Stories
April 12, 2024
Soyon Park receives Early Investigator Research Award from College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
Soyon Park, assistant professor of plant science and technology, has received the Early Investigator Research Award. Trained in plant molecular biology, Park’s expertise lies in chlorophyll degradation, plant-agrobacteria interactions, and host-parasitic plant interactions. Her research, published in prestigious journals like Plant Cell and Molecular Cell, focuses on understanding host and parasitic plant interactions, particularly with parasitic plants like Cuscuta and Phelipanche, aiming to devise effective control strategies to enhance crop yield. Notably, her lab developed a groundbreaking Cuscuta transformation method, bypassing the time-consuming tissue culture process. This achievement led to a $2 million NSF proposal with Park as the principal…
April 2, 2024
Plant Science and Technology professor named to Soil Health Institute board of directors
Rob Myers, extension professor in the Division of Plant Science and Technology, was announced as a new member of the Soil Health Institute board of directors. Rob Myers The Soil Health Institute is a global non-profit with a mission of safeguarding and enhancing the vitality and productivity of soils through scientific research and advancement. The Institute brings together leaders in science and industry to conduct research and empower farmers and landowners to adopt soil health systems that contribute economic and environmental benefits to agriculture and society. Myers appointment was effective April 1.
April 2, 2024
Bethany Bedeker Named Driver to Distinction
CAFNR Vice Chancellor and Dean Christopher Daubert surprised Bethany Bedeker, cover crop outreach manager, with the Driver to Distinction award at the faculty and staff meeting March 21, 2024, for her tireless work engaging with farmers as part of the Center for Regenerative Agriculture.
March 5, 2024
2024 CAFNR Joy of Discovery Seed Grant Program Winners Announced
The third 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. The following proposals were selected (listed by the PI, Co-PI/s and title of the project): Mandy Bish (Plant Science and Technology); Characterization of Soil Microbial Communities Across Ecoregions as a Step TowardsImproving Soil Health Indicators Gary Stacey (Plant Science and Technology), collaborator from Yeshiva University; Development of Novel Calcium Sensors Chung-Ho Lin (School of Natural Resources), Isa Kupke (School of Natural…
Jan. 26, 2024
Three CAFNR faculty awarded MU Research Council Grants
The University of Missouri’s Division of Research, Innovation and Impact awarded the second round of Research Council Grants in December to 16 faculty members, three of which call CAFNR home. The CAFNR faculty awarded and their projects are: Lesa Beamer, Professor, Biochemistry, Obtaining Preliminary Data on Enzyme Structure for CryoEM StudiesGlyphosate Dreams Samniqueka Halsey, Assistant Professor, Natural Resources, Identifying Tick-Borne Pathogen Prevalence Among Prairies in Central Missouri Zipei Zhang, Assistant Professor, Food Science, Development of Novel Bioflim Inactivation Adjuvants to Enhance Food Safety This internal funding of up to $15,000 supports research, scholarship and creative endeavors that lead to book…
Sep. 20, 2023
Two CAFNR Faculty Named as Curators’ Distinguished Professors
The University of Missouri Board of Curators recently named two CAFNR faculty members as Curators’ Distinguished Professors. The classification is the highest and most prestigious academic rank awarded by the Board of Curators.
Aug. 21, 2023
Mizzou Student Chapter of the American Institute of Floral Designers Win Awards at AIFD National Symposium in Chicago
The MU SAIFD Chapter placed 3rd in the nation in the student competition during the American Institute of Floral Designers National Symposium in Chicago, July 1-6.
June 8, 2023
Torq’N Tigers Teams take 2nd and 5th places at ASABE Quarter-Scale Tractor Competition
The University of Missouri Torq'N Tigers had two teams compete in the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) International Quarter-Scale Tractor Student Design Competition this month, with one being named Performance Event Winner.
May 31, 2023
Plant Sciences Professor Named Director of Plant Transformation Core Facility
Bing Yang, professor of plant science and technology, has been named director of Mizzou’s Plant Transformation Core Facility. Yang will begin this new role July 1. The goal of the Plant Transformation Core (PTC) at the University of Missouri is to enhance both basic and applied research in plant biology by providing fee-based plant transformation services. Currently, much of the transformation activities of the facility are focused on maize and soybean.
May 10, 2023
CAFNR Students Named Gilman Scholars
Allyson Sampson, senior in animal sciences; Dylan Stover, senior in agribusiness management and plant sciences; and Feather Teghtmeyer, senior in natural resource science and management; have received the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.