{"id":1639,"date":"2020-03-19T18:35:08","date_gmt":"2020-03-19T18:35:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi-new\/?page_id=1639"},"modified":"2026-04-20T17:33:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T21:33:03","slug":"research-programs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/research\/research-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Programs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n<p>What we Think and Do drives innovation in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/plant-improvement\/\">plant improvement<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/data-driven-plant-science\/\">data-driven plant science<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/resilient-agricultural-systems\/\">resilient agricultural systems<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn more about our interdisciplinary research teams and their extraordinary impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-ncst-link-list ncst-link-list layout-two-column\"><h2 class=\"link-list-section__heading\">N.C. PSI RESEARCH PROGRAMS<\/h2><div class=\"link-list__container\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-ncst-bold-link ncst-component__bold-link-container\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/research-programs\/#PSB-centers\" class=\"ncst-component__bold-link text-link\" data-ua-cat=\"Bold Link Block\" data-ua-action=\"Bold Link Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/research-programs\/#PSB-centers\"><span class=\"text\">PSI-Hosted Centers &amp; Consortiums<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-ncst-bold-link ncst-component__bold-link-container\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/research-programs\/#PSI-other\" class=\"ncst-component__bold-link text-link\" data-ua-cat=\"Bold Link Block\" data-ua-action=\"Bold Link Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/research-programs\/#PSI-other\"><span class=\"text\">Multi-Institutional PSI Research Programs<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-ncst-bold-link ncst-component__bold-link-container\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/research-programs\/#PSB-labs\" class=\"ncst-component__bold-link text-link\" data-ua-cat=\"Bold Link Block\" data-ua-action=\"Bold Link Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/research-programs\/#PSB-labs\"><span class=\"text\">Labs in the Plant Sciences Building<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-ncst-bold-link ncst-component__bold-link-container\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/research-programs\/#grip4psi\" class=\"ncst-component__bold-link text-link\" data-ua-cat=\"Bold Link Block\" data-ua-action=\"Bold Link Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/research-programs\/#grip4psi\"><span class=\"text\">Seed-funding Projects (GRIP4PSI)<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/a> <\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"PSB-centers\">PSI-Hosted Centers &amp; Consortiums<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"CEFS\">Center for Environmental Farming Systems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Creating a future of vibrant farms, resilient ecosystems and strong communities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Co-Director: Michelle Schroeder-Moreno<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>CEFS is one of the nation\u2019s most important centers for research, extension and education in sustainable agriculture and community-based food systems. It is recognized as a national and international leader in the local foods movement and celebrated for its work in building consensus around policies, programs and actions. CEFS\u2019 Field Research, Education, and Outreach Facility at Cherry Research Farm in Goldsboro, NC is one of the nation\u2019s leading research and demonstration sites for large-scale organic and sustainable production systems and includes research based out of seven research units.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cefs.ncsu.edu\/field-research\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/cefs.ncsu.edu\/field-research\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">Center Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"CEA\">Center of Excellence for Regulatory Science in Agriculture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><strong>Advancing knowledge, transparency, and public acceptance of regulatory science in agriculture.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Director: Danesha Seth Carly<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>CERSA collaborates with state and federal agencies, private industry, commodity groups, growers and producers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and academics to advance regulatory science in agriculture through education, research and engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It provides undergraduate and graduate certificates, continuing education training and internships in regulatory science, and sponsored research for the advancement of regulatory science in agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>CERSA is co-led by NC&#160;State and Louisiana State University.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cersa.cals.ncsu.edu\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/cersa.cals.ncsu.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">Program Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"CEA\">Controlled Environment Agriculture Coalition<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Industry-focused, cost-effective and sustainable solutions to plant production<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Director: Ricardo Hernandez<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Comprised of research scientists, engineers and in close partnership with industry, the CEA Coalition aims to develop controlled environment agriculture (CEA) as an economically and&nbsp;environmentally sustainable option for agricultural practices by performing evidence-based, transformative research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion ncst-accordion\"><div class=\"accordion\" id=\"ncst-accordion-0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion-item ncst-accordion-item panel\"><a class=\"accordion-item__header collapsed\" href=\"#ncst-accordion-item-0-1\" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-1\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#ncst-accordion-item-0-1\" aria-controls=\"ncst-accordion-item-0-1\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"accordion-item__expansion-indicator\"><span class=\"ncst-plus-minus-toggle\"><\/span><\/span><h2 class=\"accordion-item__label h5\">Research Faculty<\/h2><\/a><div class=\"collapse panel-collapse accordion-item__content-container \" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-0-1\" aria-labelledby=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-1\" data-parent=\"#ncst-accordion-0\"><div class=\"accordion-item__content\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/horticultural-science\/people\/rhernan4\/\">Ricardo Hernandez, Department of Horticultural Science<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/horticultural-science\/people\/mhoffma3\/\">Mark Hoffman, Department of Horticultural Science<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/horticultural-science\/people\/bejacks2\/\">Brian Jackson, Department of Horticultural Science<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/horticultural-science\/people\/mjknuth\/\">Melinda Knuth, Department of Horticultural Science<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/horticultural-science\/people\/wliu25\/\">Wusheng Liu, Department of Horticultural Science<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ece.ncsu.edu\/people\/ejlobato\/\">Edgar Lobaton, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mae.ncsu.edu\/people\/btoconno\/\">Brendan O&#8217;Connor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/people\/carole\/\">Carole Saravitz, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/agricultural-and-resource-economics\/people\/hschwei\/\">Heidi Schweizer, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ne.ncsu.edu\/people\/kstapel\/\">Katharina Stapelmann, Department of Nuclear Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/agricultural-and-resource-economics\/people\/dtregea\/\">Daniel Tregeagle, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ece.ncsu.edu\/people\/cmwilli5\/\">Cranos Williams, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/cea\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/cea\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">Program Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"precision-sustainable-agriculture\">Genome Editing Center for Sustainable Agriculture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Accelerating the pace of genome editing in plants and empowering the agricultural industry to adapt quickly.