Angela D. Kent is a Professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she also serves as Director of the Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology within the School of Integrative Biology. She is affiliated with the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. Her research focuses on microbial communities in agroecosystems and natural environments, particularly their roles in nitrogen cycling, soil health, and sustainable bioenergy production. Key research interests include microbial interactions in plant-microbe systems, the impact of genetic variation in crops on microbial processes, and the ecological and biogeochemical implications of soil microbiomes. She has authored over 99 publications and supervised datasets on topics such as denitrification dynamics, rhizosphere microbiome assembly, and microbial contributions to nitrogen retention. Dr. Kent has received the NACTA Educator Award (2012) and has contributed to high-impact studies on topics like microbial community responses to environmental stressors and the application of stable isotopes in bioenergy research. Her work bridges microbial ecology, agronomy, and environmental science, emphasizing practical solutions for sustainable agriculture and ecosystem management.
John McDonagh is an Associate Professor in Global Development and the Environment at the School of Global Development, University of East Anglia. His academic journey began with a BSc in Botany (University of Bristol, 1987), followed by an MSc in Tropical Soil Fertility Management (Imperial College, 1988) and a PhD in Tropical Agronomy (University of London, 1993). He joined UEA in 1997 and is a member of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. His research focuses on tropical soil management, sustainable farming systems, and land degradation assessment across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Notable projects include GEF-funded ecosystem carbon assessment tools and DFID-supported biochar studies in Ghana and China. He has also contributed to FAO’s LADA project on dryland degradation. McDonagh has extensive field experience in Thailand, Madagascar, Tanzania, and Namibia, blending scientific research with community-based approaches. His interdisciplinary work addresses the nexus of agriculture, environment, and livelihoods, aligning with UN SDGs related to climate action and zero hunger.
Dr. Jeremy Guest is the Levenick Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering (and courtesy appointment in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). He serves as Associate Director for Research at the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE) and leads the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI). His research focuses on advancing circular bioeconomies through sustainable sanitation systems, resource recovery from wastewater, and biofuel/bioproduct development from lignocellulosic biomass. Guest's work emphasizes Quantitative Sustainable Design (QSD) methodologies to bridge engineering innovation with policy and investment decisions. Education: PhD in Environmental Engineering (University of Michigan, 2012); MS (Virginia Tech, 2007); BS (Bucknell University, 2005). Research interests include wastewater treatment innovation, nutrient recovery, bioenergy systems design, and sustainable agriculture practices. Key contributions include the EcoRecover phosphorus recovery process, the QSDsan modeling platform, and leadership in CABBI's $262.5M DOE-funded initiative. Guest has secured funding from NSF, US EPA, USDA, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Recognitions include the NSF CAREER Award, 2021 James J. Morgan Early Career Award, and the Paul L. Busch Award. He advises over 15 graduate students and leads multiple high-impact projects like the NEWgenerator sanitation system and oilcane biorefinery integration. Lab/Group: Guest Research Group focuses on experimental, computational, and policy-oriented research to solve global sustainability challenges. Current projects address algae-based wastewater treatment, fecal sludge management in low-income regions, and precision fermentation systems development.
