Colleagues, friends, and supporters of UT AgResearch,
Campus is bustling! Faculty, staff, and students are back from their summer experiences, and those new to the University of Tennessee and the UT Institute of Agriculture are still finding their way around campus. It’s truly invigorating to see all the work ongoing in labs and fields as research endeavors are launched or continued.
Still, it’s important to acknowledge and celebrate our achievements since the close of Spring semester. Collectively, UT AgResearch has been recognized the world over for our excellence in turfgrass research, agricultural policy analysis, building bridges from the field to factories with new biobased products and opportunities for workforce development, multiple knowledge-transfer field days, and more.
This newsletter offers a glimpse at your collective and individual efforts. It was definitely a summer to remember. I’m proud to have the honor to serve with such excellent scholars and scientists and can’t wait to see what the rest of the year has in store for UT AgResearch as we seek to provide Real. Life. Solutions. to those we serve.
Hongwei Xin
Dean, Director, and Professor, UT AgResearch
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
UTIA Sets the Stage for FIFA WORLD CUP 26 and More
John Sorochan (center), distinguished professor of turfgrass science and management in the Department of Plant Sciences
Even if you’re not a fan of soccer, it would have been hard to miss the sport’s greatest tournament, the FIFA WORLD CUP 26, which was held over several weeks (June 11-July 19) and viewed by billions of people the world over.
And hopefully you’re aware that our John Sorochan, distinguished professor of turfgrass science and management, led a collaboration of UT and Michigan State University scientists to produce the best possible playing surfaces (pitches) for the tournament’s 104 matches among forty-eight teams across sixteen venues—including five indoor stadiums—at different altitudes across three climatic zones and four time zones (Canada, Mexico, and USA).
But did you know there is still more to the story? Research to improve surfaces for all sorts of sports will continue, impacting athletes of all skill levels and providing opportunities for students and turfgrass growers.
Building BRIDGES for the Future
Niki Labbé, Institute Professor and director of the Center for Renewable Carbon in the School of Natural Resources
UTIA and its partners have been awarded an initial $15 million from the National Science Foundation to launch the BRIDGES Engine, an economic driver for Tennessee and Alabama. The grant comes with the opportunity to receive up to a total of $160 million over the next ten years.
This groundbreaking initiative will convert underutilized farmland into a hub for bio-based manufacturing, creating new markets for farmers, attracting private investment, supporting workforce development, and generating thousands of high-quality jobs.
BRIDGES represents a major step forward in building a sustainable circular bioeconomy and strengthening rural communities throughout the Southeast. Niki Labbé, Institute Professor and director of the Center for Renewable Carbon in the School of Natural Resources, will lead the UT team of scientists who will collaborate with partners including HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology and Auburn University.
Recognizing the potential impact of BRIDGES engine, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development has awarded an additional grant of $10 million from the state’s Federal Innovation Grant Matching Fund to support the initiative.
Faculty Recognized for Outstanding Achievements
Congratulations to Juan Luis Jurat-Fuentes of the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. He was named the 2026 Charles E. Wharton Institute Professor at the annual UTIA Awards Luncheon on August 4.
Researchers across multiple UTIA units and departments were also recognized, and faculty promotions were celebrated at the annual Promotions Reception later that day.
The AgResearch award recipients include:
- Tarek Hewezi – UT AgResearch Dean’s Professor, Department of Plant Sciences
- Troy Rowan – Powell Family Endowed Chair in Genomics, Department of Animal Science and College of Veterinary Medicine Large Animal Clinical Science
- Mi Li – T.J. Whatley Distinguished Young Scientist Award, School of Natural Resources/Center for Renewable Carbon
- Phillip Myer – Mid-Career Faculty Research Excellence Award, Department of Animal Science
- Edward Yu – Research & Development Impact Award, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
- Jie (Joe) Zhuang – J.E. Moss Award, Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science
- Sarah Armstrong – Outstanding Professional Staff Award, Department of Plant Sciences
- Heba Abdelgaffar – Outstanding Professional Staff Award, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology
- David McIntosh – Outstanding Support Staff Award, Department of Plant Sciences
- Amy Fulcher – Grantsmanship Awardee, Professor, Department of Plant Sciences
- Hao Gan – Grantsmanship Awardee, Associate Professor, Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science
- Le Chen–Grantsmanship Awardee, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
- Ngan Nguyen – Bob and Karen Miller Outstanding MS graduate student, Department of Food Science
- Sobhan Bahrami Zadegan – Bob and Karen Miller Outstanding PhD graduate student, Department of Plant Sciences and Genome Science and Technology
Those receiving promotions and/or tenure include:
- Sebe Brown promoted to associate professor with tenure in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology
- Vermont Dia promoted to professor in the Department of Food Science
- Augustin Engman promoted to associate professor with tenure in the School of Natural Resources
- Jamie Greig promoted to associate professor with tenure in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications
- Denita Hadziabdic Guerry promoted to professor in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology
- Sindhu Jagadamma promoted to professor in the Department of Biosystem Engineering and Soil Science
- Scott Lenaghan promoted to professor in the Department of Food Science
- Mi Li promoted to associate professor with tenure in the School of Natural Resources
- Phillip Myer promoted to professor in the Department of Animal Science
- Mitchell Richmond promoted to associate professor with tenure in the Department of Plant Sciences
- Alicia Rihn promoted to associate professor with tenure in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
- Troy Rowan promoted to associate professor with tenure in the Department of Animal Science
- Debasish Saha promoted to associate professor with tenure in the Department of Biosystem Engineering and Soil Science
- Ryan Sharp promoted to professor in the School of Natural Resources
- Kellie Walters promoted to associate professor with tenure in the Department of Plant Sciences
See UTIA News for more details.
