Nine Department of Agronomy and Horticulture faculty received promotion and/or tenure in 2023. They are among the 93 University of Nebraska–Lincoln faculty to be honored this year.
Sophie Alvarez promoted to research professor. Alvarez received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in cell biology and physiology at the University of Lille, France. She then earned a doctorate in plant biology in 2004 after studying cold acclimation in pea in the laboratory of Abiotic Stresses and Plant Differentiation in Lille 1. Alvarez joined the department as a research associate professor and the Center for Biotechnology as the director of the Proteomics and Metabolomics facility in 2015.
Alvarez’ research interest lies in developing and applying new proteomics and metabolomics methods using liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry to study a broad range of fields and applications, including crop breeding, plant biotechnology, food processing, biomarker discovery, toxicology and pharmacology. As the director of the Proteomics and Metabolomics facility, she runs a successful internationally reaching core facility that serves the scientific community in providing tools and expertise in the fields of proteomics and metabolomics, and establishing specialized methods for the analysis of proteins and a wide range of metabolites.
She has worked with over 500 users on over 1,400 projects while at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She has authored over 75 articles published in international peer-review journals, and is also very active in education and outreach efforts. Alvarez also serves as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of MDPI (Methods and Protocols) and Frontiers in Plant Science.
Andrea Basche promoted to associate professor and granted tenure. Basche received a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences and philosophy from Fordham University. She earned a master’s degree in applied climate science from Columbia University and a doctorate in crop production and physiology and sustainable agriculture from Iowa State University. Basche joined the department faculty as an assistant professor in cropping systems in 2017.
Basche has a primary teaching appointment and instructs Plant and Landscape Systems 204 Resource Efficient Crop Management, 405 Crop Management Strategies and 425 Cover Crops in Agroecosystems. She includes multi-dimensional elements of modern agriculture, with an emphasis on topics such as soil conservation and profitability, through engaging teaching strategies such as outside of the classroom activities and interactions with various stakeholders. Her research team studies several aspects of diversified cropping systems including carbon and nitrogen cycling, water and weed dynamics, as well as policy and human decision-making.
She is a nationally recognized leader on cover crops, soil health and climate change, and has delivered over 65 invited presentations and interviews to a range of audiences — from Science Friday to BBC Future to AgPhD radio. She has developed courses for students and professional development for her peers on diversity, equity and inclusion topics to support a more inclusive agricultural field. She was recently recognized by the American Society of Agronomy with the 2022 Early Career Award.
Jinliang Yang promoted to associate professor and granted tenure. Yang received a Bachelor of Science in bioengineering and a Master of Science in biochemistry and molecular biology from China Agricultural University. He earned a doctorate in interdepartmental genetics from Iowa State University. He joined the department faculty as an assistant professor in plant quantitative and statistical genomics in 2017.
His research and teaching focus on quantitative genetics and bridging the gap between genotypes and phenotypes. Yang’s lab is currently integrating various genetic approaches, including conventional breeding, genomic selection and gene editing techniques, to enhance nitrogen use efficiency in crops like maize and sorghum. By identifying key plant genes or QTLs involved in nitrogen assimilation, transport and signaling, his lab aims to develop more sustainable agriculture systems with low nitrogen input. Additionally, his research involves the integration of high-throughput phenotyping technologies and remote-sensing data to monitor crop responses under high nitrogen and low nitrogen field conditions for different maize and sorghum genotypes.
Patricio Grassini promoted to professor. Grassini received a Bachelor of Science in agricultural engineering from the University of Buenos Aires and a doctorate in agronomy from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He joined the department in 2011 as a postdoctoral research associate and then a non-tenure research assistant professor before becoming an assistant professor and systems agronomist in 2013. He was promoted to associate professor and granted tenure in 2018. Grassini was appointed the Sunkist Bowl Distinguished Professorship in Agronomy in 2022.
His research and extension programs focus on narrowing the existing yield gap between potential yields and current farm yields, while improving resource-use efficiency and producer profit and minimizing the environmental footprint. Grassini’s applied research covers a diverse range of cropping systems, including rainfed and irrigated grain crops in South America, the U.S. Corn Belt, and Asia, and oil palm in Southeast Asia. Major on-going projects include the Global Yield Gap Atlas (www.yieldgap.org), which provides estimates of gaps between actual and potential yield for major cropping systems, an initiative to improve productivity and reduce environmental footprint associated with smallholder oil palm production in Southeast Asia, and a project to study interactions between croplands and urban areas funded by NSF.
Grassini has authored over 100 articles published in international peer-review journals, including top-tier journals such as “Nature Communications,” “Nature Sustainability,” and “PNAS.” He has been listed within the top 1% Most Highly Cited Researchers in the discipline in the world during the last four years. He also serves as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Field Crops Research and Global Food Security journals.
