Yin Bao is an Assistant Professor in Plant and Soil Sciences and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Delaware since 2023, previously holding the same position at Auburn University's Department of Biosystems Engineering (2019-2023). He holds a BE in Mechanical Engineering from China Agricultural University (2012) and a PhD in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering from Iowa State University (2018), followed by postdoctoral research there until 2019. His research focuses on automation technology for agriculture and forestry, leveraging robotics, machine learning, and sensing systems to develop tools for precision farming and plant phenotyping. Key areas include unmanned systems (UGVs/UAVs), spectral imaging, and AI-driven predictive models for crop and livestock management. Recent work emphasizes automated inventory systems for forest nurseries, UAV-based vegetation assessment, and machine learning applications in crop yield prediction. His publications span robotic guidance systems, root segmentation in X-ray CT scans, and equine gait analysis using deep learning. Notable projects include the Robotic Assay for Drought (RoAD) system and the 'smart canopy' sorghum initiative. Collaborative efforts involve integrating multifrequency microwave sensing and electronic nose technologies for crop quality analysis.
Jan Dijkstra is an Associate Professor at Wageningen University specializing in Animal Nutrition . His research focuses on dairy cattle nutrition, methane emissions, and nutrient efficiency. Academic Rank: Associate Professor Department: Animal Nutrition His work emphasizes: Mathematical modelling of methane production Phosphorus and nitrogen balance optimization Feed supplementation strategies for reduced emissions Genotype-environment interactions in dairy systems Recent publications highlight advancements in methane mitigation , nutrient cycling , and rumen microbiome dynamics . He serves as a promotor for multiple PhD projects and contributes to datasets on equine microbiomes and rumen metabolites. Scientific Awards American Feed Industry Association Award (2015) Publicatieprijs ASG (2013) Supervision PhD candidates: Kozorezov, Henry, Koning, Vivares Martinez EngD candidate: Holshof
Dr. Jason Gibbs is an Associate Professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. He also serves as the Curator of the J. B. Wallis / R. E. Roughley Museum of Entomology (WRME), a significant center for the study of bee biodiversity. His work is central to advancing knowledge in wild bee systematics, phylogenetics, and conservation. PhD in Biology, York University, Canada MSc in Botany, University of Toronto, Canada BSc in Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Canada His research focuses on the diversity, taxonomy, and conservation of wild bees , particularly halictid and panurgine bees. He employs integrative taxonomic approaches , combining morphological, molecular, and ecological data to resolve species boundaries and evolutionary relationships. His work extends to pollinator ecology , examining how habitat management, agricultural practices, and landscape changes affect bee communities and pollination services. He is deeply involved in bee conservation , including the rediscovery of rare species and the development of habitat strategies to support pollinators in human-modified landscapes. The trends in his recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on systematics and alpha-taxonomy , with numerous revisions of bee genera and checklists of regional faunas. He frequently uses DNA barcoding and phylogenomics to address taxonomic challenges. Additionally, his work explores pollination dynamics in agricultural systems , particularly in blueberry and other crops, assessing the roles of wild versus managed bees. There is a consistent theme of habitat enhancement and conservation across his research, with studies on floral strips, prairie restoration, and the impacts of land-use change. Dr. Gibbs is actively involved in mentoring and training the next generation of entomologists. His lab includes several graduate students and highly qualified personnel who contribute to his diverse research projects, as indicated by the asterisked names in his publications. He leads the Gibbs Wild Bee Lab, which is dedicated to understanding bee diversity and evolution. The lab combines field research with molecular and morphological analyses, and maintains close ties with the WRME museum, which serves as a vital resource for specimen-based research and education.
