Kurt D. Thelen

Kurt D. Thelen is a Professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences at Michigan State University's College of Agriculture & Natural Resources. He serves as Director of the MSU Great Lakes BioEnergy Research Center and leads the MSU BioEnergy Cropping Systems research program focused on bioenergy feedstock production in the Great Lakes Region.

• Ph.D., Michigan State University, Crop & Soil Sciences

Dr. Thelen's research program focuses on developing sustainable bioenergy crop systems that enhance food, feed, and energy security while protecting natural resources. His work addresses critical aspects including marginal land utilization for biofuel crops, carbon cycling in biomass removal systems, tillage systems, weed control, rotational aspects, and precision agriculture applications for bioenergy production. He has made significant contributions to understanding industrial hemp production systems and their potential in agricultural landscapes.

Dr. Thelen's recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on sustainable bioenergy systems, with particular emphasis on switchgrass cultivation on marginal lands, comparative productivity of bioenergy cropping systems, and the climate implications of biofuel production. His work bridges agricultural science with environmental sustainability, addressing both practical production challenges and broader climate change mitigation strategies through life cycle assessments and carbon footprint analyses.

• American Society of Agronomy Fellow (2022)

As Director of the MSU Great Lakes BioEnergy Research Center, Dr. Thelen oversees multiple research initiatives and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams across institutions. His program includes both field research at the Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center and laboratory-based investigations, with particular emphasis on translating research findings into practical applications for farmers and bioenergy producers.

Dr. Thelen leads the Thelen Lab, which focuses on bioenergy cropping systems research with particular attention to how different management practices affect crop productivity and environmental outcomes. The lab works closely with the Great Lakes BioEnergy Research Center, a Department of Energy-funded initiative, to develop sustainable biofuel production systems for the Midwest region.