Research
April 17, 2025
Riley M. Sullivan has received the 2025 CAFNR William R. Lamberson Distinguished Thesis Award as part of Celebration of Excellence
Riley M. Sullivan has received the 2025 CAFNR William R. Lamberson Distinguished Thesis Award for her groundbreaking research on maternal recognition of pregnancy in pigs. She received her M.S. in Reproductive Physiology in 2024. Riley Sullivan Her thesis, “Functional Analysis of Pregnancy in the Pig: The Two Essential Conceptus Maternal Recognition Signals for Preventing Luteolysis,” redefines a 50-year-old model by demonstrating the essential and combined role of conceptus-derived estrogen and prostaglandins in maintaining pregnancy. Under the mentorship of Rodney Geisert, professor emeritus in the Division of Animal Sciences, Sullivan used advanced CRISPR gene-editing to develop a triple knockout model targeting…
April 17, 2025
Samantha Carter receives the 2025 CAFNR William R. Lamberson Distinguished Dissertation Award as part of Celebration of Excellence
Samantha Carter received the 2025 CAFNR William R. Lamberson Distinguished Dissertation Award for her dissertation, “Natural Resource Justice as an Anticolonial Practice: Policies of Sovereignty.” Carter earned her Ph.D. in Natural Resources in summer 2024 and now serves as a postdoctoral scholar at Northwestern University. Samantha Carter Her research explores Indigenous rights and natural resource law through an anticolonial lens, blending legal and social science methods. Her dissertation includes three manuscripts: one analyzing mining jurisdiction post-McGirt v. Oklahoma (Montana Law Review), another examining cannabis regulation in Indian Country (Mercer Law Review) and a third comparing Indigenous resource governance in New…
April 17, 2025
Abraham (Abe) Koo receives CAFNR’s 2025 Outstanding Mid-Career Research Award as part of Celebration of Excellence
Koo is a leading plant biochemist known for his groundbreaking research on jasmonic acid (JA), a key hormone in plant defense and stress response.
April 17, 2025
Morgan Davis receives Outstanding Early Investigator Research Award as part of Celebration of Excellence
At Mizzou since 2020, Davis is a standout early-career researcher with a rapidly growing national reputation. His interdisciplinary work focuses on soil greenhouse gas emissions, soil health, cover crops and sustainable agriculture practices.
April 10, 2025
A walk in the park? Research takes a deeper look at urban green spaces
Nilon’s work focuses on understanding how plants and animals use urban spaces and how people connect with those ecosystems.
April 2, 2025
Felix Fritschi named AAAS Fellow in recognition of contributions to field of crop physiology
Felix Fritschi, the C. Alice Donaldson Professor in CAFNR’s Division of Plant Science and Technology and interim director of the Missouri Soybean Center, is among four University of Missouri researchers recognized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) as 2024 Fellows for their distinguished efforts in advancing various fields of science. Felix Fritschi These researchers push the boundaries of science to drive breakthroughs that transform lives. Their relentless curiosity fuels discoveries that shape the future of Missouri and beyond. “I am incredibly proud of Dr. Fritschi in receiving this fitting honor and humbled to work alongside scientists…
March 31, 2025
Agricultural Education student presents at Undergraduate Research Day at the Missouri State Capitol
Jaron VanHouden, senior in agricultural education, teacher certification, presented his research on student teachers finding community in their programs.
March 26, 2025
From biochemistry to nutrition and exercise physiology: The path to a PhD
PhD student Anna Gonsalves found her passion for nutrition and exercise physiology through undergraduate research.
March 13, 2025
Mako shark trekking patterns reveal a hidden impact of changing ocean temperatures
Shortfin mako sharks, an endangered species, are among the fastest and most elusive predators in the ocean, and new research led by Michael Byrne, associate professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Missouri’s School of Natural Resources (SNR) sheds light on the limitations of their habitat availability caused by oceanography. The research tracked mako sharks over vast distances using satellite telemetry. Byrne’s findings reveal a pattern in movements and distribution of the apex predators spanning thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean, highlighting the sharks’ dependence on one very specific factor — oxygen levels in the water. “I love…
March 7, 2025
MU Digital Agriculture Research and Extension Center to host second Digital Agriculture Symposium
2024 DAREC Symposium participants discuss a poster presentation. The University of Missouri’s Digital Agriculture Research and Extension Center (DAREC) is hosting its second Digital Agriculture Symposium, “Empowering Agriculture Using AI and Digital Agriculture Technology” in April. “The landscape of agriculture is changing rapidly as digital technology advances,” said Jianfeng Zhou, associate professor of Agricultural Systems Technology in MU’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. “We are delighted to be able to share these advances and some of our research in that space and help Missouri’s agricultural producers make informed decisions about incorporating these new technologies into their farming practices.”…