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N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative

Research Expertise

The N.C. Plant Science Initiative (N.C. PSI) brings together researchers from across multiple colleges at NC State to address the most pressing issues in agriculture. Through their research and expertise, they are increasing crop yields, creating new varieties, extending growing seasons, enhancing agricultural and environmental sustainability, and producing new and improved technology.

Areas of Expertise

Explore our faculty by their areas of expertise below.

Agricultural & Resource EconomicsAgronomy & Crop ProductionAI & Machine Learning
BioinformaticsClimate Change & Carbon SequestrationControlled Environment Agriculture
Data Analytics & ManagementExtension & Stakeholder EngagementField-based Research & Trials
GenomicsHigh Throughput PhenotypingImaging Systems
Material Sciences & NanomaterialsMolecular BiologyMulti-scale Modeling
Pest Resilience & ManagementPlant BreedingPlant Pathology
Plant PhysiologyProteomics & MetabolomicsRegulatory Sciences
Risk SciencesSensor DevelopmentSystems Biology

behind our research

Anna Stepanova and a researcher in a growth chamber

Research Projects

Interdisciplinary research teams address plant improvement, data-driven plant science and resilient agricultural systems.

Read more 
PSB greenhouse

Facilities

Top-notch research facilities provide a direct competitive advantage for our innovative research.

Enabling next-generation science 
Researcher tests growing substrate

Commercialization

We help entrepreneurs get great ideas to market.

Where startups get their start 

Agricultural & Resource Economics

AG
Alejandro Gutierrez-Li
Alejandro Gutierrez-Li

Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

RR
Roderick Headshot
Roderick Rejesus

Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

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Agronomy & Crop Production

TK
Tom Kon
Tom Kon

Department of Horticultural Science

CR
Chris Reberg-Horton Headshot
Chris Reberg-Horton

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

919-515-7597
MS
Michelle Headshot
Michelle Schroeder-Moreno

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

919-513-2598
DS
David Suchoff
David Suchoff

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

(919) 515-4792
RV
Rachel Vann Headshot
Rachel Vann

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

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AI & Machine Learning

MK
Michael Kudenov Headshot
Michael Kudenov

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

CR
Chris Reberg-Horton Headshot
Chris Reberg-Horton

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

919-515-7597
CW
Cranos Williams Headshot
Cranos Williams

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

919-513-1923
LX
Lirong Xiang
Lirong Xiang

Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering

919-515-6740
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Bioinformatics

GB
Gina Brown-Guedira Headshot
Gina Brown-Guedira

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

RD
Ralph Dean headshot
Ralph Dean

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

919-513-0020
JG
Joe Gage headshot
Joseph Gage

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

AH
Amanda Hulse-Kemp Headshot
Amanda Hulse-Kemp

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

919-513-2037
NN
natalie nelson
Natalie Nelson

Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering

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Climate Change & Carbon Sequestration

RR
Roderick Headshot
Roderick Rejesus

Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

JS
Joe Sagues
Joe Sagues

Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering

JW
Jack Wang headshot
Jack Wang

Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources

919-513-0015
AW
Alex Woodley Headshot
Alex Woodley

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

CD
Colleen Doherty
Colleen Doherty

Department of Plant and Microbial Biology

NN
natalie nelson
Natalie Nelson

Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering

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Controlled Environment Agriculture

RH
Ricardo Headshot
Ricardo Hernandez

Department of Horticultural Science

MH
Mark Hoffman Headshot
Mark Hoffmann

Department of Horticultural Science

919-352-8006
KS
Katharina Stapelmann Headshot
Katharina Stapelmann

Department of Nuclear Engineering

919-515-5987
CW
Cranos Williams Headshot
Cranos Williams

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

919-513-1923
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Data Analytics & Management

DJ
Dani Jones Headshot
Daniela Jones

Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering

CJ
Chris Jones
Chris Jones

Center for Geospatial Analytics

RM
Ross Meentemeyer
Ross Meentemeyer

Center for Geospatial Analytics

CW
Cranos Williams Headshot
Cranos Williams

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

919-513-1923
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Extension & Stakeholder Engagement

MC
Maude Cuchiara headshot
Maude Cuchiara

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

KG
Khara Grieger Headshot
Khara Grieger

Department of Applied Ecology

AG
Alejandro Gutierrez-Li
Alejandro Gutierrez-Li

Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

MH
Mark Hoffman Headshot
Mark Hoffmann

Department of Horticultural Science

919-352-8006
AH
Anders Huseth headshot
Anders Huseth

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

919-515-8346
TK
Tom Kon
Tom Kon

Department of Horticultural Science

LQ
Lina Quesada Headshot
Lina Quesada

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

919-513-3530
CR
Chris Reberg-Horton Headshot
Chris Reberg-Horton

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

919-515-7597
RR
Roderick Headshot
Roderick Rejesus

Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

MS
Michelle Headshot
Michelle Schroeder-Moreno

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

919-513-2598
DS
Danesha headshot
Danesha Seth Carley

Department of Horticultural Science

919-513-8189
DS
David Suchoff
David Suchoff

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

(919) 515-4792
RV
Rachel Vann Headshot
Rachel Vann

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

JW
Justin Whitehill Headshot
Justin Whitehill

Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources

919-515-5851
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Field-based Research & Trials

