Research

A George Washington Carver Graduate Fellow, Brittney Cade is using citizen science from multiple individuals throughout the southwestern United States who have recorded findings about the screwbean mesquite since 2002. Cade said the tree is an important habitat for wildlife and different desert birds and has historical significance as indigenous cultures use the wood for multiple purposes. Photo courtesy of Brittney Cade.

Feb. 14, 2022

A New World of Possibilities

From Chicago’s South Side, Brittney Cade went into college wanting to find a career related to her passion for animals. Cade said she thought there were only two viable careers in that field – veterinarian or zookeeper. Once she started at Iowa State University, she discovered a new world of possibilities related not only to animals, but to the environment and natural resources. Cade earned a bachelor’s degree in animal ecology from Iowa State and her master’s degree in biology (conservation emphasis) from Miami University, in Ohio. Cade is currently working on her PhD in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources…
Jaume Padilla looks into a microscope in his lab in the NextGen facility

Feb. 3, 2022

The Bench-Bedside Interface

Over the past couple of decades, new diabetes cases have tripled in the U.S., and 80 percent of patients with type 2 diabetes eventually succumb to cardiovascular disease. Jaume Padilla, associate professor in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology (NEP), is working to solve this important problem. Padilla received his PhD in exercise physiology at Indiana University before he came to the University of Missouri (MU) Department of Biomedical Sciences in 2009 as a postdoctoral fellow. “I came to MU to work with Harold Laughlin, a world-renowned investigator in exercise vascular biology, and with the goal of expanding my…
Head shot of David Braun

Jan. 31, 2022

New Growth

David Braun, professor of plant science and technology at the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR), has been named director of the Interdisciplinary Plant Group (IPG), effective Feb. 1, 2022. “I am humbled and excited to lead this incredibly talented group of creative and world-class plant biologists,” Braun said. “The IPG is part of my core identity at MU, and I am extremely grateful to it for all of the support it offers to faculty and staff members and the outstanding training environment it provides for our students and postdocs. I look forward to…
agriculture building with flowers blooming

Jan. 27, 2022

CAFNR Joy of Discovery Seed Grant Program Winners Announced

The first 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.

Jan. 24, 2022

Hannah Hemmelgarn Wins AFTA’s 2021 Early Career Award

Hannah Hemmelgarn, assistant program director in the Center for Agroforestry, received the 2021 Early Career Award from the Association for Temperate Agroforestry. 
IPG Logo

Dec. 22, 2021

Interdisciplinary Plant Group Celebrates 40th Year

Established in 1981, the Interdisciplinary Plant Group (IPG) celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2021. The IPG is a community of University of Missouri (MU) faculty, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and professionals pursuing transformative ideas in the field of plant biology. The group seeks to encourage cooperation between scientists engaged in plant molecular biology, physiology, biochemistry, genetics, biotechnology, evolution, ecology and computer science. Doug Randall (center), founding director of IPG, was part of IPG from the beginning. In the early 1970s, MU plant biologists already had a loose association for seminars and to share resources. In 1981 the group received the…
Maple trees tapped at the Baskett Research Center

Dec. 15, 2021

An Untapped Industry

Maple syrup production is most known in the Northeastern United States, but is there a potential maple industry in the lower Midwest? Hannah Hemmelgarn, assistant program director of the Center for Agroforestry, recently received a grant totaling $473,481 for the project, Putting Maple on the Map in the Lower Midwest, to explore just that.
Snow covers a tree limb with a stone building in the background

Dec. 15, 2021

Potential for a Warmer Winter

Tony Lupo, a professor of atmospheric science in the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR), said this past fall – the months of September, October and November – was the sixth warmest in Missouri since the state began keeping records in 1889.

Dec. 2, 2021

Taking Risk

Measuring financial risk tolerance is not always simple as many over or underestimate their true risk tolerance. What does this mean for investors and financial planners? That’s where the research of University of Missouri professor is coming in. Abed Rabbani teaches undergraduate and graduate level courses in PFP. He also performs research focusing on risk tolerance and risk literacy. Abed Rabbani, assistant professor in personal financial planning (PFP), teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in the department, along with performing research in risk tolerance. “Risk management is a broad topic,” said Rabbani. “My specific area focuses on the measurement of risk…
Funded by a series of grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Freshman Research in Plants (FRIPS) Program at the University of Missouri allows first-year/first-time undergraduate students an opportunity to get a first-hand look at the exciting plant research taking place at MU. Not only do these students have the chance to experience cutting-edge plant biology research, they are also able to learn from esteemed Interdisciplinary Plant Group (IPG) faculty. Photo by Kate Preston.

Nov. 29, 2021

Sparking an Interest in Research

FRIPS Program allows first-year students an opportunity to get a first-hand look at plant research at MU.