Chang-Jun Liu is a Senior Scientist in the Plant Science Group of the Biology Department at Brookhaven National Laboratory, where he has conducted research on plant phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and lignin metabolism since joining in 2005. He also holds an Adjunct Professor position in the Biochemistry & Cell Biology Department at Stony Brook University and serves as Associate Editor for Plant Cell & Environment (2024-present) and Frontiers in Plant Sciences (2015-present). Dr. Liu's educational background includes: Ph.D. in Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology, Chinese Academy of Science (1999) Dr. Liu's research integrates approaches from biochemistry, molecular genetics, biophysics, protein engineering, metabolic engineering, and synthetic biology to investigate phenylpropanoid and lignin biosynthesis in plants. His laboratory addresses fundamental questions about how lignin and related compounds are synthesized and incorporated into cell walls, how regulatory networks govern metabolic activity, and how lignification influences cell wall structure and function. A central aim of his research is optimizing plant feedstocks for efficient lignocellulosic biomass utilization. Analysis of Dr. Liu's publication record reveals a consistent trajectory from fundamental biochemical mechanisms to applied bioenergy solutions. His recent work focuses on cytochrome b5 diversity, electron transfer mechanisms in phenolic biosynthesis, and metabolic engineering approaches to modify lignin composition. This research spans from evolutionary studies of lignin biosynthesis across plant lineages to practical applications in bioenergy crop improvement. Dr. Liu has received recognition for his contributions to science, including: Brookhaven National Laboratory Science and Technology Award (2018) Dr. Liu serves as Editorial Board Member for the Journal of Biological Chemistry (2020-present), PNAS Nexus (2024-present), and Plant Physiology Journal (2025-). He is Scientific Lead at the Joint BioEnergy Institute, Feedstocks Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Project Lead at the Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. His research is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy through multiple Bioenergy Research Centers. Dr. Liu leads a research group at Brookhaven National Laboratory focused on elucidating the posttranslational regulation and macromolecular organization of lignin biosynthesis, with applications toward developing designer lignins and reducing biomass recalcitrance for sustainable biofuel production. His work addresses the critical challenge of lignin's dual nature: while it impedes enzymatic access to polysaccharides in biofuel production, it also represents the most abundant renewable source of aromatic carbon for high-value bioproducts.
Valerie Thomas is the Anderson Interface Chair of Natural Systems at Georgia Tech, holding joint appointments in the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering and the School of Public Policy. Her research focuses on energy systems, sustainability, industrial ecology, and science and technology policy. She earned a B.A. in Physics from Swarthmore College and a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from Cornell University, followed by postdoctoral research at Carnegie Mellon and Princeton Universities. Her work addresses low-carbon transportation, environmental impacts of food systems, and energy development in Africa. Key research areas include life cycle assessment, climate policy, and technology assessment. Thomas has contributed to over 80 technical publications and serves on advisory boards for the U.S. EPA and USDA/DOE. Education: Ph.D. in Physics, Cornell University; B.A. in Physics, Swarthmore College Awards: AAAS and APS Fellowships, Georgia Tech’s 1934 Outstanding Interdisciplinary Award Her teaching spans energy policy, lifecycle analysis, and engineering economics. She leads interdisciplinary teams at the Climate and Energy Policy Laboratory and the Technology Policy and Assessment Center, advancing sustainable systems engineering and policy solutions.
Eric Slessarev is an Assistant Professor at Yale University , affiliated with the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture. His research focuses on soil biogeochemistry, particularly how soil properties influence carbon and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, with applications to climate change mitigation strategies like enhanced rock weathering and perennial grass cultivation. Teaches Ecology of Landforms and General Ecology Labs located at KGL 318 (research) and KGL 417 (office) His recent publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches to understanding mineral-organic matter interactions, microbial controls on carbon cycling, and policy implications for soil-based carbon removal strategies. Key methodologies include global data synthesis, isotope tracing, and experimental manipulation of soil-plant systems across depth profiles. Notably, his 2025 work demonstrates drought impacts on carbon persistence, microbial harnessing for CO2 removal, and economic modeling of reversible carbon storage. 2024 studies explore deep-rooted plant effects on carbon fractions, calcium's role in mollisol formation, and policy optimization for carbon sequestration.