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Director: Timothy Kelliher<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The GEC will play a pivotal role in shaping a prosperous and sustainable food supply for all, develop new plant genome editing tools to shorten the timespan between scientific exploration and the introduction of new plant improvement innovations to farmers and growers and create and spin out new companies to ensure innovative technology reaches those who need it most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/genome-editing-center\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/genome-editing-center\/\"><span class=\"text\">Program Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br>Precision Sustainable Agriculture Network<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Nationwide project on cover crops to improve agricultural sustainability<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Co-Director: Chris Reberg-Horton<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a five-year, $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to improve the sustainability and profitability of agriculture by advancing the study and use of cover crops such as rye, clover and radishes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The interdisciplinary team includes experts from 36 institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion ncst-accordion\"><div class=\"accordion\" id=\"ncst-accordion-1\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion-item ncst-accordion-item panel\"><a class=\"accordion-item__header collapsed\" href=\"#ncst-accordion-item-1-2\" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-2\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#ncst-accordion-item-1-2\" aria-controls=\"ncst-accordion-item-1-2\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"accordion-item__expansion-indicator\"><span class=\"ncst-plus-minus-toggle\"><\/span><\/span><h2 class=\"accordion-item__label h5\">NC&#160;State Research Faculty<\/h2><\/a><div class=\"collapse panel-collapse accordion-item__content-container \" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-1-2\" aria-labelledby=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-2\" data-parent=\"#ncst-accordion-1\"><div class=\"accordion-item__content\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/crop-and-soil-sciences\/people\/chris-reberg-horton\/\">Chris Reberg-Horton, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/crop-and-soil-sciences\/people\/robert-austin\/\">Rob Austin, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/crop-and-soil-sciences\/people\/ramon-leon\/\">Ramon Leon Gonzalez, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ece.ncsu.edu\/people\/ejlobato\/\">Edgar Lobaton, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/agricultural-and-resource-economics\/people\/rmrejesu\/\">Roderick Rejesus, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/crop-and-soil-sciences\/people\/alwoodle\/\">Alex Woodley, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/news\/10m-grant-to-nc-state-usda-ars-to-advance-cover-crops-transform-agriculture\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/news\/10m-grant-to-nc-state-usda-ars-to-advance-cover-crops-transform-agriculture\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">LEARN MORE<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.precisionsustainableag.org\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/www.precisionsustainableag.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">Program Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"STEPS\"><strong>Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability (STEPS) Center<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Interdisciplinary research community focused on phosphorus sustainability&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Director: Jacob Jones<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The STEPS Center is a convergent research group addressing the complex challenges in phosphorus sustainability by integrating disciplinary contributions across the physical, life, social, and economic sciences. Although headquartered in the new Plant Sciences Building, the center includes researchers from eight institutions across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.ncsu.edu\/2022\/06\/steps-center-full-scope-of-phosphorus-sustainability\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/news.ncsu.edu\/2022\/06\/steps-center-full-scope-of-phosphorus-sustainability\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">LEARN MORE<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/steps-center.org\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/steps-center.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">Center Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"PSI-other\">Multi-Institutional PSI Research Programs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"AI2EAR\">AI2EAR<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>International Collaboration to Accelerate Integration of Engineering, Plant Sciences &amp; Agricultural Research using Artificial Intelligence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This diverse collaboration seeks to support the successful integration of agriculture, life sciences and engineering to resolve scientific and technical gaps as well as social barriers with the overarching goal of ensuring global food security. The three research objectives include: sensor science, engineering, and integration; data mining, machine learning, multi-scale modeling, and AI models; and open-source data and network cyberinfrastructures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion ncst-accordion\"><div class=\"accordion\" id=\"ncst-accordion-2\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion-item ncst-accordion-item panel\"><a class=\"accordion-item__header collapsed\" href=\"#ncst-accordion-item-2-1\" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-1\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#ncst-accordion-item-2-1\" aria-controls=\"ncst-accordion-item-2-1\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"accordion-item__expansion-indicator\"><span class=\"ncst-plus-minus-toggle\"><\/span><\/span><h2 class=\"accordion-item__label h5\">NC&#160;State Research Faculty<\/h2><\/a><div class=\"collapse panel-collapse accordion-item__content-container \" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-2-1\" aria-labelledby=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-1\" data-parent=\"#ncst-accordion-2\"><div class=\"accordion-item__content\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/people\/talong\/\">Terri Long, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/people\/ross-sozzani\/\">Ross Sozzani, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ece.ncsu.edu\/people\/cmwilli5\/\">Cranos Williams, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/agricultural-and-human-sciences\/people\/joseph-donaldson\/\">Joseph Donaldson, Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.textiles.ncsu.edu\/big\/people\/amy-grunden\/\">Amy Grunden, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/people\/lkhanley\/\">Linda Hanley-Bowdoin, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/crop-and-soil-sciences\/people\/sscdlh\/\">Dean Hesterberg, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mse.ncsu.edu\/people\/jljone21\/\">Jacob Jones, Department of Materials Science and Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/food-bioprocessing-and-nutrition-sciences\/people\/mlila\/\">Mary Ann Lila, Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/crop-and-soil-sciences\/people\/amlocke2\/\">Anna Locke, USDA, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/directory\/ross-meentemeyer\/\">Ross&nbsp;Meentemeyer, College of Natural Resources<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ai2ear.wordpress.ncsu.edu\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/ai2ear.wordpress.ncsu.edu\/\"><span class=\"text\">Program Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"BIG-collaboration\">Biocatalyst Interactions with Gases (BIG) Collaboration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Uncovering new methods for CO<sub>2<\/sub> management and sustainable fertilizer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reducing carbon emissions and developing alternative routes for fertilizer production are increasingly urgent challenges facing our world. This interdisciplinary research collaboration between North Carolina State University (NC&#160;State) and the Technical University of Denmark (Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, DTU) is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF) and will receive 50 million Danish Kroner (DKK), approximately $6.5 million, in funding over five years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion ncst-accordion\"><div class=\"accordion\" id=\"ncst-accordion-3\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion-item ncst-accordion-item panel\"><a class=\"accordion-item__header collapsed\" href=\"#ncst-accordion-item-3-0\" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-0\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#ncst-accordion-item-3-0\" aria-controls=\"ncst-accordion-item-3-0\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"accordion-item__expansion-indicator\"><span class=\"ncst-plus-minus-toggle\"><\/span><\/span><h2 class=\"accordion-item__label h5\">Research Faculty<\/h2><\/a><div class=\"collapse panel-collapse accordion-item__content-container \" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-3-0\" aria-labelledby=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-0\" data-parent=\"#ncst-accordion-3\"><div class=\"accordion-item__content\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.textiles.ncsu.edu\/big\/people\/sisalmon\/\">Sonja Salmon, Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.textiles.ncsu.edu\/big\/people\/igor-bolotnov\/\">Igor