Alejandra Huerta

Dr. Alejandra Huerta is an Assistant Professor in the Entomology and Plant Pathology Department. Her lab takes a basic and applied research approach to study the biology underlying bacteria-plant and bacteria-microbiome interactions with the long term goal of better understanding how plant pathogens infect their host and translating these findings into sustainable crop management strategies.

Learn more about Dr. Huerta, her research, and lab: phytobacteriology.wordpress.ncsu.edu

Ramon Leon

Dr. Leon’s research and extension program focuses on increasing knowledge about weed biology and ecology as well as the development of innovative strategies for weed management in agricultural and non-agricultural systems.

Learn more: weedbio.wordpress.ncsu.edu

Michael Schulman

Michael Schulman, PhD, specializes in the sociology of agriculture and rural sociology. His work focuses upon changes in the structure of agriculture and the social psychological and behavioral adaptations made by individuals and families to changes in economic conditions, the organization of work, and the labor process. He has completed research on stress and adaptation to economic hardship among rural families, on changes in the structure of agriculture, on the decline of African-American farmers, and on textile worker responses to technological change and firm consolidation. He has examined the impact of economic restructuring on occupational mortality rates and developed ecological models to examine the relationship between the employment and demographic characteristics of labor markets and occupational fatality rates.

Learn more about about Dr. Schulman here.

Stephanie Kulesza

Dr. Kulesza’s research and Extension program focuses on nutrient management in animal agricultural systems, determining appropriate application rates to maximize crop production while minimizing the risk of environmental impacts.

David Suchoff

Dr. Suchoff is an Extension Organic Production Systems Specialist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences.

Learn more about his work: ces.ncsu.edu/profile/david-suchoff

Stephanie Ward

Dr. Ward is a Dairy Science Extension Specialist at NC State University. Her research is focused on calf and heifer growth and development, lactating cow nutrition and management, and application of precision technologies on dairy farms.

Alex Woodley

Dr. Woodley is an Assistant Professor in Sustainable and Organic Soil Fertility in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences. His research program is focused on soil productivity and profitability in sustainable and organic cropping systems. Research initiatives include linking soil health indicators to productive agroecosystems, mitigation of soil greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient losses through leaching and nutrient management of inorganic fertilizers, organic amendments and cover crops.

Learn more about Dr. Woodley and his team at: sustainablesoils.wordpress.ncsu.edu/research-group

Hannah Levenson

Hannah is a community ecologist interested in investigating how humans impact the environment and exploring ways to mitigate those impacts. She uses pollinators in agricultural settings with concepts of integrated pest and pollinator management as tools to research these interactions. Hannah is a bee expert with experience researching both native bees and honey bees in US and international settings. She has investigated the impacts of pollinator habitat on bee populations, pathogen ecology, and crop yield. She co-authored “The Bees of North Carolina: An Identification Guide” and regularly participates in extension events educating the public about pollinator biology.

Learn more about Hannah at https://cals.ncsu.edu/entomology-and-plant-pathology/people/hklevens/

Mallory Choudoir

Mallory and her group focuses on the ecological and evolutionary processes driving plant-soil-microbe interactions in North Carolina agroecosystems.Their research impacts decisions about land management, cropping systems, and nutrient inputs to prioritize soil microbiome resilience and stability and to maximize crop productivity. Her lab is based in the Plant and Microbial Biology Department within NC State Extension at North Carolina State University. Mallory focuses on climate change, intensive agriculture practices, and the increasing demands of food systems that threaten soil microbiome biodiversity and their important ecosystem functions. The lab’s research philosophy aligns with environmental, social, and climate justice goals.

Learn more and follow Mallory at https://www.malloryjchoudoir.com/

Anders Huseth

The broad emphasis of his research program is to understand relevant interactions between nature, crops, and farmers by revealing synergies and conflicts between pest control, environmental, and socio-economic goals. Focused on a central theme of geography, his program uses a landscape-level research approach that unifies fundamental concepts of arthropod life history strategies with landscape ecology to understand complex communities of pests and beneficial arthropods. His lab studies these basic ecological principles in a framework of contemporary agricultural systems to generate research-based extension information that targets key stakeholder groups (growers, consultants, extension, industry) with the goal of reducing the negative impacts of pest management practices.

Learn more about Anders at https://cals.ncsu.edu/entomology-and-plant-pathology/people/ashuseth/

Amanda Avila Cardoso

The Cardoso lab is located in the Crop and Soil Sciences department of the NC State University. They are interested in various plant physiological processes – from water transport to photosynthesis – and how they are affected by abiotic stressors. Studies are performed utilizing several crops, including woody and herbaceous. Plants are cultivated in either greenhouse or field conditions. A wide diversity of specialized techniques is employed in our lab. They include measurements of leaf gas exchange, plant hydraulics, quantification of hormones, plant growth, and leaf senescence. The lab strives to collaborate with plant breeders, soil scientists, plant ecologists, and extension specialists to improve our understanding of crop plants and agricultural practices.

Learn more about Amanda at https://amandaavilacardoso.wixsite.com/ecophyslab