Naveen Kumar Dixit

Dr. Naveen Kumar Dixit serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore's School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, while also coordinating the USDA NE SARE Professional Development Program since 2017 and leading UMES Extension outreach initiatives.

He holds a PhD in Plant Physiology from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (2006), with supporting expertise in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, where his dissertation examined rose flower bud development.

His research program integrates sustainable horticulture with stress physiology, investigating plant responses to salinity, temperature extremes, and pathogens through nanotechnology applications and nutrient management strategies. Current work focuses on industrial hemp's antioxidant mechanisms under saline conditions, bridging field production with biochemical analysis to enhance crop resilience.

Recent publications demonstrate his specialization in abiotic stress tolerance for fiber crops, particularly examining oxidative stress management during hemp germination and growth stages.

Dr. Dixit's contributions have been recognized through multiple awards:

• Outstanding Service Award from UMES-SANS (2023-2024)
• Excellence in Creative Solutions for Food Security (NNEdPro, 2023)
• Nutrition Education Program Impact Award (Society of Nutrition Education, 2023)
• Certificate for Outstanding Extension Programming (2019)

As an educator, he mentors students through HORT-203/423 courses using hands-on orchard activities, community engagement with BIPOC/women/veteran farmers, and SARE grant-writing training. His extension work—supported by USDA and Robert Wood Johnson grants—focuses on resource access and sustainable techniques for underserved agricultural communities.

Dr. Dixit leads practical research in UMES's multi-fruit orchard and vineyard, where students and community members collaborate on propagation, pruning, and climate adaptation technologies, fostering next-generation horticultural expertise through real-world problem solving.