MH
Mark Hoffman Headshot
Mark Hoffmann

Department of Horticultural Science

919-352-8006
AH
Anders Huseth headshot
Anders Huseth

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

919-515-8346
TK
Tom Kon
Tom Kon

Department of Horticultural Science

MK
Michael Kudenov Headshot
Michael Kudenov

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

AL
Anna Locke Headshot
Anna Locke

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

919-515-6996
LQ
Lina Quesada Headshot
Lina Quesada

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

919-513-3530
CR
Chris Reberg-Horton Headshot
Chris Reberg-Horton

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

919-515-7597
DS
David Suchoff
David Suchoff

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

(919) 515-4792
RV
Rachel Vann Headshot
Rachel Vann

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

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Genomics

RB
Barrangou Headshot
Rodolphe Barrangou

Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences

GB
Gina Brown-Guedira Headshot
Gina Brown-Guedira

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

RD
Ralph Dean headshot
Ralph Dean

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

919-513-0020
JG
Joe Gage headshot
Joseph Gage

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

AG
Amy Grunden headshot
Amy Grunden

Department of Plant and Microbial Biology

919-513-4295
JH
Jim Holland Headshot
Jim Holland

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

919-513-2162
AH
Amanda Hulse-Kemp Headshot
Amanda Hulse-Kemp

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

919-513-2037
FI
Fikret Isik
Fikret Isik

Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources

919-449-6891
TL
Terri Long Headshot
Terri Long

Department of Plant and Microbial Biology

LQ
Lina Quesada Headshot
Lina Quesada

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

919-513-3530
JR
Jean Ristaino Headshot
Jean Ristaino

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

919-515-3257
KS
Kelly Sides Headshot
Kelly Sides

The Genomic Sciences Laboratory (GSL)

919-513-2012
RS
ross Sozzani Headshot
Ross Sozzani

Department of Plant and Microbial Biology

919-515-3806
JW
Jack Wang headshot
Jack Wang

Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources

919-513-0015
JW
Justin Whitehill Headshot
Justin Whitehill

Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources

919-515-5851
CY
Craig Yencho headshot
Craig Yencho

Department of Horticultural Science

919-513-7417
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High Throughput Phenotyping

GB
Gina Brown-Guedira Headshot
Gina Brown-Guedira

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

JG
Joe Gage headshot
Joseph Gage

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

JH
Jim Holland Headshot
Jim Holland

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

919-513-2162
KS
Kelly Sides Headshot
Kelly Sides

The Genomic Sciences Laboratory (GSL)

919-513-2012
CY
Craig Yencho headshot
Craig Yencho

Department of Horticultural Science

919-513-7417
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Imaging Systems

MK
Michael Kudenov Headshot
Michael Kudenov

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

CR
Chris Reberg-Horton Headshot
Chris Reberg-Horton

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

919-515-7597
RS
ross Sozzani Headshot
Ross Sozzani

Department of Plant and Microbial Biology

919-515-3806
MZ
Mariusz Headshot
Mariusz Zareba

Cellular and Molecular Imaging Facility (CMIF)

919-513-2027
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Material Sciences & Nanomaterials

MC
Maude Cuchiara headshot
Maude Cuchiara

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

JJ
Jacob Jones headshot
Jacob Jones

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

QW
Qingshan Wei Headshot
Qingshan Wei

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

919-515-3154
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Molecular Biology