Bolotnov, Department of Nuclear Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.textiles.ncsu.edu\/big\/people\/doug-call\/\">Doug Call, Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.textiles.ncsu.edu\/big\/people\/nathan-crook\/\">Nathan Crook, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.textiles.ncsu.edu\/big\/people\/amy-grunden\/\">Amy Grunden, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.textiles.ncsu.edu\/big\/people\/fanxing-li\/\">Fanxing Li, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.textiles.ncsu.edu\/big\/people\/flora-meilleur\/\">Flora Meilleur, Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.textiles.ncsu.edu\/big\/people\/william-joe-sagues\/\">Joe Sagues, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.textiles.ncsu.edu\/big\/people\/yaroslava-yingling\/\">Yaroslava Yingling, Department of Materials Science and Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dtu.dk\/english\/person\/cwis?id=151931&amp;%3Bentity=profile&amp;entity=profile\">Stig Helveg, Department of Physics, DTU<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/orbit.dtu.dk\/en\/persons\/peter-westh\">Peter Westh, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, DTU<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.textiles.ncsu.edu\/big\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/sites.textiles.ncsu.edu\/big\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">Program Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"collaborative-crop-resilience-program\">Collaborative Crop Resilience Program<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Interdisciplinary research program targets wheat microbes for resiliency<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Amy Grunden is leading a six-year, $30 million study on the wheat microbiome to make the staple crop more resilient against environmental stresses while reducing the need for chemical treatments and irrigation. The project is supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ku.dk\/english\/\">University of Copenhagen<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/international.au.dk\/\">Aarhus University<\/a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dtu.dk\/english\">Technical University of Denmark<\/a>&nbsp;will collaborate on the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion ncst-accordion\"><div class=\"accordion\" id=\"ncst-accordion-4\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion-item ncst-accordion-item panel\"><a class=\"accordion-item__header collapsed\" href=\"#ncst-accordion-item-4-2\" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-2\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#ncst-accordion-item-4-2\" aria-controls=\"ncst-accordion-item-4-2\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"accordion-item__expansion-indicator\"><span class=\"ncst-plus-minus-toggle\"><\/span><\/span><h2 class=\"accordion-item__label h5\">Research Faculty<\/h2><\/a><div class=\"collapse panel-collapse accordion-item__content-container \" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-4-2\" aria-labelledby=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-2\" data-parent=\"#ncst-accordion-4\"><div class=\"accordion-item__content\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/people\/amgrunde\/\">Amy Grunden, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/entomology-and-plant-pathology\/people\/obaars\/\">Oliver Baars, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ars.usda.gov\/southeast-area\/raleigh-nc\/plant-science-research\/docs\/research-spotlight\/gina-brown-guedira\/\">Gina Brown-Guedira, USDA-ARS, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/entomology-and-plant-pathology\/people\/icarbon\/\">Ignazio Carbone, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/entomology-and-plant-pathology\/people\/macubeta\/\">Marc Cubeta, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/molecular-and-structural-biochemistry\/people\/colleen-doherty\/\">Colleen Doherty, Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/people\/chawkes\/\">Christine Hawkes, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/people\/mkleine\/\">Manuel Kleiner, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/people\/hwsedero\/\">Heike Sederoff, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/people\/ross-sozzani\/\">Ross Sozzani, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ccrp.vcl.ncsu.edu\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/ccrp.vcl.ncsu.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">Program Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"talking-the-plant-talk\">SAPLINGS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>System Approach to Promote Learning and Innovation for the Next Generations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NC&#160;State is co-leading a 5-year, $18 million USDA grant alongside fellow land-grant university N.C. A&amp;T and six other 1890s universities, various national organizations, USDA and private companies. The program aims to grow the number of underrepresented minority students in the food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences. NC&#160;State&#8217;s portion, co-led by Cranos Williams and Jon Allen, will create a fellowship program for two graduate students, four undergraduate students and two high school interns. The PSI extension agent network will also receive significant funding to train agents in AI tools..<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion ncst-accordion\"><div class=\"accordion\" id=\"ncst-accordion-5\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion-item ncst-accordion-item panel\"><a class=\"accordion-item__header collapsed\" href=\"#ncst-accordion-item-5-2\" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-2\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#ncst-accordion-item-5-2\" aria-controls=\"ncst-accordion-item-5-2\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"accordion-item__expansion-indicator\"><span class=\"ncst-plus-minus-toggle\"><\/span><\/span><h2 class=\"accordion-item__label h5\">Research Faculty<\/h2><\/a><div class=\"collapse panel-collapse accordion-item__content-container \" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-5-2\" aria-labelledby=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-2\" data-parent=\"#ncst-accordion-5\"><div class=\"accordion-item__content\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/people\/cmwilli5\/\">Cranos Williams, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/food-bioprocessing-and-nutrition-sciences\/people\/jallen\/\">Jon Allen, Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncat.edu\/news\/2023\/06\/saplings-usda-nextgen-grant.php\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/www.ncat.edu\/news\/2023\/06\/saplings-usda-nextgen-grant.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">LEARN MORE<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"PSB-labs\">Labs in the Plant Sciences Building<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"enbisys-lab\">EnBiSys Lab<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Driving the next revolution in plant science and agriculture data analytics<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Director: Cranos Williams<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The EnBiSys Lab is a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary research laboratory, focused on the development of targeted computational and analytical solutions for modeling and controlling biological systems. The solutions we develop are used to build and strengthen the transition from large-scale high-throughput \u2013omics data to highly connected kinetic models in the post-genomic era; models that can be used to attain the depth, understanding, and comprehension needed to manipulate and control biological systems for a defined purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/research.ece.ncsu.edu\/enbisys\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/research.ece.ncsu.edu\/enbisys\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">Program Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"forest-biotech-group\">Forest Biotech Group<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>34 years of research innovation in forest biotechnology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Founded in 1988, the Forest Biotech Group (FBG) is dedicated to research innovations in forest biotechnology and molecular genetics of tree metabolism to improve growth, development and defense against biotic and abiotic stresses. Their research goal is the domestication of forest trees for conservation and productivity through a systems-level approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion ncst-accordion\"><div class=\"accordion\" id=\"ncst-accordion-6\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion-item ncst-accordion-item panel\"><a class=\"accordion-item__header collapsed\" href=\"#ncst-accordion-item-6-0\" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-0\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#ncst-accordion-item-6-0\" aria-controls=\"ncst-accordion-item-6-0\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"accordion-item__expansion-indicator\"><span class=\"ncst-plus-minus-toggle\"><\/span><\/span><h2 class=\"accordion-item__label h5\">Research Faculty<\/h2><\/a><div class=\"collapse panel-collapse accordion-item__content-container \" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-6-0\" aria-labelledby=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-0\" data-parent=\"#ncst-accordion-6\"><div class=\"accordion-item__content\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/directory\/vincent-chiang\/\">Vincent Chiang, College of Natural Resources<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/directory\/fikret-isik\/\">Fikret Isik, College of Natural Resources<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/directory\/ronald-sederoff\/\">Ron Sederoff, College of Natural Resources<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/directory\/jack-wang\/\">Jack Wang, College of Natural Resources<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/directory\/justin-whitehill\/\">Justin Whitehill, College of Natural Resources<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forestbiotechgroup.org\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/www.forestbiotechgroup.