Morgan Davis, assistant professor in the School of Natural Resources, is the recipient of CAFNR’s 2025 Outstanding Early Investigator Research Award.   

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. Davis has secured more than $38 million in grant funding, with $3.5 million in shared credit, from federal agencies (including USDA and DOE), state organizations and industry partners. Notably, he is a Co-PI on the largest grant in MU’s history — a $25 million USDA project assessing climate-smart agriculture. 

He has published 13 peer-reviewed journal articles (six as first author), with additional manuscripts under review or in preparation. His work has been cited 280 times, and he received the Outstanding Paper Award from the Journal of Environmental Quality. Davis has delivered more than 15 academic presentations, including multiple invited talks, and is a dedicated mentor to seven graduate students and six undergraduates. 

Known for his collaborative spirit, Davis works across departments and with national partners such as the USDA-ARS and Forest Service. He has led impactful field studies, including soil remediation projects aimed at restoring pollinator habitats on timber-harvested lands. His leadership roles extend to editorial duties and elected positions in major agronomy societies. 

“Dr. Davis is rapidly developing a record of thought-provoking research,” said Patrick Market, director of SNR. “He has been in demand and continues to deliver a significant number of invited academic presentations. Since his arrival at MU, Dr. Davis has delivered over 15 academic presentations, five of which were invited. This high level of presentation productivity indicates that Dr. Davis is on a sure trajectory to national prominence.”