It has truly been a great academic year. The Aggie spirit is alive and well and we thank everyone for another great semester. There are always issues to deal with, but with 10 new faculty hired since last spring, this is truly an exciting time.
A big whoop to our Class of 2024 graduates. You will continue to learn and grow as you add experience to the knowledge, leadership, character and lifelong learning skills you have gained during your time as a student. This is my opportunity to say congratulations not only to you, but to those who guided and supported you. We wish you success as you venture forth to the next step in your careers.
We have completed the interview process for the new director of the Texas Water Resources Institute and are now recruiting for a data science position, beginning interviews for a soils position at Amarillo and finishing the search for a molecular geneticist at Dallas. We are also thrilled that Dr. Peter Omara, Weslaco, and Dr. Sam Rustom, Eagle Lake, have joined us.
Recent comments on career opportunities from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service, turfgrass companies, golf courses, environmental and agronomic service companies were positive for graduates and undergraduates. Crop production margins are thinner this year, with most of our commodity grain prices trending lower and inflationary costs of inputs increasing. The state experienced significant reduction in drought conditions, but there are still major problems in some areas. As our population increases, water will continue to be a huge priority, which will encompass our work in water quality, availability and efficiency. The closure of the Weslaco sugar processing facility will negatively impact the regional economy in both the short and long term and require research to identify crops that can add value with less irrigation. Our focus on soil health and conservation systems is leading to cleaner watersheds, greater soil carbon capture and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Recent intellectual property awards were granted to Dr. Wayne Smith, Dr. Bill Rooney, Dr. Juan Landivar and Dr. Darius Malinowski and their teams. We also congratulate our most recent AAAS Fellow, Dr. Seth Murray! His work in phenomics continues to change the science as exemplified by his recent hosting of the AI in Agriculture Conference in College Station.
We look forward to new students joining us over the summer and fall semesters, but we still need more to meet the career opportunities provided through our Turfgrass Science and Plant and Environmental Soil Sciences degrees. We wish our students a happy and productive summer break and look forward to fall when everyone returns refreshed and ready to take on new challenges. Stay safe!
|
|
|
Department celebrates May graduation
|
The department celebrates our newest graduates for the Spring 2024 semester during May graduation. We had 23 students, including 14 undergraduates and nine graduates who are expected to graduate. We are proud of you for the efforts you have made throughout your time with the department and wish each of you the very best in the next phase of your lives!
|
|
|
Barron receives Brown Foundation - Earl Rudder Memorial Outstanding Student Award
|
Senior plant and environmental soil science major Chris Barron received the Brown Foundation-Earl Rudder Memorial Outstanding Student Award. The award is the highest honor bestowed upon a graduating senior at the university in which only two students are awarded annually.
The award recognizes graduating seniors who exemplify leadership, patriotism, fortitude, courage and humility.
|
|
|
Students recognized during spring awards banquet
|
Congratulations to our students who received scholarships and special awards during our annual awards and recognition banquet at the Hildebrand Equine Complex.
|
|
|
Ying Wang working with trio of scientists to unlock mystery, power of microbiome
|
Professor Ying Wang, Ph.D., was one of three microbiome scientists hired to help study the link between microscopic biological community dynamics with soil, plant, animal and human health. Wang will be studying how microbes interact with each other in complex communities and with plant roots and how these interactions affect soil carbon, nutrient cycling and plant health.
|
|
|
Texas A&M AgriLife turfgrass program leads through innovation
|
The Texas A&M Turfgrass Program is a partnership among Texas A&M AgriLife experts, using innovative, interdisciplinary methods and technologies to create and improve turfgrass varieties. From developing drought-resistant varieties to enhancing player safety and performance on sports fields, their work addresses key challenges while paving the way for a greener, more resilient and sustainable future for Texas turfgrass.
|
| |
Liu brings genetics expertise to AgriLife Research wheat breeding program
|
Texas A&M AgriLife Research professor Shuyu Liu, Ph.D., significantly contributed to the AgriLife Research wheat program at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Amarillo before moving to Bryan-College Station in January to take on a new role as the small grains geneticist.
|
|
|
| New AgriLife Extension specialist tackles water issues in the nation's cotton patch
|
Since starting in January, new assistant professor and AgriLife Extension specialist Ken Lege, Ph.D., Lubbock, has hit the ground running, meeting with area producers and industry leaders to understand their needs.
|
|
|
Seth Murray named American Association for Advancement of Science Fellow
|
Texas A&M AgriLife Research professor Seth Murray, Ph.D., was named a 2024 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Murray was one of three Texas A&M AgriLife faculty members honored as Fellows for exceptional contributions to their respective fields of research.
|
| | |
Faculty members receive awards for innovation from The Texas A&M University System Chancellor’s Office
| Congratulations to three of our professors and their teams for receiving awards during the Texas A&M Innovation Patent and Chancellor’s Innovation Awards luncheon in April.