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">Program Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"long-lab\">Gage Lab<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Improving crop varieties through genomics and high throughput phenotyping<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Principal Investigator: Joe Gage<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Joe Gage\u2019s research program is focused on linking crop genomic and phenomics to understand how to develop more resilient and productive crop varieties. Current projects include studying how sequence variation controls gene regulation; how gene regulation contributes to genotype-by-environment interactions; and novel methods for processing and interpreting high throughput phenotyping data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gagelab.wordpress.ncsu.edu\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/gagelab.wordpress.ncsu.edu\/\"><span class=\"text\">Program Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"vegetable-pathology-lab\">Genetics, Evolution and Metabolism of Maize Adaptation (GEMMA) Lab<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Understanding plants have developed to adapt to soils with low nutrient availability<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Principal Investigator: Rub\u00e9n Rell\u00e1n-\u00c1lvarez<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The GEMMA lab works on the genetics, evolution and metabolism of maize adaptation to different environments with the ultimate goal of discovering beneficial genetic variation that can be used to help develop more efficient, resilient and sustainable corn varieties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gemmalab.org\/index.html\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/www.gemmalab.org\/index.html\"><span class=\"text\">Program Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"long-lab\">Interdisciplinary Risk Sciences Research Group<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Understanding, managing and communicating complex environmental health risks in a post-2020 world<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Principal Investigator: <\/em>Khara Grieger<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To reduce risks and better align benefits with societal values, needs, and expectations, new approaches are urgently needed. Scientists, researchers, industry, government, and other actors will naturally turn towards the development of new technological solutions and products of innovation to secure safe and sustainable futures. At the same time, new innovations and novel technologies can also present unknown risks as well as controversies in society. Well-known examples include first generation of genetically-modified organisms, nanotechnology, geoengineering, new materials for environmental remediation, and even new vaccines. Working interdisciplinarily within science, technology, social sciences, and governance, the Risk Sciences Research Group aims to strategically incorporate practices that foster responsible and sustainable innovation in order to ultimately solve our grand challenges without creating additional challenges themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/risksciences.wordpress.ncsu.edu\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/risksciences.wordpress.ncsu.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">Program Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/ges\/2021\/10\/khara-grieger-to-co-lead-knowledge-transfer-efforts-for-new-25-million-phosphorus-research-center\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/ges\/2021\/10\/khara-grieger-to-co-lead-knowledge-transfer-efforts-for-new-25-million-phosphorus-research-center\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">LEARN MORE<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"long-lab\">Long Lab<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Understanding plant iron deprivation to address global nutritional outcomes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Principal Investigator: Terri Long<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anemia induced by iron deficiency is one of the most prevalent nutritional disorders in the world. Their research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that plants use to uptake, transport, and utilize iron, and respond to low iron conditions. Using genomics, molecular biology and genetics, their work is focused on identifying iron deficiency response regulators and their corresponding gene targets, with the long-term goal of elucidating gene regulatory networks involved in plant iron homeostasis. Ultimately, this information may lead to the generation of crops with increased nutritional content and increased yield when grown in poor soils.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/longlab.wordpress.ncsu.edu\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/longlab.wordpress.ncsu.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">Program Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"maize-breeding-genetics-collaboration\">Maize Breeding and Genetics Collaboration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Corn breeding and genetics project of the USDA-Agricultural Research Service<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Principal Investigator: Jim Holland<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This collaborative team aims to characterize the genes underlying important agricultural traits in maize (corn) to develop new breeding lines. Two specific research foci are to improve resistance to Fusarium ear rot in corn and to develop new specialty food corn varieties, including improved heirloom food corns and low protein grain corns for patients with metabolic disorders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion ncst-accordion\"><div class=\"accordion\" id=\"ncst-accordion-7\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion-item ncst-accordion-item panel\"><a class=\"accordion-item__header collapsed\" href=\"#ncst-accordion-item-7-1\" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-1\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#ncst-accordion-item-7-1\" aria-controls=\"ncst-accordion-item-7-1\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"accordion-item__expansion-indicator\"><span class=\"ncst-plus-minus-toggle\"><\/span><\/span><h2 class=\"accordion-item__label h5\">Research Faculty<\/h2><\/a><div class=\"collapse panel-collapse accordion-item__content-container \" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-7-1\" aria-labelledby=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-1\" data-parent=\"#ncst-accordion-7\"><div class=\"accordion-item__content\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/crop-and-soil-sciences\/people\/jholland\/\">Jim Holland, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/molecular-and-structural-biochemistry\/people\/ruben-rellan-alvarez\/\">Rub\u00e9n Rell\u00e1n \u00c1lvarez, Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/people\/pjbalint\/\">Peter Balint-Kurti, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/crop-and-soil-sciences\/people\/jlgage\/\">Joe Gage, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/crop-and-soil-sciences\/people\/goodman\/\">Major Goodman, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/crop-and-soil-sciences\/people\/mdkrakow\/\">Matt Krakowsky, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/molecular-and-structural-biochemistry\/people\/josh-strable\/\">Josh Strable, Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/maizegenetics.wordpress.ncsu.edu\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/maizegenetics.wordpress.ncsu.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">Program Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"vegetable-pathology-lab\">NC&#160;State Vegetable Pathology Lab<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Studying diseases to improve disease management for farmers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Principal Investigator: Lina Quesada-Ocampo<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This lab leads interdisciplinary studies of diseases of cucurbit crops and sweetpotatoes to deliver novel and improved disease management strategies to growers in North Carolina and to advance our knowledge in the field of vegetable pathology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/veggiepathology.wordpress.ncsu.edu\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/veggiepathology.wordpress.ncsu.