Miguel Castillo is an Associate Professor in the Crop and Soil Sciences Department at North Carolina State University (NC State), leading the Forage & Grassland Program and serving as Grassland Science Specialist. He holds a Ph.D. in Agronomy from the University of Florida and an MBA from NC State. His work focuses on improving ecosystem services in agricultural and pasture-based livestock systems through integration of silvopasture, agroforestry, and advanced technologies like near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for management decisions. Dr. Castillo's education includes a B.S. in Plant and Animal Sciences from Zamorano University (2006), followed by M.S. and Ph.D. in Agronomy from the University of Florida (2009, 2013). His research spans international collaborations in tropical/sub-tropical environments, with expertise in forage crop management, bioenergy grasses, and sustainable livestock systems. He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. Research Interests: Forage-Livestock Systems Optimization Silvopasture Development Bioenergy Crop Production NIRS Applications in Agriculture Pasture-Based Livestock Management Climate Resilient Forage Crops Recent work emphasizes NIRS for rapid forage quality analysis, evaluating new bermudagrass cultivars, and advancing silvopasture systems in the southeastern U.S. and Peruvian Amazon. His publications address topics like poultry litter impacts, switchgrass management post-freeze, and frost-seeding clover into tall fescue pastures. Grant-supported research includes USDA-funded projects on forage conservation techniques and bioenergy crop development. He advises graduate students on forage systems and collaborates with industry partners on applied agronomic solutions. Labs/Teams: Directs the Forage & Grassland Program at NC State, collaborating with USDA and international research networks. Active in extension programs, publishing guides on forage management, hay production, and silvopasture implementation.
Dr. Flavia van Cleef is an Assistant Professor at the University of Saskatchewan's College of Agriculture and Bioresources, affiliated with the Plant Sciences and Animal and Poultry Science departments. Her research integrates forage management, ruminant nutrition, and sustainable strategies to optimize livestock production while reducing environmental impacts. Ph.D., University of Florida, Marianna, FL, USA M.Sc., São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil B.Sc., São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil Her work emphasizes the use of alternative feed resources, pasture-based systems, and mitigation approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock. She focuses on enhancing forage utilization efficiency, soil health, and nutrient cycling in tropical grasslands and silvopastoral systems. Recent publications highlight her contributions to methane emissions reduction through tannin-rich legumes, nitrous oxide dynamics in integrated farming systems, and water footprint optimization in nitrogen-fertilized pastures. Her methodologies include in vitro assays, stable isotope analysis, and field studies on dung beetle ecology. Flavia is currently recruiting motivated MSc students. Contact her at flavia.vancleef@usask.ca for collaboration opportunities in forage quality, soil health, and sustainable livestock systems.
Martin Mayer serves as Associate Professor at the University of Inland Norway within the Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology and the Department of Forestry and Outback Studies. Based at the Evenstad study location, his research focuses on large mammal ecology in human-dominated landscapes across Scandinavia and Europe. His primary research interests center on Wildlife Ecology and Large Mammal Conservation , with particular emphasis on human-wildlife conflict resolution, road ecology, and carnivore management. Mayer investigates how species like moose, deer, and beavers adapt to anthropogenic landscapes through habitat selection, movement patterns, and population dynamics. His work integrates cutting-edge methodologies including GPS telemetry, drone surveillance, and citizen science data to address conservation challenges in agricultural and urban settings. Analysis of Mayer's recent publications reveals strong trends in using roadkill data for population monitoring, examining spatial constraints on wildlife movement, and developing mitigation strategies for human-wildlife conflicts. His research increasingly incorporates cross-border European perspectives on wildlife management while maintaining a strong foundation in Scandinavian field ecology. Mayer actively contributes to the LARGE research group (ecology of large animals), which conducts field studies on ungulate behavior, predator-prey dynamics, and landscape-scale conservation planning in Norway's boreal ecosystems.