RB
Barrangou Headshot
Rodolphe Barrangou

Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences

RD
Ralph Dean headshot
Ralph Dean

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

919-513-0020
AG
Amy Grunden headshot
Amy Grunden

Department of Plant and Microbial Biology

919-513-4295
TL
Terri Long Headshot
Terri Long

Department of Plant and Microbial Biology

LQ
Lina Quesada Headshot
Lina Quesada

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

919-513-3530
JW
Jack Wang headshot
Jack Wang

Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources

919-513-0015
QW
Qingshan Wei Headshot
Qingshan Wei

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

919-515-3154
Back to Top 

Multi-scale Modeling

DJ
Dani Jones Headshot
Daniela Jones

Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering

JK
Jordan Kern
Jordan Kern

Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources

919-515-3617
CS
Chadi Sayde
Chadi Sayde

Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering

919-515-6702
RS
ross Sozzani Headshot
Ross Sozzani

Department of Plant and Microbial Biology

919-515-3806
CW
Cranos Williams Headshot
Cranos Williams

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

919-513-1923
Back to Top 

Pest Resilience & Management

AH
Anders Huseth headshot
Anders Huseth

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

919-515-8346
CJ
Chris Jones
Chris Jones

Center for Geospatial Analytics

RM
Ross Meentemeyer
Ross Meentemeyer

Center for Geospatial Analytics

DS
Danesha headshot
Danesha Seth Carley

Department of Horticultural Science

919-513-8189
Back to Top 

Plant Breeding

RB
Barrangou Headshot
Rodolphe Barrangou

Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences

RH
Ricardo Headshot
Ricardo Hernandez

Department of Horticultural Science

MH
Mark Hoffman Headshot
Mark Hoffmann

Department of Horticultural Science

919-352-8006
JH
Jim Holland Headshot
Jim Holland

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

919-513-2162
AH
Amanda Hulse-Kemp Headshot
Amanda Hulse-Kemp

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

919-513-2037
FI
Fikret Isik
Fikret Isik

Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources

919-449-6891
JW
Justin Whitehill Headshot
Justin Whitehill

Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources

919-515-5851
CY
Craig Yencho headshot
Craig Yencho

Department of Horticultural Science

919-513-7417
Back to Top 

Plant Pathology

RD
Ralph Dean headshot
Ralph Dean

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

919-513-0020
LQ
Lina Quesada Headshot
Lina Quesada

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

919-513-3530
JR
Jean Ristaino Headshot
Jean Ristaino

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

919-515-3257
QW
Qingshan Wei Headshot
Qingshan Wei

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

919-515-3154
Back to Top 

Plant Physiology

RH
Ricardo Headshot
Ricardo Hernandez

Department of Horticultural Science

MH
Mark Hoffman Headshot
Mark Hoffmann

Department of Horticultural Science

919-352-8006
AL
Anna Locke Headshot
Anna Locke

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

919-515-6996
RS
ross Sozzani Headshot
Ross Sozzani

Department of Plant and Microbial Biology

919-515-3806
Back to Top 

Proteomics & Metabolomics

AG
Amy Grunden headshot
Amy Grunden

Department of Plant and Microbial Biology

919-513-4295
CW
Cranos Williams Headshot
Cranos Williams

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

919-513-1923
TW
Taufika-Williams Headshot
Taufika Williams

The Molecular Education, Technology and Research Innovation Center (METRIC)

919-513-7791
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Regulatory Sciences

KG
Khara Grieger Headshot
Khara Grieger

Department of Applied Ecology

DS
Danesha headshot
Danesha Seth Carley

Department of Horticultural Science

919-513-8189
Back to Top 

Risk Sciences

KG
Khara Grieger Headshot
Khara Grieger

Department of Applied Ecology

JK
Jordan Kern
Jordan Kern

Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources

919-515-3617
Back to Top 

Sensor Development

MK
Michael Kudenov Headshot
Michael Kudenov

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

OO
Omer Oralkan
Omer Oralkan

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

919-513-7847
CR
Chris Reberg-Horton Headshot
Chris Reberg-Horton

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

919-515-7597
JR
Jean Ristaino Headshot
Jean Ristaino

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

919-515-3257
CS
Chadi Sayde
Chadi Sayde

Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering

919-515-6702
QW
Qingshan Wei Headshot
Qingshan Wei

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

919-515-3154
Back to Top 

Systems Biology

TL
Terri Long Headshot
Terri Long

Department of Plant and Microbial Biology

NN
natalie nelson
Natalie Nelson

Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering

JP
Josh Pierce
Josh Pierce

Department of Chemistry

919-513-1489
RS
ross Sozzani Headshot
Ross Sozzani

Department of Plant and Microbial Biology

919-515-3806
CW
Cranos Williams Headshot
Cranos Williams

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

919-513-1923
Back to Top 

NC PSI Research News

More News
Enrique Pena's winning photo of farmworkers harvesting sweetpotatoes

The Hands That Feed Us

Alejandro Gutierrez-Li leads the Agricultural Labor Extension Program, a novel and unique effort to address labor issues in North Carolina and the Southeast. 
fiber hemp

Field to Fabric: The Journey of Fiber Hemp from Tobacco to Textiles

David Suchoff is leading a five-year grant to study how fiber hemp can act as an alternative to tobacco while taking advantage of North Carolina’s robust textile industry. 
cattle

N.C. PSI Faculty Member Wins Grant to Study Labor Issues Affecting Cattle and Dairy Farms in the South

Alejandro Gutierrez-Li, the agricultural labor extension specialist, was awarded a SARE grant to study labor issues on cattle and dairy farms in the South.