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">Program Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"precision-pest-ecology-lab\">Optical Sensing Lab<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Making smaller, faster and more capable optical systems for plant and human health.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Principal Investigator: Mike Kudenov<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The lab\u2019s major research area is in spectral and polarimetric imaging as it applies to both remote sensing and biomedical imaging applications. Through incorporating novel Polarization Grating (PG) technologies into spectral and polarimetric sensors, the researchers in OSL are increasing the sensor\u2019s spatial, spectral or radiometric performance, or reducing the sensor\u2019s overall size or cost. An emphasis is given on the development of ultra-compact sensors with novel capabilities. From a remote sensing perspective, it can be used to quantify chemicals in the environment, perform quality control in industrial and commercial manufacturing processes, assess water quality and vegetation health, identify targets, and for mineral mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/research.ece.ncsu.edu\/osl\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/research.ece.ncsu.edu\/osl\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">Program Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"sozzani-lab\">Sihi Lab<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Understanding how carbon and nutrients cycle through plants, soils, microbes, and the environment to inform sustainable land-use practices and address climate change.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Principal Investigator: Debjani Sihi<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Sihi Lab specializes in measuring and modeling soil organic matter dynamics and greenhouse gas emissions from natural and managed ecosystems. They couple data generated from empirical studies and environmental networks with process-based  and machine learning models. They use biogeochemical models to evaluate the fate of soil carbon and other ecosystem nutrients in the face of climate change. Their work ranges from the tropics and subtropics to temperate and temperate-boreal transition zones as well as soils from forests, wetlands, grasslands, and agricultural landscapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.debjanisihi.com\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/www.debjanisihi.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">Program Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"sozzani-lab\">Sozzani Lab<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Understanding plant stem cells using 3D bioprinting and other innovations for plant improvement<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Principal Investigator: Ross Sozzani<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Sozzani Lab research focuses on understanding how stem cells are organized and maintained in the root of the model plant <em>Arabidopsis thaliana<\/em>. Their goal is to gain a coherent qualitative and quantitative understanding of stem cell maintenance at the systems-level. Their research leverages techniques derived from molecular, developmental and cell biology, mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science and engineering. Their research will reveal a specific molecular pathway of plant stem cells, and provide broader insights into the fundamental properties of stem cells across the plant and animal kingdoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"sustainable-organic-soil-fertility-lab\">Sustainable and Organic Soil Fertility Lab<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Climate change mitigation and adaptation through sustainable agriculture and improved soil health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Principal Investigator: Alex Woodley<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This research program is focused on the mitigation and adaptation to climate change in sustainable&nbsp;agricultural systems&nbsp;through improved soil productivity. Research initiatives include linking soil health indicators to productive&nbsp;agroecosystems, mitigation of soil greenhouse gas emissions, soil carbon sequestration and nutrient management of&nbsp;fertilizers, organic amendments and cover crops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Member of the <a href=\"https:\/\/casm.cals.ncsu.edu\/\">Climate Adaptation Through Agriculture &amp; Soil Management<\/a> (CASM) research initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainablesoils.wordpress.ncsu.edu\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/sustainablesoils.wordpress.ncsu.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">Program Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"wei-group\">Translational Plant Phenomics Lab <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Advancing the application of remote sensing, robotics, and data science in breeding a diversity of horticultural and specialty crops.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Principal Investigator: Jing Zhang<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first aim of the Translational Plant Phenomics Lab is to use advanced imaging technologies and machine learning algorithms to make plant phenotyping more efficient for crop breeding. By integrating high-throughput methods, they aim to accelerate the selection process for desirable traits, ultimately improving crop resilience and yield. The second aim is to develop innovative strategies for precision crop management that optimize inputs and maximize outputs in agricultural production. Utilizing data-driven approaches, their research seeks to enhance decision-making processes, ensuring sustainable practices and improved crop quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jingzhang.wordpress.ncsu.edu\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/jingzhang.wordpress.ncsu.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">Program Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"wei-group\">Wei Research Group<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Innovating disease diagnostics by developing cost-effective sensing tools<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Principal Investigator: Qingshan Wei<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This engineering research group works to understand the fundamentals of optics, chemistry, and molecular biology for rapid and ultrasensitive molecular detection. They are interested in applying miniature sensor and assay technologies in precision \/ tele-medicine, AgBio research, environmental science and biomanufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/weigroup.wordpress.ncsu.edu\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/weigroup.wordpress.ncsu.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">Program Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"whitehill-lab\">Whitehill Lab: Christmas Tree Genetics Program<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cutting-edge research utilizing modern genomic technologies and approaches<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Principal Investigator: Justin Whitehill<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This program is working to advance North Carolina\u2019s Christmas tree industry by addressing grower challenges and concerns through the application of genetic, genomic and molecular biology principles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/research.cnr.ncsu.edu\/whitehilllab\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/research.cnr.ncsu.edu\/whitehilllab\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">Program Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"grip4psi\">GRIP4PSI Projects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Game\u2010Changing Research Incentive Program for Plant Sciences Initiative (GRIP4PSI) was initiated by NC&#160;State to encourage collaboration on integrated research and outreach projects focused on one or more of the Research Platforms in the&nbsp;N.C. PSI. NC&#160;State provided competitive seed funding for four interdisciplinary team-based research and outreach projects totaling $2.3M.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/2020\/02\/14\/grip4psi-seed-grant\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/2020\/02\/14\/grip4psi-seed-grant\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">Learn More<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"big-data-for-better-sweetpotatoes\">Big Data for Better Sweetpotatoes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Big data platform to take tons of sweetpotato photos to improve productivity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/02\/sweet-potato-1500x844-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Sweetpotatoes\" class=\"wp-image-1540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/02\/sweet-potato-1500x844-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/02\/sweet-potato-1500x844-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/02\/sweet-potato-1500x844-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/02\/sweet-potato-1500x844-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/02\/sweet-potato-1500x844-1-950x535.jpg 950w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/02\/sweet-potato-1500x844-1-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/02\/sweet-potato-1500x844-1-460x259.jpg 460w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/02\/sweet-potato-1500x844-1-230x129.jpg 230w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/02\/sweet-potato-1500x844-1.