Diana Cochran

Diana Cochran is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture at the University of Maryland, College Park. She holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Science from Mississippi State University, following an M.S. and B.S. in Horticulture from Auburn University. Her research focuses on commercial crop production, particularly in cold-climate crops like wine grapes and hops, emphasizing crop diversification, plant-environment interactions, and sustainable management practices.

Education:

• B.S., Horticulture, Auburn University, AL
• M.S., Horticulture, Auburn University, AL
• Ph.D., Agricultural Science, Mississippi State University, MS

Research Interests: Dr. Cochran explores nitrogen optimization in hop cultivation, rootstock performance in apple trees, and phenological timing in cold-climate grapes. Her work integrates environmental variables with plant physiology to enhance crop resilience and yield efficiency. She also evaluates pre-emergent herbicides and training systems for fruit crops.

Publications Trends: Her recent work spans eight years, with a focus on cold-climate agriculture, nitrogen management, and pest control. Key themes include crop diversification strategies, rootstock trials, and sustainable practices for fruit and ornamental crops.

Awards & Grants: No explicit awards listed, but her research has been supported through multi-state trials like the NC-140 Apple Rootstock Trial and NE-1020 Grape Cultivar Trial.

Advising & Labs: While specific advisees are not listed, her role as a clinical professor involves teaching and applied research collaborations in plant science and horticulture.