Stories

Three people stand in front of a wall of live plants. From left to right they are Scott Peck, a white man with glasses and grey hair wearing a black cardigan over a button-up; Antje Heese, a white woman with long, red hair wearing a black jacket; and David Mendoza, a Latino man with dark hair and glasses wearing a black sweater.

Feb. 1, 2023

The Joy of Collaboration

One year ago, a team of plant scientists and biochemists from Mizzou was among faculty awarded the first-ever CAFNR Joy of Discovery Seed Grant funding. Today, that team has parlayed that funding into a $1.25 million National Science Foundation grant that could lead to a deeper understanding of how plant immunity impacts the plant nutrient systems than ever before. The Joy of Discovery program, through the CAFNR Office of Research, aims to provide faculty with funding for interdisciplinary research that will produce preliminary data to make faculty projects more competitive to major funding sources. It provides up to $20,000 for…
A man in glasses and a long-sleeved, pale pink button-up shirt

Feb. 1, 2023

CAFNR Plant Scientist Named AAAS Fellow

In recognition of nearly two decades of work creating rice varieties resistant to certain types of bacteria, Bing Yang, professor of plant sciences, was named as a 2022 American Association for the Advancement of Science fellow. “There is so much diversity within the Society, and it is an honor to be among them,” Yang said. “The recognition of my work and my group inspires me to work harder – to do a better job.” The recognition from AAAS did not come without a long list of accomplishments, however. Fueling his work along the way was Yang’s desire to make an…
A white man with white hair and a white, neatly-trimmed beard in a dark grey button-up shirt stands in front of a sign that reads,

Dec. 19, 2022

National Academy of Inventors Names MU’s Randall Prather to 2022 Fellows Program

Prather is one of only 169 academic inventors to receive the prestigious honor this year.
A white woman with long, brunette hair smiles while wearing a blue lab coat. Behind her are various medical equipment in a research laboratory.

Dec. 15, 2022

Making Connections

Exercise and physiology faculty use strong collaboration at MU to learn more about body systems.
Senior Spotlight graphic for Brooke Weiler.

Nov. 8, 2022

First-Generation Student Spotlight: Brooke Weiler

Discovery Fellows program jumpstarted Brooke Weiler's interest in research.
field of soybeans

Nov. 2, 2022

Missouri Foundation Seed Planted for Growth

Modernization project is underway.
A 3D rendering of the expanded National Swine Resource and Research Center

Oct. 27, 2022

$8 Million Grant Will Expand National Swine Resource and Research Center at CAFNR

NIH grant will support research with genetically modified pigs to study human diseases.
Hired in 2019, Verónica Negrón-Pérez has spent the past three-plus years as an assistant researcher and principal investigator at one of the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez’s agricultural experiment stations (Tropical Animal Reproduction Investigation Center) – this one located in Gurabo, on the eastern side of Puerto Rico. It has been a perfect opportunity at the same university where she earned her undergraduate degree. Photo courtesy of Verónica Negrón-Pérez.

Oct. 14, 2022

Meeting Her Goals

Verónica Negrón-Pérez's educational journey has brought her back to Puerto Rico for an important research role.
Jason Zhang’s food science journey began in China at Jiangnan University, one of the top food science universities in the country. His first trip to the United States came after earning his undergraduate degree, when he was accepted as a graduate student at the University of Missouri. Zhang, who grew up in southern China, and his wife, Sha, first stepped onto the Columbia campus in 2011 as they both began the pursuit of their PhDs in food science. Photo courtesy of Jason Zhang.

Sep. 28, 2022

An Entrepreneurial Desire

Jason Zhang's interest in food science led him to the University of Missouri.

Sep. 19, 2022

MU Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Farm Gearing up for Missouri Chestnut Roast

Staff of the University of Missouri’s Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Farm in New Franklin have been hard at work in anticipation of welcoming crowds of people for its annual, signature event, the Missouri Chestnut Roast Festival. “This is such a fun event for us,” said Center for Agroforestry Director Sarah Lovell. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to introduce Missourians to the agricultural products that set our state apart in a fun and engaging way.” This year’s event will take place 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1, and will include crowd favorite activities such as roasted chestnut samples, kids activities…