Faculty
Aug. 26, 2025
Erik Amézquita
I am an Assistant Professor for Data Science at the Division of Plant Science & Technology with an adjunct appointment in Math. I am mainly interested in understanding and modeling plant morphology using topological data analysis (TDA). I am also interested in morphometrics, developmental plant biology, basic image processing, directional statistics, and data science for social justice. I go by he/él pronouns. I got my Ph.D. from the Department of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering (CMSE) at Michigan State University. I worked under the guidance of Dan Chitwood and Liz Munch. Before that, I got my math degree from the Universidad…
Aug. 19, 2025
Veridiana Daley
Daley’s research program focuses on nutrition and metabolism in dairy cattle, with a strong emphasis on nutrient supply and requirements. Her current work investigates the supply and metabolism of individual amino acids and fatty acids in dairy cows aiming to manipulate milk components (fat and protein). She also conducts modeling studies using advanced programming techniques to integrate nutrition, animal health, and stress physiology into a system-level framework. During her doctoral studies, Daley developed a ration formulation software in Brazil (RLM Leite) designed to support precision feeding strategies. She completed her postdoctoral training through the National Animal Nutrition Program at Virginia Tech, where…
Aug. 19, 2025
Shokhrukh (Shok) Jalilov
Shokhrukh specializes in agricultural and environmental economics, water economics and policy, integrated water resource systems, and the water–food–energy nexus, with a focus on the complex interactions between biophysical and economic systems. His research employs theoretical, empirical, and numerical approaches and involves close collaboration with experts from diverse fields, including engineering, hydrology, soil science, and plant science. Before joining the University of Missouri, he worked at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (Australia’s national science agency), the Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability at the United Nations University in Tokyo, Japan, and Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland. He has…
Aug. 7, 2025
Christine C. Brodsky
Christine Brodsky is an Assistant Professor of Urban Ecology at the University of Missouri in the School of Natural Resources. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri, M.S. from the University of Delaware, and B.S. from the University of Massachusetts. Her dissertation research was conducted within the Baltimore Ecosystem Study, a Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program. After completing her Ph.D., she worked as a faculty member within Pittsburg State University’s Biology Department. She is a Certified Wildlife Biologist and currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Urban Biodiversity and Design (URBIO) international network. Brodsky also has a…
July 18, 2025
Rick Relyea
Educational background Ph.D. in Ecology & Evolution, University of Michigan, 1999 Courses taught Ecology Animal Behavior…
June 24, 2025
Erin Sparks
Sparks holds a joint appointment with the University of Missouri and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. She is passionate about interdisciplinary approaches to solve complex challenges. Her background training includes a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, a Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology and postdoctoral work in Plant Molecular Biology. Educational background Ph.D., Vanderbilt University…
May 28, 2025
Alex Mangialardi
Educational background Ph.D., Agronomy-Weed Science, Mississippi State University…
March 31, 2025
Xiaoping Xin
Dr. Xin’s research focuses on soil biogeochemistry processes, climate-resilient soil management, soil remediation, soil-plant interactions, crop production, precision agriculture, nanotechnology-enabled agriculture, and environmental risk assessment. She is committed to bridging the gap between academic research and practical agricultural applications, aiming to lead innovative studies in soil fertility and plant nutrition that enhance agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability in Missouri and beyond. Educational background Ph.D., University of Florida, 2020 Ph.D., Southwest University, China, 2017 B.S., Northwest A&F University, China, 2012 Courses taught Soil and the Environment (SOIL 3290) Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition (SOIL 4313/7313) Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition Lab…
Nov. 5, 2024
Muhammad Rasel Parvej
Rasel Parvej is the Director of the MU Soil and Plant Testing Laboratory and the Soil Health Assessment Center (SHAC), as well as an Assistant Professor and State Extension Specialist in Soil Testing and Interpretation within the Division of Plant Science and Technology and the School of Natural Resources. He has been serving as an Associate Editor for both the Soil Science Society of America Journal and Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management since 2020. Parvej is also a certified crop advisor and has been elected vice-chair of the National Research Support Project (NRSP-11) at NIMSS in 2024.
Aug. 15, 2024
Jason R.V. Franken
My research is interdisciplinary by nature, drawing from economics, marketing, and decision sciences to understand the organization of marketing channels (i.e., transactions, contracts, and cooperatives) for adding value and managing risk. Educational background Ph.D., Agricultural & Consumer Economics, University of Illinois, 2008 M.S., Agricultural Economics, University of Missouri, 2003 B.S., Agricultural Economics, University of Missouri, 2001 Courses taught ABM 3183: The Economics of the Food, Fiber and Fuel Supply Chain ABM 4972: Agri-Food Business and Cooperative Management…