If It’s Summer, We Have Field Days
Each fall the Cotton Tour at the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center is popular with producers and industry representatives.
Our system of ten AgResearch and Education Centers across the state is among the most comprehensive in the nation, and we are proud each year to show off our facilities and share our research findings at a variety of events designed to educate and inform the public on best agricultural, forestry, horticultural, or land management practices.
If you missed some events earlier this year, don’t worry. Several more are on the calendar this fall, and their topics range from cotton production and home gardening to precision livestock farming.
Check out the times and dates and plan to join us!
More Faculty Recognitions and Honorifics!
Jennifer DeBruyn, professor in the Department of Biosystem Engineering and Soil Science, was elected 2025 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and received a lifetime appointment on the AAAS Council.
Karen DeLong, professor, and Carlos Trejo-Pech, associate professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, have been named editors for the Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics.
Lannett Edwards, professor in the Department of Animal Science, received the UT Chancellor’s Alexander Prize Award for her superior teaching and distinguished scholarship.
Heather Kelly, professor in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, was selected for the Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Award – Fulbright – FAPESP Network (Brazil).
Scott Lenaghan, professor in the Department of Food Science, received the UTK Chancellor’s Innovation Fund Award along with Alex Pfotenhauer, research assistant professor in the Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology.
Scott Lenaghan, professor of food science, and Neal Stewart, professor of plant sciences, secured $2.5 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) for a project that reduce synthetic nitrogen fertilizer use in corn and sorghum production. Both are key crops for U.S. ethanol production.
Justin McKinney, the UT Northeast AgResearch and Education Center director, received the William T. Miles MD Memorial Award for Community Service for his work with the Hurricane Helene Flood Recovery Team.
Andrew Muhammad, professor and Blasingame Chair of Excellence in Agricultural Policy in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, was the recipient of the 2026 Farm Foundation R.J. Hildreth Public Policy Award.
Phillip Myer, professor of animal science, received $750,000 in funding from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture to fund a Fellowship for Undergraduate Scientific Exchange in Animal Science. Nicknamed FUSE, the program will link undergraduate students with hands-on experience that connects scientific research directly to agricultural practice.
Bruno Pedreira, associate professor in the Department of Plant Sciences, received the Success in Multidisciplinary Research award from the UT Provost’s Office to recognize the Hurricane Helene Flood Recovery Team.
John Sorochan, distinguished professor in the Department of Plant Sciences, was named a UT Chancellor’s Professor.
Toni Wang, Institute professor in the Department of Food Science, received the 2026 University of Tennessee System Excel in All We Do President’s Award, the highest honor a UT employee can receive. Wang was also the recipient of UTK’s Excellence in Research and Creative Achievement Award.
Joe Zhuang, professor in the Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, was elected 2025 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and received a lifetime appointment on the AAAS Council.
Welcoming New Hires
Adam Ahlers as director of the School of Natural Resources. Started August 1.
Joseph Blumberg, assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Resilient Agricultural and Forestry Systems, a cluster hire with a 75 percent research and 25 percent teaching appointment. Started August 1.
Brian Burns was named the UT AgResearch executive director of business and finance after the retirement of Cyndie Nichols.
Dereck Corbin has been named interim director of the UT Plateau Research and Education Center as Director Walt Hitch prepares to retire. Started July 1.
Alexis Hamilton, assistant professor in the Department of Food Science, with 30 percent research and 70 percent Extension appointment. Started August 1.
Qi Jiang, assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, with a 75 percent research and 25 percent teaching appointment. Started August 1.
Joy Rumble as head of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications. Started August 1.
