Plant Science and Technology

Feb. 27, 2023

Trupti Joshi

Bioinformatics scientist Trupti Joshi puts resources into the hands of fellow researchers at the University of Missouri — and beyond. Joshi’s expertise is in the area of bioinformatics — collecting and analyzing complex biological data such as genomic codes — and its applications to biology and medicine. She has rigorous interdisciplinary training, with degrees in bioinformatics and clinical medicine. As director of translational bioinformatics with the School of Medicine’s Medical Research Office, Joshi leads and coordinates collaborations with clinicians and research faculty. Together, they work to advance personally customized healthcare tailored to individual patients through innovations in information technologies. Among…

Feb. 24, 2023

A Global Journey

Jaime Barros’s academic career has been an adventure beginning in his home country in Spain and spanning three continents, but he says landing at Mizzou for a faculty appointment in plant sciences is exactly where he wants to be. “The faculty, facilities and resources available here at Mizzou are top-notch, particularly for Plant Science.” Barros said, noting that the people including fellow researchers; plant growth and analytical facilities; opportunities for funding; and scientific atmosphere all helped set Mizzou as the right place for his research. Barros is currently taking part in the Preparing Future Faculty— Faculty Diversity (PFFFD) Program through…

Feb. 23, 2023

MU Grape & Wine Institute Grows as Interest in Winemaking Grows

Interest in Missouri winemaking exploded during the coronavirus pandemic and the University of Missouri Grape and Wine Institute (GWI) has responded to meet the demand. The GWI is a collaborative partnership between the Missouri wine and grape industry and the University of Missouri. The Missouri Wine and Grape Board provides guidance and oversight to ensure that GWI fulfills its responsibilities. GWI provides information and advice on all issues related to viticulture and enology. Viticulture is the cultivation and harvesting of grapes for winemaking. Enology is the science of wine and winemaking. There are 130 wineries in Missouri with several being large…

Feb. 23, 2023

Enhancing Learning Opportunities

With funding help from the University of Missouri to enhance teaching and learning across campus, the Henry Kirklin Plant Sciences Learning Laboratory has added even more features to help with student success. A team of Division of Plant Science and Technology faculty secured $100,000 to buy state-of-the-art equipment – and the division also added funds to make it even more worthwhile. Photo courtesy of Soyon Park. Two years ago, CAFNR recognized Henry Kirklin, a celebrated Black farmer and educator who lived in and around Columbia from 1858 until his death in 1938, with the naming of the Henry Kirklin Plant…

Feb. 23, 2023

2023 CAFNR Joy of Discovery Seed Grant Program Winners Announced

The second batch of proposals funded by CAFNR’s Joy of Discovery Seed Grant Program has been announced. The Joy of Discovery Seed Grant Program supports nascent, collaborative, multi transdisciplinary research with the goal of developing a competitive proposal for federal funding. The following proposals were selected (listed by the PI, Co-PI/s and title of the project): David Braun, Zachary Traylor, Sherry Flint-Garcia and Pavel Somavat; Developing the new “craft whiskey” market: Evaluation of Missouri heritage corn lines Jill Kanaley and Abdelnaby Khalyfa; Sleep Restriction, Exosomes and Insulin Resistance Abraham Khoo; Novel ways to increase biomass oil production Mengshi Lin and Jung Mun (Journey) Yang; Development…

Feb. 15, 2023

Doug Spaunhorst

Educational background Ph.D., Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University M.S., Plant Insect and Microbial Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia B.S., Plant Science – Crop Management, University of Missouri-Columbia…

Feb. 13, 2023

Endless Educational Opportunities

As part of ensuring student success, the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) offers its students numerous opportunities to connect in meaningful ways with industry professionals. Those interactions come through a variety of programs, from CAFNR-sponsored experiences to degree-specific trips. Recently, CAFNR students met with a variety of professionals through the Agribusiness Career Connections Program, Dickinson Scholars Program and Biochemistry Industry Tour. The Agribusiness Career Connection program is designed to connect CAFNR undergraduates to various agribusinesses located throughout the Midwest. Students hear from businesses and organizations, with a focus on possible internships or future job opportunities. The…

Feb. 9, 2023

Three CAFNR Researchers Honored by WSSA

Three CAFNR researchers — Haylee Schreier, senior research associate; Mandy Bish, extension specialist; and Kevin Bradley, professor — were recently honored by the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) for their outstanding contributions to the field of weed science. The trio was presented with the Outstanding Paper award during the organization’s 2023 annual meeting. The award-winning paper is The Impact of Electrocution Treatments on Weed Control and Weed Seed Viability in Soybean. It was published in Weed Technology in July.

Feb. 8, 2023

CAFNR Faculty Selected to Participate in LEAD21 Program

David Braun, director of the Interdisciplinary Plant Group (IPG) and professor, plant science & technology and biological sciences; and Deborah Finke, professor and director of undergraduate studies, plant science and technology; were selected as participants in the 19th class of the LEAD21 program, a leadership program aimed at developing leaders in land-grant institutions and their strategic partners who link research, academics and extension for leadership roles at colleges and universities across the nation. LEAD21 provides an immersive professional development program for academic leaders from the land-grant system. Working in regular small groups meetings combined with three week-long immersive sessions, the…

Feb. 8, 2023

Richard Ferrieri

Rich Ferrieri earned his PhD degree in Nuclear & Radiochemistry from Texas A&M University in 1979, and then became a postdoctoral fellow under Alfred Wolf at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). He was later hired onto the scientific staff at BNL working on the medical applications of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) for animal and human research. In 2002, he shifted his interest away from medical research, and into plant biology leveraging many of the same imaging and radiochemistry tools to study basic plant functions. He is credited with developing the first radiolabeled PET plant hormone (11C-jasmonic acid) to study its transport…