Pamela Ronald is a Distinguished Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of California, Davis, affiliated with the Department of Plant Pathology within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Her research focuses on understanding and enhancing crop resilience, particularly in rice, through genetic and molecular mechanisms. Key areas include plant immunity against pathogens, climate adaptation, and sustainable agricultural practices. Education and Background: Details on her academic qualifications are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text, but her career trajectory suggests advanced training in plant genetics and pathology. Research Interests: Ronald’s work centers on engineering disease-resistant crops, studying plant-microbe interactions, and developing climate-resilient varieties. Notably, she has contributed to identifying genes like XA21 that confer resistance to bacterial infections and pioneered methods to reduce methane emissions in rice. Her studies also explore the role of sulfated peptides in pathogen virulence and host defense mechanisms. Publications Trends: Her recent articles emphasize molecular mechanisms of plant immunity, genetic engineering applications, and sustainability challenges. Themes include directed evolution of immune receptors, machine learning in genotype-phenotype prediction, and mitigation of agricultural greenhouse gases. Awards and Recognition: While specific awards are not listed here, her leadership in plant genetics and advocacy for evidence-based biotechnology policies reflect significant recognition in her field. Grants and Advising: Ronald has led projects funded by agencies like the U.S. Department of Energy, focusing on bioenergy crops like switchgrass. She collaborates globally on initiatives such as the Rice Protein Tagging Project and the AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems. Labs and Teams: She directs the Crop Genetics Innovation Lab at UC Davis, fostering interdisciplinary research in crop improvement and sustainable agriculture.
Dr. Mahendra Bhandari is an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Corpus Christi, affiliated with the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He holds a B.S. in Agriculture from Tribhuvan University (2011), an M.S. in Plant, Soil and Environmental Science from West Texas A&M University (2016), and a Ph.D. in Agronomy from Texas A&M University (2020). Affiliations: Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Roles: Lead researcher in Digital Agriculture, UAS-based phenotyping, and precision agriculture His research focuses on integrating remote sensing (UAS, satellite, ground sensors), big data analytics, and machine learning to improve crop management and breeding. Key areas include high-throughput phenotyping for cotton, corn, and sorghum; UAS data integration for crop yield prediction; and digital twin frameworks for in-season management. Collaborators include Dr. Juan Landivar-Bowles and Dr. Jinha Jung. Publications emphasize UAS applications in crop monitoring, yield estimation, and disease detection. His work bridges agronomic principles with emerging technologies to enhance agricultural resilience. Key Projects: UAS-based HTP system development Satellite-UAV data fusion for precision irrigation Mechanistic models for cotton yield forecasting Labs/Teams: Leads the Digital Agriculture research team at Texas A&M AgriLife, focusing on UAS innovation and AI-driven agricultural solutions.
Dr. David Burton is a Professor in the Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences at Dalhousie University's Faculty of Agriculture. He serves as Director of the Centre for Sustainable Soil Management and leads initiatives in soil health, greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainable agricultural practices. His teaching spans undergraduate and graduate courses in soil science, nutrient management, and climate change. Research focuses on microbial metabolism in soil, nitrogen cycling, and the environmental impacts of agricultural practices. He co-founded the Atlantic Soil Health Lab and manages the Greenhouse Gas Analysis Lab. Key affiliations include the Canadian Society of Soil Science (Fellow), Soil Conservation Council of Canada, and Fertilizer Canada's 4R Research Network. Recent work emphasizes soil's role in climate resilience, including presentations on regenerative farming and soil carbon sequestration. He collaborates with government and industry to develop climate-smart soil management policies and tools for nitrogen management optimization. Awards: Fellow of the Canadian Society of Soil Science Labs: Centre for Sustainable Soil Management, Greenhouse Gas Analysis Lab, Atlantic Soil Health Lab Grants: NSERC CREATE Climate Smart Soils
Paul Dodds is Professor of Energy Systems at University College London's Bartlett School of Environment, Energy & Resources, where he holds joint appointments at the UCL Energy Institute and the Institute for Sustainable Resources. He serves as the Faculty Graduate Tutor for the Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment, overseeing all doctoral research programs. His academic progression at UCL has been steady, moving from Research Associate (2011-2014) to Senior Research Associate (2014-2015), Lecturer (2015-2016), Senior Lecturer (2016-2018), Associate Professor (2018-2020), and finally to Professor. His educational background includes a PhD from the University of Leeds (2010) focused on climate change and agriculture in Senegal, where he developed a new crop model for adaptation research and created detailed meteorological datasets for West Africa. He also holds a Master of Natural Science (Honours) from the University of Nottingham (2000). Dodds specializes in energy systems modelling with particular expertise in hydrogen and bioenergy systems, and the importance of energy storage. His research examines the interactions between society and the environment, with a focus on energy and food systems. He has developed the UK TIMES energy systems model, which has replaced the UK MARKAL model and is now co-developed with the UK Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). This model has provided underpinning evidence for the UK's Clean Growth Strategy and Net Zero Strategy. His methodological contributions include formalizing a theoretical approach to analyzing the evolution of energy system models using 'model archaeology'. