Fourteen graduate students win big in agronomy and horticulture awards

By Scout Nelson

The Department of Agronomy and Horticulture at the University of Nebraska has seen a commendable number of its graduate students receiving awards and fellowships for their exceptional research work.

These honors come from respected entities such as the Agricultural Research Division, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, and others, acknowledging the students' contributions to advancing agricultural sciences.

Shohei Oguro stood out with the Hardin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship for his research in plant physiology. Ramandeep Kaur and Roberta Bianchin Rebesquini both received the John and Louise Skala Fellowship for their work on agricultural product industrial uses and cropping systems, respectively. Tauana Ferreira de Almeida's research on cover crops earned her the Shear-Miles Agricultural Fellowship.

Rana Farrasati, Ishani Lal, Luzviminda Sazon, and Nikee Shrestha were each recipient of the Widaman Distinguished Graduate Assistant Award for their various research projects in basic agriculture. Farrasati also took home the People’s Choice Award at the Water for Food Global Conference Poster Competition.

Michael Tross was recognized with the Life Sciences Fellowship for his work with AI in interpreting complex sensor data. Jensina Davis received the Moseman Fellowship, highlighting her computational approach to sustainable agriculture.

Pratiksha Baishya was awarded the Farmers National Fellowship for her research on proso millet as a climate-resilient crop. Mandeep Singh's focus on herbicide-resistant corn volunteers secured him the Milton Mohr Fellowship.

Lastly, Stephanie Lugo, honored with a Chancellor’s Fellowship, is studying post-fire soil health, and Vinicius Zuppa received the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Graduate Student Grant for his work on wheat stem sawfly infestations.

These awards reflect the broad spectrum of research conducted by the students, ranging from genetic plant breeding, weed and pest management, soil health, to sustainable cropping systems and the use of artificial intelligence in agriculture.

Their achievements not only contribute to their personal academic careers but also to the broader goal of enhancing agricultural practices and sustainability.

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