Jhala Weed Management Lab

Team Members

Group of six men in red shirts standing in a field under cloudy skies near a red Nebraska banner.

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Amit Jhala

Jhala Weed Management Lab

Amit J. Jhala

Associate Department Head, Professor, Extension Weed Management Specialist

Research focus: Weed Management

Email: amit.jhala@unl.edu

More Information

PH.D. STUDENTS

  1. Avatar for Sai Suvidh Maddela
    Graduate Research Asst Agronomy & Horticulture University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Work
    Phone
    Work 402-472-1408 On-campus 2-1408
    Email
    smaddela2@huskers.unl.edu
    Website
    Website

Hometown: Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Degrees:

  • Ph.D. Student, Agronomy and Horticulture (Weed Science), University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA
  • M.S. Plant Science (Hemp agronomy), Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN, USA, 2023
  • B.S. (Hons.) Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences Raichur, Karnataka, India, 2019

Research focus:

  • Management of herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth in sorghum.
  • Comparison of root architecture of Palmer amaranth, waterhemp, and common lambsquarters.
  • Meta analysis

Office: 176 Keim Hall, East Campus

Email: smaddela2@huskers.unl.edu

  1. Avatar for Ankit Yadav
    Graduate Research Asst Agronomy & Horticulture University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Work
    Phone
    Work 402-472-1534 On-campus 2-1534
    Email
    ayadav5@huskers.unl.edu
    Website
    Website

Hometown: Haryana, India

Degrees:

  • Ph.D. Student, Agronomy and Horticulture (Weed Science), Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE, USA   
  • M.S. Weed Science, Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture, Auburn University, AL, USA, 2024
  • B.S. (Hons.) Agriculture, College of Agriculture, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Haryana, India, 2022

Research Focus:

  • Evaluating different spray adjuvants with new herbicides for ideal efficacy
  • Evaluating new herbicides for crop safety in specialty corn.
  • Integrated weed management in soybean and edamame.
  • Herbicide resistance screening

Office: 176 Keim Hall, East Campus

Email: ayadav5@huskers.unl.edu

M.S. STUDENTS

  1. Avatar for Adam Brown
    Graduate Research Asst Agronomy & Horticulture University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Work
    Phone
    Work 402-472-1534 On-campus 2-1534
    Email
    abrown167@huskers.unl.edu
    Website

Hometown: Fort Collins, Colorado

Degrees:

  • M.S. Student, Agronomy and Horticulture (Weed Science), Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE
  • B.S. Biology and Environmental Science, Dordt University, Sioux Center, IA, 2026

Research Focus: 

  • Sustainable integrated weed management in corn and soybean systems
  • Herbicide resistance screening

Office: 176 Keim Hall, East Campus

Email: abrown167@unl.edu

  1. Avatar for Malemphane Mokoqola
    Graduate Studies, Weed Science Agronomy & Horticulture University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Work
    Email
    mmokoqola2@huskers.unl.edu
    Website

Hometown: Maseru, Lesotho

Degrees:

  • M.S Student, Agronomy and Horticulture (Weed Science), Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resource, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE
  • B.S Agriculture, National University of Lesotho, Maseru Lesotho, 2022

Research Focus:

  • Integrated management of herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth in innovative cropping systems in Nebraska.  

Office: 176 Keim Hall, East campus

Email: mmokoqola2@huskers.unl.edu

STAFF

  1. Avatar for Alex Chmielewski
    Rsch Technologist II Agronomy & Horticulture University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Work
    Phone
    Work 402-472-1534 On-campus 2-1534
    Email
    achmielewski2@unl.edu
    Website
    Website

Hometown: Lincoln, Nebraska

Degrees:

  • M.S. Student, Agronomy (Weed Science), College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE, 2027
  • B.S. Mechanized Systems Management, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE, 2019

Research Technologist:

  • Perform field activities such as tillage, planting, spraying, and harvesting
  • Maintain equipment and ensure necessary supplies are available
  • Work with graduate students to perform research and accomplish tasks

Office: 384 Plant Sciences Hall, East Campus

Email: achmielewski2@unl.edu

PAST TEAM MEMBERS

  • Vipin Kumar – Ph.D. (2025); Current Position: Senior Field Biologist, BASF, Story City, Iowa
  • Mandeep Singh – Ph.D. (2024); Current Position: Agronomy Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension
  • Ian Rogers – Ph.D. (2015); Author and Editor
  • Ramandeep Kaur – Ph.D. (2023)
  • William Neels – M.S. (2022); Progressive grower near Nebraska City, Nebraska
  • Trey Stephens – M.S. (2023); Agronomist with Beck's Hybrid, Seward County, Nebraska
  • Jasmine Mausbach – M.S. (2019 to 2021); Current Position: Research Technologist, Weed Science Program, University of Illinois
  • Adam Striegel – M.S. (2018 to 2020); Current Position: Crop Protection TDR (Western Iowa), Bayer Crop Science
  • Clint Beiermann – Ph.D. Student (2016 to 2020); Current Position: Assistant Professor, Forage Crop Production & Weed Management, University of Wyoming
  • Ethann Barnes – M.S. (2016 to 2018); Ph.D. (2017 to 2019); Current Position: Project Lead, North America Corn Herbicides, BASF, RTP, North Carolina
  • Jose De Sanctis – M.S. (2018 to 2020); Current Position: Agronomist, Bayer, Iowa
  • Adam Leise – Undergraduate Student (2017 to 2020); Volunteer at FOCUS Program, ND; Current Position: Director, On-farm research, UNL Extension
  • Murtaza Nalwala – Undergraduate Student (2017 to 2019); Current Position: MS Student & Project Manager/Civil Engineer, UNL
  • Jared Stander – Undergraduate Student (2018); Current Position: Undergraduate Student, UNL
  • Amy Hauver – Graduate Intern: 2017 to 2018
  • Parminder Singh Chahal – MS Student (2013 to 2014); Ph.D. Student (2014 to 2017); Postdoctoral Fellow (2017 to 2018); Current Position: Field Development Representative, FMC, NE
  • Zahoor Ganie – Ph.D. (2013 to 2016); Postdoctoral Fellow (2016 to 2018); Current Position: Global R & D Scientist, Herbicide Discovery Biology, FMC, DE
  • Debalin Sarangi – Ph.D. Student (2013 to 2017); Postdoctoral Fellow (2017 to 2018); Current Position: Assistant Professor & Extension Weed Scientist, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN
  • Jatinder Aulakh – Postdoctoral Research Fellow (March 2014 to July 2015); Current Position: Weed Scientist, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, CT.
  • Simranpreet Kaur – M.S. Student (Jan 2013 to Aug. 2015); Current Position: Technical Services Specialist, Synagro, CA.
  • Mason Adams – Undergraduate Student (2013 to 2015)
  • Bradley Meusch – Undergraduate Student (2014 to 2016)
  • Jacob Nikodym – Undergraduate Student (2015 to 2017)