MSU Innovation Center recognizes faculty, student inventors

EAST LANSING, Mich. — The 2018 Innovation Celebration highlights ground-breaking technology from Michigan State University labs and startup companies from across campus.

The MSU Innovation Center recognizes the MSU Innovator of the Year, Innovation of the Year, Corporate Connector of the Year and an award for lifetime Technology Transfer Achievement. Commended for their perseverance and creativity at the MSU Innovation Celebration, awardees are presented with plaques and a cash prize.

The 2017 Innovation of the Year award goes to Dr. Donald Morelli, chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science. His work in thermoelectric materials converts waste heat sources into electricity.

The 2018 Innovators of the Year are Drs. Christoph Benning and John Ohlrogge, for their work in understanding how plants accumulate oil, via WRINKLED1 genetic research. Their key discovery, WRINKLED1 is the name for a ubiquitous regulator in oil-accumulating plant tissues.

Many plant species accumulate vegetable oil in their seeds as a major storage component, which provides carbon and energy for seedling development. These oils are a staple in the human diet and are increasingly important as renewable feed stocks for industry.

Benning is MSU Foundation Professor and director of the Plant Research Laboratory, and Ohlrogge is professor emeritus of Plant Biology and University Distinguished Professor at MSU.

With nearly 100 inventions disclosed, more than 400 peer-reviewed papers, 35 patents and 16 technologies licensed to industry, the 2018 MSU Technology Transfer Achievement Award goes to Dr. Lawrence T. Drzal, University Distinguished Professor in the Chemical Engineering and Materials Science. Applications for his expertise range from automotive and construction industries to fuel cells, batteries and electronics.

MSU's Corporate Connector of the Year is Dr. David J. Closs, the John H. McConnell Chair Professor of Business Administration in the Department of Supply Chain Management. His extensive work as an active mentor, connector and member on the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals has connected countless undergraduate and graduate students to future employers, and brought MSU's innovative research to real-world business challenges around the world.

INFB’s Hall receives Apex Award from Purdue University

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Indiana Farm Bureau (INFB) Director of Public Policy Katrina Hall was honored by the Purdue University Department of Agricultural Economics. Hall was one of four recipients of the department’s annual Apex Awards.

The award recognizes alumni with a strong connection to the department who have made great contributions in their field. Hall was recognized for her policy advocacy efforts throughout her career on the behalf of INFB members at the state, local and national level. She is well respected by her peers as an expert on tax and fiscal issues, local and state government and education policy. Hall serves as the chair of the board of the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute.

“I grew up knowing that the Purdue Department of Agricultural Economics was the thought leader in ag policy and witnessed firsthand their direct outreach to farmers,” Hall said. “They are a critical partner working toward the betterment of agriculture through the policy process at Farm Bureau. I cannot say enough about the contribution this department and the College of Agriculture make in Indiana.”

Hall has been with INFB since 1999. Before becoming the director of public policy, she served as its director of state government relations and its tax and local government specialist, before that.

UT ag economist will help lead national think tank

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Dr. Andrew Muhammad, professor and Blasingame Chair of Excellence at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, has been invited to serve on the board of directors for the Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics, also known as C-FARE.

The council provides information and expertise to decision makers in Washington and functions as a catalyst for incorporating economic principles into the analysis of agricultural and resource decisions. C-FARE matches expertise to public needs, serving as a conduit between academic research, extension and national policymakers.

Muhammad’s considerable experience includes leadership positions at USDA’s Economic Research Service, where he developed an extensive network of trade policy experts and forged solid working relationships with decision makers in the public and private sectors. His research on global food demand has been widely cited and used in economic and global models used by USDA (the baseline GTAP model) and by the International Food Policy Research Institute (the IMPACT model).

Muhammad’s current research focuses on agricultural trade and trade policy, effects of trade on developing countries and global food demand. His appointment began May 1, and he will serve a three-year term.