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on hydrogen energy systems, with multiple papers examining hydrogen trade pathways, integration methods, and environmental impacts. His work increasingly addresses the geopolitical dimensions of energy transition, as seen in studies about Russian gas pivots to Asia and global energy scenarios. He maintains expertise in energy system modeling techniques while expanding into practical applications for policy development, particularly regarding the UK's net-zero transition. Dodds has supervised 15 PhD students at UCL, with eight under his primary supervision. His professional activities include serving as the UK Alternate Delegate to IEA Hydrogen since 2017, acting as a PhD External Examiner at the University of Edinburgh, and participating in the EPSRC Peer Review College. He has contributed to multiple government initiatives, including the UKERC Future of the Gas Networks workshop and representing the UK Government at IEA ETSAP meetings. He teaches an undergraduate module on 'Energy and Environmental Systems Modelling' and guest lectures on several MSc courses. His research group focuses on energy system modeling, with particular emphasis on the UK TIMES model development and application. His work often involves collaboration with government bodies, particularly BEIS, and he has coordinated significant projects like seven reports on overshoot pathways for the UK Government.
Bruno Basso serves as the Hannah Distinguished Professor in the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences at Michigan State University, based in 307A Natural Science Building. He teaches GLG 446: Water and Food and maintains active research in sustainable agricultural systems, with contact via 517-353-9009 or basso@msu.edu. His work bridges academic research with practical farm applications across the US Midwest. His core research interests include: Food Security and Plant Resilience mechanisms Soil Science with emphasis on organic carbon dynamics Precision Agriculture technologies (drones, remote sensing) Climate-Smart Agriculture practices Nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiency Yield stability analysis through spatial-temporal modeling Regenerative agriculture impacts on greenhouse gas emissions Ecosystem services valuation in crop-livestock systems Analysis of his 2023-2025 publications reveals a dominant focus on quantifying climate benefits from regenerative practices using multi-model ensembles. His work consistently addresses scalability for farmer adoption, with strong emphasis on N₂O emissions mapping, soil carbon durability, and yield stability zones. Key methodological innovations include hybrid SAR-remote sensing integration and AI-driven nutrient prescription systems, primarily applied across Midwest corn-soybean systems. No scientific awards were documented in the provided materials. While specific advising details are absent, his leadership in the LTAR cropland common experiment and Soil Inventory Project indicates active mentorship of graduate researchers. His research likely attracts significant USDA and NSF funding given the scale of field experiments and modeling initiatives focused on decarbonizing agriculture. Dr. Basso co-leads the Soil Inventory Project at Kellogg Biological Station, developing integrated sampling, data repository, and modeling frameworks for regenerative agriculture. His team combines ground observations, remote sensing, and biophysical modeling to quantify soil carbon and greenhouse gas fluxes, collaborating with farmers, industry partners, and international researchers to translate science into on-farm practices.
Jule Thober is a Scientific Manager at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ , leading Topic 5 "Landscapes of the Future" in the Helmholtz Program and managing the Integration Platform "Robust Pictures of the Future". She contributes to cross-disciplinary research in Smart Models / Monitoring and Computational Hydrosystems , focusing on agent-based models, sustainable land management, and climate risk analysis. Roles : Scientific Manager (2022–), Postdoc (2017–2021), PhD Student (2013–2016) Projects : Copernicus Contract Ulysses 2, LandYOUs Game Development Research Interests center on socio-environmental systems, integrating agent-based models with ecological economics. Her work explores decision-making under climate uncertainty, land use policy, and resilience of pastoral systems through computational methods. Publication Trends (15 most recent) span ecological complexity, environmental informatics, and computational hydrosystems. Key themes include agent-based land use models , climate risk mitigation , and participatory decision support tools . Collaborations involve UFZ departments, international institutions, and interdisciplinary teams in Germany and abroad. She contributes to Helmholtz POF IV programs and EU-funded initiatives like 4DHydro.
