Plant Physiology Expert Focused on Controlled Environment Crop Production and Hydroponic Plant Nutrient Management

Expertise

• Plant growth analysis, photosynthesis, nutrient uptake and metabolism of vegetation.
• Plant physiology and the study of biological processes which occur in plants.
• Chemical mass transport from soils to plants.
• Controlled environment crop production.
• Hydroponic plant nutrient management.
• Photosynthesis in plant systems and radiations absorption and sunlight capture.
• Photosynthesis incorporating protein distribution through the canopy and its acclimation to light, temperature and CO2.
• Research and study of the use of humic and fulvic acids to improve nutrient uptake in plants, including research on the beneficial effects of humic acid on micronutrient availability to wheat.
• Crop growth analysis and yields as related to nutrients, soils, radiations and plant species metabolism.

Experience

Undisclosed University, 1981 - Present

• Professor, Plants, Soils, and Climate Department, 1996
• Associate Professor, Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology Department, 1991 - 1995
• Assistant Professor, Plant Science Department, 1987 - 1990
• Research Assistant Professor, Plant Science Department, 1983 - 1986
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Plant Science Department, 1981 - 1982

Research

NASA, Principal Investigator

Projects:

• Ethylene synthesis and sensitivity in crop plants.
• Funded joint project with USDA, to improve the use of remote sensing for wheat production.
• Crop production optimization and failure analysis.
• Cooperative agreement - Model carbon, water and energy fluxes in crop plant canopies.
• Cooperative agreement - Effects of elevated CO2 and temperature on rice growth and yield.
• Cooperative agreement - Maximum yield of wheat.

INEEL (Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory), Principal Investigator

Projects:

• Study of Strontium uptake, distribution, and spectral reflectance characteristics in crested wheatgrass for use in phytoremediation.
• Study cesium phytoextraction: Interaction between soil chemistry and plant nutrition.
• Study the quantity and quality of exudates from crested wheat grass in sterile culture for use in phytoremediation.

EPA, Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator

• Through the Rocky Mountain Hazardous Substance Research Center, study the fate of trichloroethylene in plant/soil systems.
• Beneficial effects of vegetation in contaminated soils.
• Cooperative agreement - Effects of elevated CO2 and temperature on rice growth and yield.

Honors & Publications

Academic and Professional Affiliations

• Crop Science Society of America
• American Society of Agronomy
• American Society for Horticultural Science
• American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology
• Association of Education and Research Greenhouse Curators

National Committee Appointments

• Invited to serve on a National Research Council Committee to review NASA.
• Invited to serve on the American Association of Biological Sciences Advisory panel to review research proposals.

Awards

• Researcher of the Year, College of Agriculture.
• Outstanding Graduate Mentor, Utah State University.
• Top Professor Award, Utah State University.
• Nominated for National Science Foundation "Presidential Young Investigator Award."

Publications and Patents

• Author and Co-Author of text book chapters, refereed journals, conferences, and Book Editor.

Education

• Ph.D. Horticulture- Emphasis: Crop Physiology, Penn State University, PA
• M.S. University of California, Davis, CA
• B.S. University of Minnesota, MO