty. She serves as Vice-Director of Studies for Ecology and Evolution and is part of the Directorate of Doctoral Studies. Her research focuses on plant-microbe interactions using advanced proteomic and metabolomic approaches. Her primary research interests center on molecular plant-microsymbiont interactions, particularly examining how legumes interact with nitrogen-fixing bacteria under environmental stress conditions. She investigates drought stress responses, symbiotic nitrogen fixation mechanisms, and the molecular systems biology of plant-microbe relationships using mass spectrometry and other omics technologies. Her work bridges fundamental plant biology with practical applications for improving crop resilience in changing climate conditions. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on plant stress responses, particularly drought tolerance mechanisms in various plant species including legumes, maize, and barley. Her research integrates proteomics, metabolomics, and systems biology approaches to understand how plants adapt to environmental challenges at the molecular level. A recurring theme is the investigation of symbiotic relationships between plants and microbes as a strategy for enhancing stress tolerance while maintaining growth performance. Professor Wienkoop leads the SYMPROFERR project (P 33930), funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), which investigates the role of ferritin in nodule formation, symbiosis functioning, and priming of drought tolerance. This project runs from March 2021 to February 2024 and represents a significant research investment in understanding plant-microbe interactions under climate stress. She actively supervises multiple PhD and Master's students, including Carlos Perez-Rizquez, Sebastian Schneider, and others who have made notable contributions to the field. Her teaching portfolio includes courses on molecular ecology of plants, proteomics in systems biology, and biodiversity research. She is also involved in organizing major international conferences in plant proteomics and nitrogen fixation research, demonstrating her leadership in the international scientific community.
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUnited States
Daniel J Eck is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Statistics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. His research focuses on statistical methodology development driven by collaborations in diverse fields such as sports analytics, evolutionary biology, economics, and biostatistics. He holds a PhD in Statistics from the University of Minnesota (2017) and a BS in Mathematics from Southern Illinois University Carbondale (2009). Education: PhD in Statistics, University of Minnesota, 2017 BS in Mathematics, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 2009 His research interests emphasize methodological innovation in areas like envelope models, variance reduction techniques, and applications in sports and ecology. Recent work explores fire effects on plant fitness, soybean genomics, and infectious disease intervention design. He actively collaborates with researchers across disciplines and mentors graduate students in statistical methods. Eck teaches courses such as Baseball Analytics and Advanced Regression Analysis. Research Trends: His articles span statistical theory (e.g., envelope estimation), applied ecology (fire-pollination interactions), and sports analytics (player performance comparisons). He balances foundational methodology with practical applications in diverse domains. Advising & Grants: Eck advises graduate students on projects in evolutionary biology and economics. While specific grant details are not provided, his research reflects active engagement with funded collaborative projects. He maintains affiliations with the Department of Statistics and has ties to computational biology and public health initiatives. Labs/Teams: While no specific lab is mentioned, his work aligns with interdisciplinary teams at UIUC and Yale School of Public Health (prior postdoctoral affiliation).
Anton Bekkerman is a Professor in the Department of Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems at the University of New Hampshire, serving as Associate Dean for Research and Director of the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Economics from North Carolina State University and a B.B.A. from Loyola University Maryland. His research spans agricultural marketing, price forecasting, policy analysis, and risk management, with specific expertise in: Commodity price dynamics (grain and fertilizer markets) Agricultural insurance and policy design Farm decision-making and risk analysis Spatial economic modeling Recent publications examine quality-based wheat pricing, biofuel policy impacts on fertilizer markets, crop insurance distributions, and economic dimensions of pest management. His work integrates economic theory with empirical analysis of agricultural systems. Dr. Bekkerman leads research initiatives addressing agricultural sustainability and economic resilience in changing climates.
Jonathan M. Winter is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Dartmouth College . His research explores climate prediction and the impacts of climate variability and change on human health , water resources , and agriculture . He focuses on drivers of tickborne disease expansion, future water availability for irrigation, high-resolution climate projections, uncertainty in regional climate models, and the predictability of climate extremes in the Northeastern United States. Education : PhD and MS from Massachusetts Institute of Technology , BS from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry . Research Interests : Climate impacts on agriculture and human health, bias correction of climate data, crop modeling, extreme precipitation analysis, and Lyme disease expansion. Teaching : Courses on Global Climate Change , Water Resources , and Climate Change Effects on Agriculture . Labs & Teams : Leads the Dartmouth Applied Hydroclimatology Group (AHCG) , mentoring graduate and undergraduate researchers. Publications : Recent work includes high-resolution climate projections , water scarcity implications , and climate-agriculture interactions , with a focus on the Northeastern U.S. and global croplands. Contact : Jonathan.M.Winter@dartmouth.edu | Phone : 603-646-6456
David Hyten, Jr. serves as the Haskins Professor of Plant Genetics within the Department of Agronomy & Horticulture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he leads research advancing soybean genomics and breeding methodologies for global food security. Education: Ph.D., University of Maryland, 2005 M.S., University of Tennessee, 2002 B.A., Southern Illinois University, 1999 Research Focus: Dr. Hyten's program integrates high-throughput genotyping with quantitative genetics to dissect complex traits including disease resistance (cyst nematode, stem borer), seed composition (protein/oil), and yield stability. His work pioneers genomic selection pipelines and recombination hotspot analysis to accelerate breeding cycles, with emphasis on translating genomic discoveries into practical cultivar development through marker-assisted selection and predictive modeling. Publication Trends: Recent outputs (2021-2025) reveal evolving emphasis from foundational genomics (recombination mapping, QTL identification) toward applied breeding solutions, including cost-effective DNA extraction methods, pedigree-based imputation techniques, and community strategic planning for soybean genomics. His work increasingly addresses genotype-environment interactions and stability of key traits across diverse production systems.
