Vander Luis Novaes Nunes

Vander Luis Novaes Nunes is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Sustainable Agriculture at South Dakota State University (SDSU), joining in August 2024. His academic journey includes a B.S. in Agronomy from Brazil, followed by M.S./Ph.D. in Soil Science and Plant Nutrition at the Federal University of Viçosa. He completed a four-year postdoctoral research at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, focusing on isotopic techniques for nutrient uptake efficiency and sustainable agriculture.

Research Interests: Dr. Nunes specializes in sustainable soil management, fertilizer development, and isotopic analysis methodologies. His work bridges laboratory experiments with field applications to enhance crop productivity while minimizing environmental impact. Key areas include nitrogen cycling, fertilizer efficiency, and innovative soil analysis techniques.

Teaching & Mentoring: He has instructed undergraduate laboratory courses and mentored students throughout his academic career. His research group explores cutting-edge solutions for agricultural sustainability, including alginate-based fertilizers and layered double hydroxides for controlled nutrient release.

Publications: His recent work addresses isotopic measurement of nitrogen fixation (2025), ammonium/nitrate source comparisons (2023), and novel fertilizer technologies (2020-2021). Themes emphasize improving nutrient use efficiency and mitigating environmental impacts of conventional practices.

Professional Background: Previously held roles at the Federal University of Viçosa and UIUC, contributing to projects on soil acidification correction, phosphorus dynamics, and tropical crop systems. His extension specialization focuses on translating research into practical agricultural recommendations.