John Reganold is a Regents Professor of Soil Science and Agroecology at Washington State University (WSU), affiliated with the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences within the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS). He specializes in sustainable agriculture, soil health, and organic farming systems. Reganold holds a B.A. in German (1971), M.S. in Soil Science (1974), and Ph.D. in Soil Science (1980) from the University of California at Berkeley and Davis. He teaches courses including Organic Gardening/Farming, Advanced Soil Analysis, and oversees the 30-acre Eggert Family Organic Farm research initiative. His research focuses on measuring the sustainability of organic vs. conventional farming systems, with a focus on soil health, crop yields, environmental quality, and economic performance. Notable studies include the long-term impacts of farming systems on soil organic matter and the financial competitiveness of organic agriculture. Reganold has authored influential papers in Nature , PNAS , and Scientific American , emphasizing agroecology and perennial grain development. Reganold directs the Organic and Sustainable Agriculture undergraduate program (~25 students) and the Online Certificate in Organic Agriculture. His work integrates ecological principles with practical farming practices, advocating for policies that support sustainable agricultural transitions. Current projects explore climate change impacts on soil health and the role of perennial grains in future food systems. His teaching and research laboratories emphasize participatory learning and field-based experimentation. Recent collaborations include studies on biodegradable plastics in agriculture and the role of dung beetles in disrupting pest vectors. Reganold’s work bridges academia and practice, aiming to advance global food security while preserving environmental integrity.
Anton Bekkerman is a Professor in the Department of Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems at the University of New Hampshire, serving as Associate Dean for Research and Director of the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Economics from North Carolina State University and a B.B.A. from Loyola University Maryland. His research spans agricultural marketing, price forecasting, policy analysis, and risk management, with specific expertise in: Commodity price dynamics (grain and fertilizer markets) Agricultural insurance and policy design Farm decision-making and risk analysis Spatial economic modeling Recent publications examine quality-based wheat pricing, biofuel policy impacts on fertilizer markets, crop insurance distributions, and economic dimensions of pest management. His work integrates economic theory with empirical analysis of agricultural systems. Dr. Bekkerman leads research initiatives addressing agricultural sustainability and economic resilience in changing climates.
Prof. Volker Grimm is a Professor in the Department Ecological Modelling at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig, Germany. His research focuses on developing and applying ecological models to understand complex environmental systems, with a strong emphasis on individual-based and agent-based modelling approaches. Key areas include pattern-oriented modelling for predictive environmental decision-making, ecological theory exploration (e.g., resilience and stability), and model standardization through protocols like ODD. He leads projects such as VIBee (honeybee vitality monitoring) and BioDT (Biodiversity Digital Twin), leveraging AI and simulation models like BEEHAVE and FORMIND. Active in interdisciplinary initiatives like CauSES (causality in sustainability science), Grimm bridges ecological and social sciences. His work addresses global challenges like pesticide risk assessment, invasive species management, and climate change impacts on ecosystems. Notable achievements include the ODD protocol for model documentation, advancing ecological informatics, and contributions to EU projects such as CREAM (pesticide risk assessment) and BioDT (supercomputing for biodiversity). Collaborations span institutions like FORMIND and EcoEpi, with a focus on open-access publishing and model reusability.
Mywish Maredia is a fixed-term Professor of Development Economics at Michigan State University's Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics. She serves as Interim Co-Director of the Food Security Group and leads the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy. Her research focuses on agricultural R&D impacts, technology adoption, seed systems, and nutrition policies in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. She holds a Ph.D. from Michigan State University and has over 20 years of experience with international organizations like USAID, CGIAR, and the World Bank. Education: Ph.D. (1993) and M.A./B.A. (1984-1986) in Economics from University of Bombay and Michigan State University Research Interests: Impact evaluation methodologies, agrifood system transformations, and policies promoting nutrition and poverty reduction. She has pioneered innovative approaches like DNA fingerprinting for crop variety tracking and ICT-based agro-advisory systems. Key Achievements: Over $94 million in grants secured, 40+ peer-reviewed publications, and recognition through awards like the Outstanding Dissertation Award (1994). Her work bridges academic rigor with practical policy advice, influencing agricultural strategies in over 30 countries. Scientific Awards: J-PAL Invited Researcher (2023), Ralph H. Smuckler Award (2021), Meritorious Achievement Award (2017) Mentoring: Currently advises 9 Ph.D. students and collaborates with researchers globally. Leads initiatives like the Myanmar Agriculture Policy Support Activity and Thailand Regional Agriculture Innovation Network. Labs/Teams: Director of the Food Security Policy Innovation Lab, co-leader of CGIAR's Policy Research Cluster, and affiliate of the MSU Center for Global Change and Earth Observations.