Amit Jhala promoted to professor. Jhala received a Bachelor of Science in agriculture from Gujarat Agricultural University, India, and a Master of Science in weed science from Anand Agricultural University, India. He completed his doctoral degree in plant science and weed science from the University of Alberta, Canada. Jhala joined the department faculty in 2012 as an assistant professor and extension weed management specialist. He was promoted to associate professor and granted tenure in 2018.
He is known world-wide for his research on pollen-mediated gene flow from herbicide resistant crops and weeds. His research focuses on the biology, pollen-mediated gene flow and management of herbicide-resistant weeds. This research is extremely important as six broadleaf weeds have evolved resistance to glyphosate — the most commonly used herbicide in Nebraska corn and soybean production.
Jhala’s weed science extension program reaches several thousand clientele in Nebraska each year and beyond to solve weed-related problems in corn, soybean, sorghum and popcorn. His team demonstrates trials of new herbicides, multiple herbicide-resistant crops and how to manage herbicide-resistant weeds. These events, attended by growers, crop consultants, industry representatives and Nebraska’s commodity board members, provide unbiased information about weed control.
Jhala is also committed to mentoring students, graduating eight master’s and four doctoral students so far.
Dipak Santra promoted to professor. Santra received a Bachelor of Science from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (West Bengal State Agricultural University), India, and a Master of Science from Assam Agricultural University, India. He earned a doctorate from the University of Pune, India, and Washington State University. Santra joined the department faculty as an assistant professor and alternative crops breeding specialist at the Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center in Scottsbluff in 2008. He was promoted to associate professor and granted tenure in 2014.
Santra’s research focus is development and enhancement of varieties of new and existing alternative crops (proso millet, field pea, canola) for sustainable production under dryland farming conditions in the northern high plains of the United States.
His extension work supports Nebraska dryland crop producers with multiple choices of alternative crops to diversify crop rotation. Extension program deliverables are field days, extension meeting and extension publications focusing on cultivars and production technology of alternative crops.
Dirac Twidwell promoted to professor. Twidwell received a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences from Missouri University of Science and Technology and a Master of Science in rangeland ecology and management from Oklahoma State University. He earned a doctorate in ecosystem science and management from Texas A&M University. Twidwell joined the department faculty as an assistant professor and rangeland ecologist in 2013. He was promoted to associate professor and granted tenure in 2018.
Twidwell is an ecologist focused on the sustainability of rangeland, forest and agricultural systems. His program has brought to light new changes occurring in Great Plains systems that impact the quality of life of current and future generations. This has led to a creative and innovative program on large-scale resilience science and planning, which has sparked diverse partnerships spanning university, agency and landowner experts that work together to re-evaluate existing policies and programs and halt key sources of environmental degradation.
He has spent years researching and combating the decline of grasslands, especially the Nebraska Sandhills. Twidwell and his colleague, Dillon Fogarty, published a guidebook for managing woody invasions and sustaining the iconic grassland regions of the Great Plains. His efforts have contributed to the Great Plains Grasslands Initiative across multiple states.
Carlos Urrea promoted to professor. Urrea received a Bachelor of Science in agronomy from the National University of Colombia and a Master of Science in agronomy from the University of Puerto Rico. He earned a doctorate in plant breeding and genetics from North Dakota State University. Urrea joined the department faculty as an assistant professor and dry bean breeding specialist at the Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center in Scottsbluff in 2005. He was promoted to associate professor and granted tenure in 2011.
His program’s primary goal is breeding better bean varieties for Nebraska, one of the nation’s leading bean-producing states. Urrea’s research focuses on developing well-adapted dry bean and chickpea cultivars/germplasm with high yield potential, multiple disease resistance, water use efficiency and desirable agronomic characteristics to enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of the Nebraska dry bean industry. These breeding efforts are ongoing and involve six different market classes.
He has been working for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for 18 years and his publication credits include more than 60 papers published in peer-reviewed journals and two book chapters. He has released five and one dry bean and chickpea cultivars; and five and one dry bean and chickpea germplasm lines.
He has mentored and graduated two doctoral and two master’s students so far and mentors one or two undergraduate students yearly, each summer.
Stacy Adams promoted to professor of practice. Adams received a Bachelor of Science in horticulture from Kansas State University and a Master of Science in horticulture from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Adams joined the horticulture department staff at Nebraska as a greenhouse manager and he was later given additional responsibilities as a field research manager. He joined the agronomy and horticulture faculty as an assistant professor of practice in 2009. He was promoted to associate professor of practice in 2012.
Adams’ focus is teaching, instructing Horticulture Plant Science Labs, courses in Floral Design I and II, Greenhouse Management, Hydroponics for Growing Populations, Ornamental Plant Production and Seasonal Plant Production.
He provides extension programs in hydroponics, greenhouse operation, protected plant production tools, floral design and youth agricultural programs. He is the floriculture superintendent for the Nebraska State FFA Career Leadership and Development Events and assists Nebraska middle and high school educators in planning and using greenhouses to support STEM education.