David R. Just is a Professor and Director of Graduate Studies at the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University. He holds a Ph.D. (2001) and MS (1999) from the University of California, Berkeley, and a BA (1998) from Brigham Young University. His research focuses on behavioral economics, examining how environmental and psychological factors influence economic decisions, particularly in food choices and agricultural contexts. His work on school lunch programs and low-cost behavioral nudges has been widely recognized. He co-directs the Cornell Center for Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Programs. Key research interests include the application of behavioral insights to public health, consumer decision-making, and agricultural policy. His studies often combine field experiments with econometric analysis to address real-world challenges, such as improving food accessibility and sustainability. His work has been featured in prominent media outlets and has influenced policy initiatives in food systems and nutrition. Roles: Professor, Director of Graduate Studies, Co-Director of Cornell Center for Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Programs. Education: Ph.D. and MS in Agricultural and Resource Economics (UC Berkeley), BA in Economics (BYU). Research: Behavioral economics, food policy, agricultural decision-making, and sustainable practices. Affiliations: Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Dr. Belay Ayele is a Professor in the Department of Plant Science at the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms of plant hormones, seed biology, and abiotic stress tolerance in cereal crops. Education: PhD from University of Alberta; Postdoctoral Fellow at RIKEN Plant Science Center (Japan) and Iowa State University (USA) Research interests include: Elucidating hormonal regulation of seed dormancy and germination Molecular basis of preharvest sprouting resistance Genomic approaches to improve cereal stress tolerance Transcriptional regulation of plant growth under environmental challenges His recent work explores hormonal crosstalk in cereal crops (wheat, barley), emphasizing ABA/GA balance, jasmonate signaling, and stress adaptation. Publications span plant molecular biology, genomics, and bioenergy applications.
Professor Jukka Konttinen serves as Professor of Chemistry of Biorefining at Tampere University within the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences and Department of Materials Science and Environmental Engineering. Previously, he held professorships at the University of Jyväskylä (2009-2014) and research positions at Åbo Akademi University and industry firms including Carbona Inc. His expertise spans thermochemical biomass conversion and sustainable energy systems. Education: D. Sc. (Chemical Engineering), Åbo Akademi University, 1998 Research Interests: Konttinen specializes in biorefining via thermochemical conversion processes including gasification, pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction, and combustion. His work encompasses hybrid energy systems integrating solid/liquid biofuels, biogas, and solar power at distributed scales. He develops chemical process engineering solutions through modeling, simulation, and experimental validation from laboratory to commercial implementation. Publication Trends: His recent publications (2013-2024) demonstrate concentrated expertise in biomass conversion technologies, emphasizing process optimization for lignocellulosic feedstocks, syngas quality enhancement, and techno-economic-environmental assessments. Key themes include pretreatment methods, gasification kinetics, and integration of thermochemical processes with circular economy principles across agricultural and industrial waste streams. Scientific Awards: Supervisor of Best Academic Dissertation (Tiina Keipi) by Tampere University (2019) Supervisor of Best Academic Dissertation (Tiina Keipi) by Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland TEK (2019) Advising and Grants: Konttinen has supervised 13 PhD students (10 completed, 3 ongoing), 70 Master's theses, and 25 Bachelor's theses. His funding portfolio includes €250k as PI for Bio4all (Business Finland, 2024), €861k as WP leader for BL2F (EU Horizon, 2019-2024), plus €425k in confidential contracts (2014-2024) and €1.5M in prior grants. Labs and Teams: He leads the Bio and Circular Economy research unit and previously directed the Laboratory of Chemistry and Bioengineering (2017-2018). Current projects include EU Horizon's BL2F and Business Finland's Bio4all initiatives focused on climate-neutral energy systems and biorefinery commercialization.