Brent Sellers is a Professor and Center Director at the Range Cattle Research and Education Center (RCREC), part of the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). His primary affiliation is with the Agronomy Department, focusing on pasture and rangeland weed management. His work integrates herbicide efficacy studies, invasive species control, and sustainable forage systems. Administration: 50% of role involves center leadership and research coordination Research: 25% dedicated to agronomic and weed science innovations Extension: 25% focuses on translating research into practical guidelines for farmers Research Interests: Sellers specializes in herbicide application strategies, weed-crop interactions, and integrated pest management (IPM). Key areas include smutgrass control, cogongrass management, and the use of drones for precision agriculture. His work addresses both economic and ecological challenges in Florida's grazing lands and citrus systems. Publications: Over 100 refereed journal articles and extension bulletins highlight his contributions to understanding herbicide tolerance in crops, invasive plant biology, and sustainable forage practices. Recent work emphasizes drone-based weed mapping and soil pH effects on plant competition. Awards: No specific prizes are listed, but his impactful research has shaped Florida's agricultural policies and practices. Labs/Teams: Leads the RCREC Weed Science Unit, collaborating with UF/IFAS Extension specialists to develop regionally applicable solutions for pasture and citrus weed challenges.
Dr. Alison McCarthy is an Associate Professor in Irrigation and Cropping Systems at the Centre for Agricultural Engineering , University of Southern Queensland . With a background in mechatronic engineering, she specializes in developing automated irrigation systems and machine vision technologies for cotton and dairy pasture management. Education: BEng (2006) and PhD (2010) from University of Southern Queensland Research Interests: Irrigation control systems Machine vision for soil and plant sensing Automation in agriculture Recent Publications highlight her work in nitrogen management, autonomous irrigation frameworks, and pest detection systems. These contributions align with her expertise in AI-driven agricultural solutions and sensor integration. Scientific Awards: 2024 Australian Future Cotton Leader 2021 WatSave Young Professionals Award 2018 Cotton Seed Distributors Researcher of the Year 2015 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science Award 2014 Science and Innovation Award for Young Professionals Research Affiliations: Centre for Agricultural Engineering (CAE) Association of Australian Cotton Scientists (Full Member)
Professor Ufuk Karadavut serves at Karabük University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, where he holds the position of Professor and currently serves as Vice Dean. Previously, he was Dean of the Faculty of Medicine from 2021-2022 and has held multiple leadership roles including Head of Department since 2020. With an extensive publication record of 493 works and significant contributions to both medical and agricultural statistics, his career spans multiple Turkish universities including Ahi Evran University and Bingöl University. PhD, Selçuk University, Institute of Science (2001-2005) Bachelor's Degree, Ankara University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science (1987-1991) Professor Karadavut's research spans biostatistics, medical informatics, and agricultural statistics, with particular expertise in statistical experimental design. His work bridges healthcare applications (medical informatics, clinical data analysis) with agricultural science (crop breeding, animal husbandry). He has developed statistical methodologies applicable across diverse fields, from analyzing palliative care outcomes to optimizing chickpea breeding programs for drought tolerance. His research demonstrates a consistent pattern of applying advanced statistical techniques to solve practical problems in both medical and agricultural contexts. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on applying statistical methodologies to address contemporary challenges. In medical informatics, he examines healthcare quality, medical education, and pandemic impacts. In agricultural science, his work centers on crop improvement (particularly chickpeas and other legumes) and animal breeding. His statistical approaches include multivariate analysis, QTL mapping, growth modeling, and machine learning techniques, demonstrating methodological versatility across disciplinary boundaries. While specific awards aren't detailed in the available information, his h-index of 11 (UNIS) and 8 (WoS), along with 583 total citations, indicate significant scholarly impact. His research has attracted funding from major Turkish research bodies including TÜBİTAK and university-supported projects. Professor Karadavut has supervised 13 theses across multiple institutions and taught diverse courses ranging from medical bioinformatics to agricultural statistics. His research portfolio includes 31 projects, with recent work focusing on climate change adaptation in livestock, medical informatics applications, and advanced statistical methodologies for agricultural research. He has collaborated extensively with researchers across multiple Turkish institutions, demonstrating strong interdisciplinary networking capabilities.