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>A multidisciplinary team led by Cranos Williams is developing a data-driven platform to discover how to grow a superior sweetpotato. This project is part of the broader Sweet-APPS Program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They aim to combine information from images of hundreds of thousands of sweetpotatoes and their growth conditions to determine the factors that impact sweetpotato size and shape to increase the percentage of sweetpotatoes that are USDA grade 1. The platform will use custom imaging to detect shape, size, surface texture, internal composition and crop damage. That data then enters a computational platform \u2014 created in partnership with Intero Life Sciences and SAS, Inc. \u2014 to improve decision-making for North Carolina growers, producers and distributors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion ncst-accordion\"><div class=\"accordion\" id=\"ncst-accordion-8\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion-item ncst-accordion-item panel\"><a class=\"accordion-item__header collapsed\" href=\"#ncst-accordion-item-8-3\" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-3\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#ncst-accordion-item-8-3\" aria-controls=\"ncst-accordion-item-8-3\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"accordion-item__expansion-indicator\"><span class=\"ncst-plus-minus-toggle\"><\/span><\/span><h2 class=\"accordion-item__label h5\">Research Faculty<\/h2><\/a><div class=\"collapse panel-collapse accordion-item__content-container \" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-8-3\" aria-labelledby=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-3\" data-parent=\"#ncst-accordion-8\"><div class=\"accordion-item__content\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ece.ncsu.edu\/people\/cmwilli5\/\">Cranos Williams, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bae.ncsu.edu\/people\/boyette\/\">Mike Boyette, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/people\/khara-grieger\/\">Khara Grieger, Department of Applied Ecology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/entomology-and-plant-pathology\/people\/ashuseth\/\">Anders Huseth, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bae.ncsu.edu\/people\/dsjones5\/\">Daniela Jones, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ece.ncsu.edu\/people\/mwkudeno\/\">Michael Kudenov, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ece.ncsu.edu\/people\/ejlobato\/\">Edgar Lobaton, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bae.ncsu.edu\/people\/nnelson4\/\">Natalie Nelson, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.csc.ncsu.edu\/people\/kogan\">Kemafor Ogan, Department of Computer Science<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/horticultural-science\/people\/kvpecota\/\">Ken Pecota, Department of Horticultural Science<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.csc.ncsu.edu\/people\/ascafur\">Alessandra Scafuro, Department of Computer Science<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/people\/ross-sozzani\/\">Ross Sozzani, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/horticultural-science\/people\/yencho\/\">Craig Yencho, Department of Horticultural Science<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/news\/big-data-for-better-sweetpotatoes\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/news\/big-data-for-better-sweetpotatoes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">LEARN MORE<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/ncsu.edu\/sweet-apps\/home\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/ncsu.edu\/sweet-apps\/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">Sweet-APPS Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"fertilizer-of-the-future\">Fertilizer of the Future<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Harnessing new technologies to&nbsp;c<\/strong><strong>ut energy use, protect water and help farmers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"306\" src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2020\/03\/AERIAL.farm_.7936-460x306.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial view of farm\n\" class=\"wp-image-1667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/AERIAL.farm_.7936-460x306.jpg 460w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/AERIAL.farm_.7936-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/AERIAL.farm_.7936-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/AERIAL.farm_.7936-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/AERIAL.farm_.7936-950x631.jpg 950w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/AERIAL.farm_.7936-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/AERIAL.farm_.7936-230x153.jpg 230w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/AERIAL.farm_.7936.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>An interdisciplinary team of researchers at NC&#160;State, led by Katharina Stapelmann, is setting out on an ambitious 3-year project to tackle the energy-intensive process of producing and shipping nitrogen-based fertilizer derived from plasma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They will test two methods of on-farm fertilizer production and develop an on-demand, precision fertigation system to detect soil moisture and nitrogen levels and then supply water and nutrients exactly where they are needed. This should lead to less waste, less fertilizer runoff into the water supply and increased crop yields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion ncst-accordion\"><div class=\"accordion\" id=\"ncst-accordion-9\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion-item ncst-accordion-item panel\"><a class=\"accordion-item__header collapsed\" href=\"#ncst-accordion-item-9-0\" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-0\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#ncst-accordion-item-9-0\" aria-controls=\"ncst-accordion-item-9-0\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"accordion-item__expansion-indicator\"><span class=\"ncst-plus-minus-toggle\"><\/span><\/span><h2 class=\"accordion-item__label h5\">Research Faculty<\/h2><\/a><div class=\"collapse panel-collapse accordion-item__content-container \" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-9-0\" aria-labelledby=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-0\" data-parent=\"#ncst-accordion-9\"><div class=\"accordion-item__content\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ne.ncsu.edu\/people\/kstapel\/\">Katharina Stapelmann, Department of Nuclear Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ccee.ncsu.edu\/people\/dfcall\/\">Douglas Call, Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/people\/amgrunde\/\">Amy Grunden, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/crop-and-soil-sciences\/people\/lcolpog\/\">Luciano Gatiboni, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/horticultural-science\/people\/rhernan4\/\">Ricardo Hernandez, Department of Horticultural Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/directory\/jordan-kern\/\">Jordan Kern, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ars.usda.gov\/southeast-area\/raleigh-nc\/soybean-and-nitrogen-fixation-research\/people\/anna-locke\/\">Anna Locke, USDA-ARS, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/people\/marcela-rojas-pierce\/\">Marcela Rojas-Pierce, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/food-bioprocessing-and-nutrition-sciences\/people\/dasalvi\/\">Deepti Salvi, Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bae.ncsu.edu\/people\/csayde\/\">Chadi Sayde, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ne.ncsu.edu\/people\/scshanno\/\">Steven Shannon, Department of Nuclear Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/crop-and-soil-sciences\/people\/raatwell\/\">Rachel Vann, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/news\/fertilizer-of-the-future\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/news\/fertilizer-of-the-future\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">LEARN MORE<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"fun-crops\">FUN-CROPS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Using leaf-living fungi to improve crop resilience to drought and disease<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/Christine-Hawkes-Photo-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Scientist with stacks of petri dishes\" class=\"wp-image-1703\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/Christine-Hawkes-Photo-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/Christine-Hawkes-Photo-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/Christine-Hawkes-Photo-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/Christine-Hawkes-Photo-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/Christine-Hawkes-Photo-950x535.jpg 950w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/Christine-Hawkes-Photo-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/Christine-Hawkes-Photo-460x259.jpg 460w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/Christine-Hawkes-Photo-230x129.jpg 230w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/Christine-Hawkes-Photo.