Research made possible through ICMC assistantships

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) has awarded two Purdue University students the annual Graduate Student Corn Research Assistantships to fund their research in the 2018 academic year.

These funds, provided by ICMC in collaboration with the Department of Agricultural Research and Graduate Education in the College of Agriculture, are intended to support the research phase of graduate students’ master’s and doctoral programs. Nicholas Thompson and Aaron Etienne are this year’s recipients of ICMC’s annual assistantships of $25,000.

Thompson, who works with Dr. Tony Vyn in cropping systems research, is currently working on two projects that study corn yield and efficiency consequences of alternate N fertilizer timing and placement strategies with modern equipment in large field experiments.

Etienne, who works with Dr. Dharmendra Saraswat in the agricultural and biological engineering department, researches artificial intelligence-based image classification methods. He is currently analyzing different classification methods to discover one that results in accurate differentiation between weeds, corn and soybeans, with the goal of implementing the best algorithm into a broader sensor system to accurately detect weeds in the field in real time.

The Graduate Student Corn Research Assistantships were established in 2015 by ICMC in honor of Indiana Corn farmer and former ICMC chair Gary Lamie, who passed away suddenly in 2013.

University of Tennessee announces 2018 Farm Credit Scholars

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ― For now they’re bright, talented students. In the near future, they’ll be charged with taking their passion for agriculture and helping to feed the world and care for our planet.

The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is announcing the selection of five new members of the Farm Credit Scholars Program, which is funded by Farm Credit Mid-America and provides scholars with a $3,000 annual scholarship and many educational and professional development opportunities.

These students will study customized coursework, travel to Washington, D.C., take field trips to agricultural enterprises, have mentoring opportunities and work in a Farm Credit internship. This partnership was formed in 2012, and 37 students have received the honor of participating in this program.

This year’s Scholars are Erin Bacon, a sophomore from Dandridge, Tenn., in ag leadership, education & communication and animal science; John Calvin Bryant, a junior from Lawrenceburg majoring in food science; Cora Beth Key, a sophomore from Celina in animal science; Hailey Rose Viars, a sophomore from Loudon in ag leadership, education & communications and public relations; and Madison Kilbarger, a sophomore from Jamestown, Ohio, majoring in food and agricultural business.

The students will take courses in agricultural law, farm management, agricultural finance, communications and leadership. In addition, they are required to complete a special project during their internship with written and oral reports to Farm Credit administrators, as well as UT faculty and fellow students. The recipients may renew the scholarships each year of their undergraduate studies provided they meet the requirements.

Apply for a fall internship with National Farmers Union in D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — National Farmers Union Internship Programs offer real-world work experience in NFU’s Washington, D.C., office. Internships typically last two months and may be tailored to the career goals of the individual.

Internship areas of interest include communications, cooperative development, economics, education, membership marketing, policy research and political science. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis, but those for this fall are being accepted now.

To apply for a fall 2018 internship, submit a cover letter, résumé and writing sample to Alexis Dunnum by email at adunnum@nfudc.org

Scholar joins Noble Research Institute for summer of learning

ARDMORE, Okla. — Each summer, the Noble Research Institute provides more than a dozen college students with a life-changing experience, not just an internship.

The Lloyd Noble Scholars in Agriculture and Plant Science programs provide elite college students from across the United States with an opportunity to work side-by-side with Noble Research Institute staff in Ardmore. They offer students the opportunity to work alongside agricultural professionals in six core areas of expertise: animal science and livestock management, agricultural economics, horticulture, range and pasture management, soils and crops and wildlife and fisheries.

It provides students the chance to conduct plant science research with mentor scientists in the Noble Research Institute laboratories and greenhouse facilities. Students selected for either program must demonstrate academic merit, and they must complete a rigorous application and interview process.

Among the 2018 Lloyd Noble Scholars in Plant Science is Cameron Reed, a student at Southern Illinois University in plant biology.

Funding for the plant science scholar program is provided by the Noble Research Institute and the National Science Foundation. For more information, visit www.noble.org/education/scholar-program