Anna Treydte is an Associate Professor in Nature and Environmental Management with a focus on Sustainable Development at Stockholm University's Department of Physical Geography. She also holds Adjunct Professor positions at the University of Hohenheim (Ecology of Tropical Agricultural Systems) and the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (Department of Life Sciences and Bioengineering). Her work spans multiple continents, addressing biodiversity conservation and human-wildlife coexistence across temperate climates (Germany, Sweden, Italy), desert environments (Mongolia, Saudi Arabia), savanna systems (eastern and southern Africa), mountain regions (Andes), and tropical forests (China, Vietnam, Thailand, Tanzania). Dr. Treydte's research centers on biodiversity and conservation challenges in human-impacted, changing environments. She investigates how climate change and human activities alter structural, species, and functional biodiversity in natural and agro-ecological systems. Her work examines plant-animal interactions, animal population management, human-wildlife coexistence, and livestock impacts on rangelands. She specifically studies shifts in nutrient cycling, carbon stocks, and species diversity in landscapes under varying human land use pressure, including corridors, buffer zones, protected lands, and cultivated areas facing climate-induced weather extremes. She integrates socio-ecological aspects into her research, emphasizing that sustainable human-wildlife coexistence requires local stakeholder involvement in resource use decision-making. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on landscape ecology, rangeland management, and human-wildlife conflict across diverse ecosystems. Her work combines field observations, GPS tracking of wildlife and livestock, socio-ecological surveys, and advanced spatial modeling techniques. Key thematic areas include pastoral mobility patterns, invasive species management, pollination networks in rangelands, and the impacts of land use change on wildlife habitat suitability. Her research consistently addresses the intersection of ecological processes and human livelihoods in changing environments. Dr. Treydte actively supervises numerous PhD, MSc, and BSc students across multiple institutions, with current projects investigating human-wildlife coexistence in Sweden and Tanzania, rangeland restoration techniques, and invasive plant species management. She leads several major research projects including 'Human-Wildlife Coexistence: Reaching a sustainable human-wildlife coexistence by understanding patterns, predicting conflict hotspots and improving communication' and 'Rangeland Ecology: Adapting to change – co-management scenarios of local pastoralists and protected area management to maintain cultural and biological diversity in the Dzungarian Gobi, Mongolia.' Her laboratory, 'NG| Landscape Ecology,' focuses on how landscape patterns, climate, and land use influence ecological processes, biodiversity, and ecosystems. The group employs interdisciplinary approaches that bridge natural and social sciences to address contemporary environmental challenges in a changing world.
Lisbeth Louderback is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Utah and serves as the Curator of Archaeology at the Natural History Museum of Utah (NHMU) , where she also directs the Archaeobotany Lab . Since 2022, she has held the rank of Associate Professor, and from 2014 to 2022, she was an Assistant Professor. She is also a Senator at the University of Utah as of August 2024. She earned a BA in Psychology and Biology from Mills College (1999) , followed by two MA degrees in Anthropology from the University of Nevada, Reno (2007) and the University of Washington (2009) , and a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Washington (2014) . Her research focuses on the ecology of human-plant relationships , using archaeobotanical and paleoecological methods to understand dietary shifts over time. Key themes include: Starch granule analysis of ancient plant use Domestication and transport of Solanum jamesii (Four Corners potato) Climate-driven dietary change in the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau Gendered foraging strategies and subsistence patterns Lithic investment and mobility modeling She has led or co-led over 20 major research grants , including NSF-funded projects on potato domestication , Great Basin geophyte use , and Paleoindian plant use . Her work has been recognized with awards such as the Presidential Award from the Great Basin Anthropological Association (2023) and the Yeager Award for Scholarly Excellence in Archaeology . She teaches courses including Paleoethnobotany , Archaeology and Paleoecology of the Arid West , and Thesis Research-PhD , and mentors graduate students in museum collections and field-based research. She is actively involved in community outreach , including collaborations with the Bureau of Land Management, Red Butte Garden, and Native American tribal communities.