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>A team of engineers, plant pathologists and microbiologists led by Christine Hawkes will study how plant fungal symbionts can improve crop resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They will determine if fungi can be manipulated across entire landscapes, identify highly beneficial fungi and the genes that produce the benefits, develop methods to identify microscopic fungi, and explore potential policy implications and stakeholder responses to fungal manipulation in crops. The team aims to develop practical tools to adapt crops to later cold snaps, longer heat waves, bigger hurricanes and atypical droughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion ncst-accordion\"><div class=\"accordion\" id=\"ncst-accordion-10\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion-item ncst-accordion-item panel\"><a class=\"accordion-item__header collapsed\" href=\"#ncst-accordion-item-10-5\" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-5\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#ncst-accordion-item-10-5\" aria-controls=\"ncst-accordion-item-10-5\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"accordion-item__expansion-indicator\"><span class=\"ncst-plus-minus-toggle\"><\/span><\/span><h2 class=\"accordion-item__label h5\">Research Faculty<\/h2><\/a><div class=\"collapse panel-collapse accordion-item__content-container \" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-10-5\" aria-labelledby=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-5\" data-parent=\"#ncst-accordion-10\"><div class=\"accordion-item__content\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/people\/chawkes\/\">Christine Hawkes, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/entomology-and-plant-pathology\/people\/pjbalint\/\">Peter Balint-Kurti, USDA-ARS, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ars.usda.gov\/southeast-area\/raleigh-nc\/plant-science-research\/docs\/research-spotlight\/gina-brown-guedira\/\">Gina Brown-Guedira, USDA-ARS, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbe.ncsu.edu\/person\/nccrook\/\">Nathan Crook, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/directory\/jason-delborne\/\">Jason Delborne, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/crop-and-soil-sciences\/people\/kgarcia2\/\">Kevin Garcia, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/directory\/joshua-gray-2\/\">Josh Gray, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ces.ncsu.edu\/profile\/ryan-heiniger\/\">Ryan Heiniger, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ece.ncsu.edu\/people\/mwkudeno\/\">Michael Kudenov, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ars.usda.gov\/southeast-area\/raleigh-nc\/soybean-and-nitrogen-fixation-research\/people\/anna-locke\/\">Anna Locke, USDA-ARS, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/people\/ross-sozzani\/\">Ross Sozzani, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ece.ncsu.edu\/people\/cmwilli5\/\">Cranos Williams, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/news\/leaf-fungi-improve-crop-resilience\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/news\/leaf-fungi-improve-crop-resilience\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">LEARN MORE<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"plant-aid\">Plant-Aid<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Developing a cost-effective sensor system to detect emerging plant diseases<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/Wei-plant-VOCs-2019-HEADER-1500-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Gloved hands holding a cellphone with an attached glass vial with leaf inside\" class=\"wp-image-1702\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/Wei-plant-VOCs-2019-HEADER-1500-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/Wei-plant-VOCs-2019-HEADER-1500-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/Wei-plant-VOCs-2019-HEADER-1500-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/Wei-plant-VOCs-2019-HEADER-1500-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/Wei-plant-VOCs-2019-HEADER-1500-950x535.jpg 950w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/Wei-plant-VOCs-2019-HEADER-1500-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/Wei-plant-VOCs-2019-HEADER-1500-460x259.jpg 460w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/Wei-plant-VOCs-2019-HEADER-1500-230x129.jpg 230w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2020\/03\/Wei-plant-VOCs-2019-HEADER-1500.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>An interdisciplinary team led by Jean Ristaino will develop an innovative platform to monitor crops for signs of early plant disease. They will attach cost-effective sensors to tomato plants, checking for various markers of disease and stress. That data \u2014 collected wirelessly on smartphones \u2014 will then be integrated with a bioinformatics and geospatial database to alert growers of new outbreaks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A continuation of this project received a $1M Predictive Intelligence for Pandemic Preparedness (PIPP) Grant from the NSF as the only proposal of 26 total grantees dedicated to the plant sciences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another continuation, funded in part by a $1M Convergence Accelerator Phase 1 Grant from the NSF, is <a href=\"https:\/\/wolfsens.engr.ncsu.edu\/\">WolfSens<\/a>, an effort to advance plant-compliant sensors for agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion ncst-accordion\"><div class=\"accordion\" id=\"ncst-accordion-11\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion-item ncst-accordion-item panel\"><a class=\"accordion-item__header collapsed\" href=\"#ncst-accordion-item-11-3\" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-3\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#ncst-accordion-item-11-3\" aria-controls=\"ncst-accordion-item-11-3\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"accordion-item__expansion-indicator\"><span class=\"ncst-plus-minus-toggle\"><\/span><\/span><h2 class=\"accordion-item__label h5\">Research Faculty<\/h2><\/a><div class=\"collapse panel-collapse accordion-item__content-container \" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-11-3\" aria-labelledby=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-3\" data-parent=\"#ncst-accordion-11\"><div class=\"accordion-item__content\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/entomology-and-plant-pathology\/people\/jbr\/\">Jean Ristaino, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/geospatial\/directory\/chris-jones\/\">Chris Jones, Center Geospatial Analytics<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/entomology-and-plant-pathology\/people\/immeadow\/\">Inga Meadows , Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/entomology-and-plant-pathology\/people\/drasmus\/\">David Rasmussen, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/entomology-and-plant-pathology\/people\/drotenb\/\">Dorith Rotenberg, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/directory\/robert-scheller\/\">Robert Scheller, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbe.ncsu.edu\/person\/qingshan-wei\/\">Qingshan Wei, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/entomology-and-plant-pathology\/people\/awhitfi\/\">Anna Whitfield, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/agricultural-and-resource-economics\/people\/kzering\/\">Kelly Zering, Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mae.ncsu.edu\/people\/yzhu7\/\">Yong Zhu, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/news\/plant-aid-a-grip4psi-big-data-project-to-detect-plant-diseases-faster\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/news\/plant-aid-a-grip4psi-big-data-project-to-detect-plant-diseases-faster\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">LEARN MORE<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ristainolab.cals.ncsu.edu\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/ristainolab.cals.ncsu.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"text\">Ristaino Lab Website<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"#top\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"#top\"><span class=\"text\">Back to top of page<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-parallax-container ncst-parallax-container has-green-400-background-color with-box\"><div class=\"ncst-parallax-container__container\"><div class=\"ncst-parallax-container__image\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/08\/aCALS.plants.jpg);background-position:center center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"996\" class=\"wp-image-5629\" src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/08\/aCALS.plants.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/08\/aCALS.plants.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/08\/aCALS.plants-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/08\/aCALS.plants-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/08\/aCALS.plants-768x510.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/div><div class=\"ncst-parallax-container__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-cta-statement ncst-cta-statement\"><div class=\"ncst-cta-statement__container\"><p class=\"ncst-cta-statement__statement\">N.C. PSI brings together experts across multiple disciplines to solve agricultures grand challenges.