-
Muthu Bagavathiannan, Ph.D., professor, Bryan-College Station - Chancellor's Innovation Award.
- George Hodnett, Ph.D., senior research associate, Bryan-College Station - Chancellor's Innovation Award.
- William Rooney, Ph.D., professor, Bryan-College Station - Herbicide-Resistant Grain Sorghum.
-
Juan Landivar, Ph.D., professor and director, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Centers at Weslaco and Corpus Christi - Unmanned Aerial System Genotype Analysis Using Machine Learning Routines
- Dariusz Malinowski, Ph.D., professor and Texas A&M AgriLife Research plant physiologist and breeder - Hibiscus Plant Named “14-0704-02”
|
Gurjar wins second place at Student Research Week, travel award to attend USDA meeting
|
Bholuram Gurjar won second place in the Agriculture and Life Sciences category at this year's Texas A&M University Student Research Week poster contest.
Gurjar also received a travel award to attend the U.S. Department of Agriculture meeting on the Research and Extension for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Applications in U.S. Agriculture and Natural Resources in Montana, June 13-14. Gurjar is a doctoral student in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering who is supervised by Muthu Bagavathiannan, Ph.D.
|
Campos elected to Aggie Green Fund Advisory Committee
|
Master’s student S’vani Campos was elected chair of the Aggie Green Fund Advisory Committee. As chair, Campos’ duties will include managing committee meetings, providing recommendations on improving organization performance campuswide and offering guidance or support to other members. Campos is majoring in soil science and supervised by Felipe Aburto, Ph.D.
|
Baldi wins mentoring award
|
Doctoral student Heather Baldi received the Graduate and Professional School’s Mentoring Award during a ceremony on April 16. Baldi is supervised by Russ Jessup, Ph.D.
|
Barron and Mark receive Senior Merit Awards
|
Congratulations to senior plant and environmental soil science majors Chris Barron and Jenna Mark for receiving the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Senior Merit Award during the 68th annual College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Convocation.
|
Foster recognized at Texas A&M-Kingsville Awards Banquet
|
Congratulations to senior plant and environmental soil science majors Chris Barron and Jenna Mark for receiving the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Senior Merit Award during the 68th annual College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Convocation.
|
Pedireddi and Parker selected as 2024 NAPB Borlaug Scholars
|
Congratulations to doctoral students Usha Pedireddi and Kyle Parker for being selected as this year’s National Association of Plant Breeding Borlaug Scholars. The fellowship comes with an annual membership to the NAPB and a chance to travel to St. Louis to the organization’s annual meeting in July. Pedireddi is supervised by Muthu Bagavathiannan, Ph.D., and William Rooney, Ph.D. Parker is supervised by Shuyu Liu, Ph.D.
|
|
|
May 10-11 | Reed Arena, College Station
|
First Day of Fall Semester Classes
|
Aug. 19 | College Station
|
|
|
Giving to Soil and Crop Sciences
|
Student and faculty development are top priorities for Soil and Crop Sciences. Through Experiential Learning Endowments we can offer students new learning experiences outside of the classroom to help prepare them for the working world. Professorships and chairs help us bring top faculty and students into the program. Your donation can also help us continue to lead in research on specific crops and remain globally competitive as a top research university.
|
|
|
About the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
|
|
|
The Department of Soil and Crop Sciences is one of the largest such departments in the nation and is preeminent throughout the world. Through our undergraduate and graduate programs, we're training future leaders, poised to advance soil and crop sciences to solve global issues in human, economic and environmental health. Our world-famous faculty have a presence in every county in Texas. Working in partnership with Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, their goal is to conduct soil and crop sciences research through trials and experimentation and then transfer that new knowledge to the public.
aglifesciences.tamu.edu | soilcrop.tamu.edu
|
|
|
Manage your preferences | Opt Out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
|
600 John Kimbrough Blvd. Suite 510 TAMU 2142 | College Station, TX 77843-2142 US
|
|
|
This email was sent to rlwilliams32@tamu.edu.
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
|
| |
|
|
