Accolades

April 7, 2021

CAFNR Announces Dissertation Research Improvement Grantees

The University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Office of Research recently announced its inaugural award winners of the CAFNR Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (C-DRIG). Each grant is worth up to $2,000 to support or partially support dissertation research projects proposed by doctoral students in the College. Proposals were evaluated by the CAFNR Research Council, an advisory body that advises the CAFNR Office of Research and is made up of representatives from each division in the College. Student: Pawan Basnet (Plant, Insect and Microbial Sciences) Advisor: Andrew Scaboo (Assistant Professor, Division of Plant Sciences) Development…

March 17, 2021

Pengyin Chen Honored with American Soybean Association Pinnacle Award

Pengyin Chen, who holds the David M. Haggard Endowed Professorship in Soybean Breeding at the Fisher Delta Research Center, recently received the American Soybean Association’s (ASA) Pinnacle Award, the ASA’s highest honor. Chen was honored during the ASA Awards Program virtual broadcast on Tuesday, March 16. The Pinnacle Award provides industry-wide recognition of individuals who have demonstrated lifetime contribution and exemplary long-time leadership within the soybean family and industry. Chen joined the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) in 2016. He does a variety of research at the Fisher Delta Research Center, located…

Feb. 22, 2021

Jared Decker Part of Ag Innovation Panel Discussion

Decker is an associate professor in the Division of Animal Sciences.

Feb. 22, 2021

Students Earn Honors During Animal Sciences Graduate Forum

The Division of Animal Sciences held its Animal Sciences Graduate Forum virtually in January. There were a total of 20 oral presentations and 19 poster presentations, as nearly all Animal Sciences graduate students participated. Along with numerous presentations, the division recognized 2020 MS and PhD graduates. Below are the winners for each category. MS Oral Presentation First: Amanda Schmelzle Second: Maddie Spooner Third: Destiny Johns Honorable Mention: Alana Rodney PhD Oral Presentation First: Sara Nilson Second: Paula Chen and Jason Rizo Third: Colby Redifer MS Poster Presentation First: Kelsey Clark Second:…

Feb. 10, 2021

Gassmann Named Director of the Bond Life Sciences Center

Walter Gassmann, professor in the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Division of Plant Sciences, was recently named the director of the Bond Life Sciences Center (LSC). Gassmann has served as the interim director at Bond LSC since July 2017. He is a member of the Interdisciplinary Plant Group (IPG), one of CAFNR’s Programs of Distinction. Gassmann joined the University of Missouri in 2000 as an assistant professor in the Division of Plant Sciences. He became an associate professor in 2006 and a professor in 2013. Gassman’s research is aimed at understanding the…

Feb. 1, 2021

Cheryl Recker Receives CAFNR Above & Beyond Award

Cheryl Recker, senior research and lab technician at Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center, was the January 2021 recipient of the Above and Beyond Award from CAFNR Staff Advisory Council. This award recognizes staff who have gone the extra mile in their jobs. She was nominated by Sarah Lovell, associate professor, School of Natural Resources.

Jan. 27, 2021

Roberts, Spencer Named Society for the Study of Reproduction Distinguished Fellows

Two University of Missouri faculty were among 15 individuals recently named Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR) Distinguished Fellows. R. Michael Roberts, Chancellor’s Professor with appointments in animal sciences and biochemistry, and Thomas Spencer, Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Animal Sciences, were both honored. This is the inaugural year of the program. From the SSR press release about the Distinguished Fellowship honor: The SSR Distinguished Fellowship is one of the highest professional scientific honors awarded for outstanding contributions to the scientific discipline of reproductive biology. The SSR Distinguished Fellowship recognizes the impact of active SSR members and their outstanding contributions…

Dec. 21, 2020

CAFNR Graduate Students Receive Foundation for Soy Innovation Scholarships

Two University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) graduate students recently received 2020 Foundation for Soy Innovation scholarships: Caio Canella Vieira and Haylee Schreier. Both students are working toward degrees in plant, insect and microbial sciences. The Foundation for Soy Innovation offers an annual scholarship program to empower individuals working to further the soybean industry. To read more about the honor, as well as learn more about Canella Vieira and Schreier, visit the Missouri Soybean website.

Dec. 21, 2020

Jared Decker Awarded Wurdack Chair in Animal Genetics

Jared Decker, associate professor in the Division of Animal Sciences, has been awarded the Wurdack Chair in Animal Genetics. The appointment is effective Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. The appointment will allow Decker to focus on leading the livestock genetics research program in animal sciences at MU. Decker received his bachelor’s degree in animal science from New Mexico State University before earning his PhD in genetics from the University of Missouri in 2012. After earning his PhD, Decker served as a USDA-NIFA postdoctoral fellow at MU for a year before joining the faculty as an assistant professor in the Division of…

Dec. 16, 2020

CAFNR Office of Research Recognizes Drivers of Distinction

The CAFNR Office of Research recently recognized 10 faculty members as Drivers of Distinction. The honor was given to the faculty members, listed below, who had the highest total shared credit research expenditures over the past 10 years (2011-20). David Diamond – director, Missouri Resource Assessment Partnership (School of Natural Resources) Felix Fritschi – C. Alice Donaldson Professor in Bioenergy Crop Physiology and Genetics (Division of Plant Sciences) Shibu Jose – associate dean, CAFNR Office of Research; professor (School of Natural Resources) Henry Nguyen – professor (Division of Plant Sciences) Craig Paukert – cooperative professor (School of Natural Resources) Randy…