LINCOLN, Neb., July 24, 2026 — Nine graduate students in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture have been honored with fellowships and awards for the 2026-27 academic year.
Ankit Yadav
Ankit Yadav is a second-year doctoral student in Amit Jhala’s weed science program with a research specialization on integrated weed management in soybeans, popcorn, sweet corn and edamame. He also screens row crop weeds for herbicide resistance and evaluates new herbicides.
Yadav is the recipient of three awards:
- Dean’s Fellowship — This university–wide award is given to advanced masters or doctoral students.
- Milton E. Mohr Biotech Award from the Nebraska Center for Biotechnology — This award recognizes students in the sciences of biotechnology and engineering based on their academic performance and potential for accomplishments in their specific field.
- The John and Louise Skala Fellowship — This award recognizes exceptional graduate students engaged in research areas relating the new industrial uses of agricultural products; funds are used to supplement existing assistantships.
Akashdeep Kamboj
Akashdeep Kamboj is a PhD candidate in the Small Grains Breeding and Genetics program where he is advised by Katherine Frels and Blaine E. Johnson. His doctoral research focuses on studying hybrid wheat yield stability and genotype-by environment interactions to improve breeding through genomic and phenomic prediction.
Kamboj is the recipient of the Gerald O. Mott Meritorius Graduate Student Award, which recognizes top graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in crop science disciplines. Students are selected based on academic achievements, research and teaching contributions, leadership accomplishments, service activities, and personal qualifications.
Hannah Allen
Hannah Allen is a first-year PhD candidate and graduate research assistant currently studying range and forage science, with a research focus primarily on cattle grazing behavior. Her advisors are Dan Uden and Mitch Stephenson.
Allen received the university’s Othmer Fellowship, a substantial monetary award intended to assist in recruiting exceptional scholars seeking a terminal degree.
Kaeley Meyer
Kaeley Meyer is a master’s student in agronomy and horticulture as well as a graduate research assistant. Advised by Samuel Wortman and involved in his Grow Local Innovation Lab, Meyer’s research focus is on biobased alternative to plastic for fruit and vegetable transplant production and management.
Meyer was awarded the Chancellor’s Fellowship, an awarded designed to assist departments with the recruitment of superior graduate students by adding fellowship funds to an assistantship.
Thyago Matos Jr.
Thyago Matos Jr. is a graduate research assistant and master’s student in crop physiology and production under the advisement of Cody Creech and Amanda Easterly.
He is the recipient of the Larrick Travel Award for the 2026 CANVAS meeting, the premier joint annual global conference hosted by the American Society of Agronomy, the Crops Science Sciety of America and the Soil Science Society of America.
Rasel Ahmed
Rasel Ahmed is the second graduate student to receive the Milton E. Mohr Biotech Award from the Nebraska Center for Biotechnology. Ahmed is a fourth-year graduate student in the complex biosystems PhD program. He focuses on basic research into the evolution of plant mitochondrial genomes and their roles in plant function, development and adaptation.
FNU Dipanshu
FNU Dipanshu is a graduate research assistant studying agronomy with a specialization in plant breeding and genetics, advised by Harkamal Walia.
Dipanshu was third place in the Flash Talk Competition at the 2026 Nebraska Plant Science Symposium for her presentation, “Mapping the Panicle: A 3D look into the grain filling dynamics of Rice.”
Sai Subhash Mahamkali Venkata Subramanyam
Sai Subhash Mahamkali Venkata Subramanyam is a PhD student in the complex biosystems program specializing in integrated plant biology under the advisement of Jinliang Yang. His research combines plant genomics, quantitative genetics, and greenhouse and field experiments to understand nitrogen-use efficiency and adaptation in sorghum and identify traits that can support the development of more nitrogen-efficient crops.
- Long Talk Presentation Award, 2026 Nebraska Plant Science Symposium — Received second place for a presentation on nitrogen adaptation and nitrogen-use efficiency in sorghum.
- Travel Award, 2026 University of Minnesota Plant Sciences Symposium — Received a competitive travel award and was selected to present a lightning talk on how selection has shaped nitrogen-use efficiency in sorghum.
Harshita Mangal
Harshita Mangal is a PhD candidate advised by James C. Schnable and works in his lab. Her research focus is on understanding the genetic basis of complex traits in sorghum, with an emphasis on integrating genomics, transcriptomics, and quantitive genetics to study nitrogen response, stress adaptation and trait improvement for crop breeding.
She is the recipient of several awards from the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Center for Plant Science Innovation:
- The PSI Heuermann Research Idea Award — This award supports innovative plant science research projects of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
- The PSI Heuermann Graduate Research Award — This award honors students who have distinguished themselves in terms of research productivity, professional accomplishments and public service to their profession.
- David H. and Annie E. Larrick Graduate Student Travel Award — Granted on a competitive basis, this award provides funding for graduate students who are personally presenting the results of their research and/or scholarly activity at professional meetings.
- Hardin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship — This award is meant to support research in plant physiology with particular emphasis on genetic mechanisms influencing plant responses to stress conditions.
