Graduate Students

Amrinder Jakhar, a Ph.D. student at the University of Georgia, researches precision agriculture, focusing on UAVs, satellite remote sensing, and sensor-based nitrogen management in corn. With a BSc from Punjab Agricultural University and an MS from Mississippi State University on biochar’s impact on soil and water Quality, he studies soil-plant-environment interactions to optimize crop inputs. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA have expanded his professional network, provided leadership opportunities, and enhanced his research through collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Austen is a PhD student in Earth System Science at Stanford University. He holds a BS in Environmental Science and an MS in Geology from Brigham Young University. His research explores the interplay between climate extremes and elemental cycles in soil ecosystems, with a focus on how wildfires impact heavy metal cycling and forest soil health. A longtime member of the Societies and a former Golden Opportunity Scholar, Austen values the connections and network the Societies have provided since his undergraduate years.

Ayush Sharma is working as a postdoctoral associate in the Horticulture Sciences Department of the University of Florida. He works on the dynamic nutrient recommendation modeling and the potato high-throughput phenotyping. He likes drones and remote sensing to develop precision crop management products and technology.

Bala Subramanyam is a PhD student in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at Mississippi State University. His research focuses on developing innovative strategies to enhance soybean adaptation to stressful environments. He utilizes advanced phenotyping methods and tools to characterize soybean accessions for traits related to yield potential. His work has identified deep-rooted genotypes that perform well in resource-limited conditions and effective seed enhancements techniques that improve stress tolerance. Outside of his academic work, Bala enjoys cooking and travelling.

I am currently a PhD student studying Plant Breeding at Purdue University. My current research is focused on developing machine learning predictive breeding models that are able to predict into multiple environments. I am also conducting research on new transformation technologies for sorghum. The Tri Societies had an incredible impact on my undergraduate career through SASES by allowing me to develop research presentation and leadership skills. I hope to continue my involvement in the Tri Societies by serving on the ACS graduate student committee.

I am a Master of Science student at Auburn University in the Department of Animal Sciences. My research is in forage agronomy and pasture management with specific focus in ruminant livestock nutrition and grazing systems. I was involved with the Societies during my undergraduate years as a SASES National Officer and have already had the opportunity to make many career- and life-long connections through the organization.

Gustavo Roa is a Ph.D. candidate in Agronomy at Kansas State University, focusing on soil fertility and nutrient management. Originally from Paraguay, he holds a degree from EARTH University. His research explores phosphorus and sulfur management, including P correlation-calibration, residual P effects, long-term P placement, and P & S interactions. He has an interest in apply statistics and data analysis to improve agricultural decision-making and fertilizer recommendations. He values professional societies for their role in networking, leadership, and advancing sustainable agriculture.

Originally from the Midwest of Brazil, Jessica is a Ph.D. student in the Agronomy and Soil Science program at Kansas State University in the Soil Microbial Agroecology Lab. Jessica received her B.S. degree in Agronomy from the Federal University of Mato Grosso and her M.S. degree in Agronomy/Plant Nutrition from the University of Sao Paulo and the University of Queensland, in Australia. Currently, her research focuses on Nitrous Oxide emissions (N2Oand Nitrogen Use Efficiency in wheat rainfed cropping system. Being part of the Societies has allowed her to build valuable connections and develop.

Julia is a PhD candidate at the University of Florida. She is originally from Brazil, where she completed her BSc in Agronomy and MSc in Soil Science at the Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro. Her current research evaluates chickpea's potential to serve as a dual-purpose crop and if/how this management will affect the sustainability of the rotation system.

Katherine recently earned her Master's degree in Agricultural Sciences with an emphasis in Plant Science from East Texas A&M University. Her research concentrated on the correlation between tillage practices and aggregate stability in heavy clay soils. Following her graduation, Katherine took on the role of Agriculture and Natural Resources program coordinator with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach at the county level.

I'm a Ph.D. student in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics at University of Minnesota. My research interests, broadly, are quantitative genetics and genomics-assisted breeding. Currently I'm a part of the SOYGEN (Science Optimized Yield Gains across ENvironments) project. The major goal of this project is to predict cultivar performance in future target environments through genomics-assisted breeding models, phenomics, and environment characterization. The Societies have provided me multiple opportunities from learning & networking to professional growth & leadership development.

Dr. Megan Bourns is an agronomist and researcher dedicated to helping farmers align productivity, profitability, and environmental stewardship goals. She is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, contributing to the national Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool Project. Megan earned her B.Sc. in Agronomy and M.Sc. in Soil Science from the University of Manitoba, where she developed a strong foundation in soil fertility and nutrient management. Following her M.Sc., she worked as an agronomist with the Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers.

I am Pabitra Joshi, originally from Nepal. I earned my Ph.D. in Plant Science from the University of Idaho, specializing in plant breeding and genetics. My research focuses on improving wheat through disease resistance breeding, genomic selection, and advanced crop monitoring techniques. As a member of the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), I have expanded my professional network, gained access to advance research, and received honors such as the Gerald O. Mott Award and Borlaug Scholar Award. The Society’s conferences and workshops have been invaluable in shaping my research and career.

I am a graduate student at the University of Georgia, researching drought tolerance mechanisms in warm-season turfgrasses using transcriptomics and metabolomics. My work focuses on identifying key stress-responsive genes, metabolic pathways, and hormonal interactions that contribute to drought resilience. By integrating physiological and molecular data, I aim to understand the stress tolerance mechanisms in turfgrass species. The Societies have provided valuable opportunities to present my research, connect with peers, and engage in professional development.

I am a Ph.D. candidate at South Dakota State University specializing in plant breeding, genetics, and digital phenotyping. My research focuses on UAV imagery, genomic selection, and advanced machine learning techniques to refine phenotypic data and develop predictive models for wheat breeding. I aim to modernize phenotyping methods, enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and adaptability to agricultural challenges. My goal is to advance digital phenotyping and image analysis, driving sustainable practices that empower farmers with high-yielding, resilient crop varieties to ensure global food security.

Originally from southeast TN, Dr. Sullivan is an assistant and extension area agronomist at Kansas State University. Her doctoral research focuses on drought defense options for the Intermountain West cropping systems. Now, she works on various issues facing farmers of northeastern Kansas ranging from emerging crop diseases to water quality issues. Additionally, she is a Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) for Tennessee and Northwestern Region.