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-secondary\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/research\/research-expertise\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/research\/research-expertise\/\"><span class=\"text\">Faculty Areas of Expertise<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ncst-labeled-section wp-block-ncst-automated-posts ncst-featured-content is-card-style layout-three-column\">\n  <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__background\">\n    <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__container\">\n               <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__header\">\n                      <h2 class=\"ncst-labeled-section__heading\">N.C. PSI Research News<\/h2>\n                                <a\n              href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/news\/all\/\"\n              class=\"ncst-labeled-section__link\"\n                                          data-ua-cat=\"Featured Content Block\" data-ua-action=\"Label Link Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/news\/all\/\"\n            >More News<\/a>\n                  <\/div>\n            <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__content\">\n        <a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card \"\n    href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/news\/nc-state-researchers-join-international-research-platform-to-improve-nitrogen-use\/\"\n    data-ua-cat=\"Content Card\"\n    data-ua-action=\"Content Card Click\"\n    data-ua-label=https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/news\/nc-state-researchers-join-international-research-platform-to-improve-nitrogen-use\/\n  >\n  \n\n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"844\" \n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-81197\" \n            alt=\"Two people look at a a transparent plastic container used to measure emission of greenhouse gases.\" \n            src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/03\/woodley-in-greenhouse-1.jpg\" \n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/03\/woodley-in-greenhouse-1.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/03\/woodley-in-greenhouse-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/03\/woodley-in-greenhouse-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/03\/woodley-in-greenhouse-1-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                          <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Major New Research Project Focused on the Most Costly Fertilizer Input: Nitrogen<\/h3>\n              \n\n      \t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">A five-year, $34.7 million initiative sets out to provide farmers with more decision-making power when it comes to using nitrogen, a vital crop nutrient. The N.C. PSI played a key role in getting the project started, and four N.C. PSI faculty affiliates, including co-leader Alex Woodley, are involved in the international <span class=nowrap>collaboration.&nbsp;<span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-light\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            \n            <use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-light\">\n        <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\t      \t    \n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card \"\n    href=\"https:\/\/www.sas.com\/en_us\/news\/press-releases\/2026\/april\/iot-agriculture-ncstate-ecu.html\"\n    data-ua-cat=\"Content Card\"\n    data-ua-action=\"Content Card Click\"\n    data-ua-label=https:\/\/www.sas.com\/en_us\/news\/press-releases\/2026\/april\/iot-agriculture-ncstate-ecu.html\n  >\n  \n\n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"844\" \n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-81760\" \n            alt=\"Andrea Gibbs near a wet area of a field, near a sensor\" \n            src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/04\/andrea-gibbs.jpg\" \n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/04\/andrea-gibbs.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/04\/andrea-gibbs-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/04\/andrea-gibbs-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/04\/andrea-gibbs-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                          <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">SAS, NC&#160;State and ECU Deploying Sensors and IoT Analytics to Help Farmers<\/h3>\n              \n\n      \t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">N.C. Cooperative Extension agent Andrea Gibbs, the N.C. Ag Analytics Platform and others at NC&#160;State are part of effort to create affordable, field-ready sensor systems that give growers timely, data-driven insights. Check out the SAS news <span class=nowrap>release.&nbsp;<span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-light\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            \n            <use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-light\">\n        <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\t      \t    \n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card \"\n    href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/news\/extension-agents-explore-ways-to-use-ai-to-maximize-their-impact\/\"\n    data-ua-cat=\"Content Card\"\n    data-ua-action=\"Content Card Click\"\n    data-ua-label=https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/news\/extension-agents-explore-ways-to-use-ai-to-maximize-their-impact\/\n  >\n  \n\n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"844\" \n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-81728\" \n            alt=\"A person speaks from a podium, next to a large display screen, to a crowded room\" \n            src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/04\/ai-in-ag-workshop.jpg\" \n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/04\/ai-in-ag-workshop.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/04\/ai-in-ag-workshop-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/04\/ai-in-ag-workshop-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/04\/ai-in-ag-workshop-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                          <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Extension Agents Explore Ways to Use AI To Maximize Their Impact<\/h3>\n              \n\n      \t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">The recent AI in Agriculture Conference at included a workshop for Extension agents interested in learning how to use AI tools in their <span class=nowrap>work.&nbsp;<span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-light\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            \n            <use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-light\">\n        <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\t      \t    \n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<script>\nvar gform;gform||(document.addEventListener(\"gform_main_scripts_loaded\",function(){gform.scriptsLoaded=!0}),document.addEventListener(\"gform\/theme\/scripts_loaded\",function(){gform.themeScriptsLoaded=!0}),window.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){gform.domLoaded=!0}),gform={domLoaded:!1,scriptsLoaded:!1,themeScriptsLoaded:!1,isFormEditor:()=>\"function\"==typeof InitializeEditor,callIfLoaded:function(o){return!(!gform.domLoaded||!gform.scriptsLoaded||!gform.themeScriptsLoaded&&!gform.isFormEditor()||(gform.isFormEditor()&&console.warn(\"The use of gform.initializeOnLoaded() is deprecated in the form editor context and will be removed in Gravity Forms 3.1.\"),o(),0))},initializeOnLoaded:function(o){gform.callIfLoaded(o)||(document.addEventListener(\"gform_main_scripts_loaded\",()=>{gform.scriptsLoaded=!0,gform.callIfLoaded(o)}),document.addEventListener(\"gform\/theme\/scripts_loaded\",()=>{gform.themeScriptsLoaded=!0,gform.callIfLoaded(o)}),window.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",()=>{gform.domLoaded=!0,gform.callIfLoaded(o)}))},hooks:{action:{},filter:{}},addAction:function(o,r,e,t){gform.addHook(\"action\",o,r,e,t)},addFilter:function(o,r,e,t){gform.addHook(\"filter\",o,r,e,t)},doAction:function(o){gform.doHook(\"action\",o,arguments)},applyFilters:function(o){return gform.doHook(\"filter\",o,arguments)},removeAction:function(o,r){gform.removeHook(\"action\",o,r)},removeFilter:function(o,r,e){gform.removeHook(\"filter\",o,r,e)},addHook:function(o,r,e,t,n){null==gform.hooks[o][r]&&(gform.hooks[o][r]=[]);var d=gform.hooks[o][r];null==n&&(n=r+\"_\"+d.length),gform.hooks[o][r].push({tag:n,callable:e,priority:t=null==t?10:t})},doHook:function(r,o,e){var t;if(e=Array.prototype.slice.call(e,1),null!=gform.hooks[r][o]&&((o=gform.hooks[r][o]).sort(function(o,r){return o.priority-r.priority}),o.forEach(function(o){\"function\"!=typeof(t=o.callable)&&(t=window[t]),\"action\"==r?t.apply(null,e):e[0]=t.apply(null,e)})),\"filter\"==r)return e[0]},removeHook:function(o,r,t,n){var e;null!=gform.hooks[o][r]&&(e=(e=gform.hooks[o][r]).filter(function(o,r,e){return!!(null!=n&&n!=o.tag||null!=t&&t!=o.priority)}),gform.hooks[o][r]=e)}});\n<\/script>\n\n                <div class='gf_browser_gecko gform_wrapper gravity-theme gform-theme--no-framework' data-form-theme='gravity-theme' data-form-index='0' id='gform_wrapper_7' ><div id='gf_7' class='gform_anchor' tabindex='-1'><\/div>\n                        <div class='gform_heading'>\n                            <h2 class=\"gform_title\">Subscribe to the N.C. 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