The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) Graduate Fellowship was developed to provide financial support and recognition for future leaders, researchers and contributors in sustainable agriculture and local food systems while they engage in academic research to further the field of study.

The Fellowship offers a one-year, $5,000 stipend for Master’s students and a two-year, $5,000-per-year stipend for Doctoral students.

The Fellowship is an important opportunity for students to meet and interact with graduate students from other departments, with other areas of expertise. “With climate change and other pressing food systems challenges, we need interdisciplinary solutions and we hope this Fellowship is the start of students working beyond their discipline. Some of our past Fellows are now collaborating with other CEFS Fellows on ideas sparked during their Fellowship experience. I’m excited to see what happens with this year’s cohort,” says Dr. Angel Cruz, CEFS Academic and Extension Initiatives Manager.

The CEFS North Carolina State University (NC State) Graduate Fellowship Program was made possible by an endowment from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation.

The 2025-2026 CEFS NC State Graduate Fellows and their departments/research areas are:

2025 Cohort – NC State

Clarisse Owens | Master Degree| Forestry and Environmental Resources | NC State University

Clarisse is receiving a M.S. with the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University. Advised by Dr. Kurt Smith, she contributes to the retention of wild and working lands through the study of heirs’ property. Heirs’ property is a structure of collective family ownership that often has deep historical and cultural significance. There are an estimated six million acres of heirs’ property in the U.S. South, and NC contains the second largest amount at 300,000-500,000 acres. The vast majority of this land is undeveloped, containing wild and working lands. Increasing rates of farmland loss from development pressure poses a direct threat to families with heirs’ property.

Clarisse utilizes interviews and workshops to engage with heirs’ property owners and understand their experiences with land management and loss. Some heirs’ properties are managed for agriculture, agritourism, forestry, conservation, or other avenues of income generation, despite legal barriers that limit owners’ access to loans and cost-share programs. Learning from families about their experiences enhances land retention strategy and the production of food, fuel, and fiber.

Clarisse is a University of Michigan alum and has always felt most at home when near water or the woods. Her background in food systems with North Carolina State Extension and Cornell Cooperative Extension guide her goals around technical and educational programming with landowners.

Adam Michael Breister | Doctorate | Genetics & Genomics | NC State University

Adam Breister is a Microbiology PhD student and an NC State University Genetics & Genomics Scholar advised by Dr. Mallory Choudoir. Adam received his B.S. in Microbiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2019. He is interested in using computational methods along with environmental nutrient data to understand microbial ecology globally. He is particularly interested in understanding microbial functionality and the impacts of microbiome function on the environment, with a current focus on farming systems. His current research is in collaboration with Dr. Alex Woodley at NC State looking at the legacy effects of different organic amendments on agricultural soil microbial community structure and function. He is also looking at the effects of flooding events on agricultural soil microbial communities through the use of microcosm samples with soils collected from the CEFS Field Research, Education, and Outreach Facility at Cherry Research Farm.

Soil ecosystems are one of the largest sinks of carbon in the world, and microbes play a major role in the cycling of nutrients including carbon. Soil organic matter, which is commonly used as a soil health indicator, is partially made up of microbial cells, and it is manipulated and transformed through microbial metabolic processes. Microbes in soils, especially in agricultural soils, make up an important part of the ecosystem in terms of productivity and should be considered important members of the entire agricultural ecosystem. Extreme weather events like those resulting in flooding can have major impacts on soil microorganisms, which can in turn impact higher level ecological processes in agroecosystems. Adam’s research aims to provide insight into how external stimuli impact microbial communities in agricultural soils with the hope of including microorganisms in the framework of agricultural sustainability.

He is excited to be a part of the CEFS fellowship program and hopes that this opportunity will allow him to increase his knowledge of agricultural system sustainability and soil chemistry in an effort to better integrate his research on microbial communities into the current ecological framework.

Praneswar Ghosh | Doctorate | Soil Science | NC State University

Praneswar Ghosh (who goes by PG) is a Ph.D. student in Soil Science at North Carolina State University, in the Sihi Biogeochemistry Lab led by Dr. Debjani Sihi. PG’s research primarily focuses on measuring soil carbon and nutrient cycle proxies and quantifying greenhouse gas (carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) benefits of sustainable agricultural practices using a combination of empirical and modeling approaches. The broader impacts of his studies include reducing greenhouse gas emissions from natural and managed ecosystems and enhancing soil carbon sequestration by promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Additionally, PG is also interested in developing low-cost, user-friendly nutrient sensors to measure and monitor nutrient losses (such as nitrogen as ammonia volatilization and phosphorus) from agricultural fields in real time. His work will help farmers in quickly diagnosing problems in the management practices and guide stakeholders and policymakers in North Carolina and beyond in real-time decision-making, ultimately lowering costs and minimizing environmental impacts.

Before joining the Sihi lab at NC State, PG completed his Bachelor’s in Agriculture and Master’s in Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (BCKV), West Bengal, India. His Master’s research examined how different land management practices affect phosphorus dynamics in soils across diverse agro-ecological regions of eastern India. The broader goals of his work were to reduce phosphorus loss to the waterbodies and recommend best management practices to maintain ecosystem sustainability and soil health over the long term. As a CEFS Fellow, PG aims to deepen his understanding of North Carolina’s farming systems and explore how his research can drive meaningful and lasting change in the agricultural workforce. Outside the lab, PG enjoys gardening, playing outdoor games, and traveling.

For more information about the CEFS NC State Graduate Fellows Program, please visit the CEFS website.

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems is a partnership of NC State University, NC Agricultural and Technical State University and the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. CEFS develops and promotes just and equitable food and farming systems that conserve natural resources, strengthen communities, improve health outcomes, and provide economic opportunities in North Carolina and beyond. For more information, visit www.cefs.ncsu.edu.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Media Contact: Dr. Angel Cruz,  Academic and Extension Initiatives Manager – aecruz@ncsu.edu

Raleigh, NC:  The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) Graduate Fellowship was developed to provide financial support and recognition for future leaders, researchers and contributors in sustainable agriculture and local food systems while they engage in academic research to further the field of study.

The Fellowship offers a one-year, $5,000 stipend for Master’s students and a two-year, $5,000-per-year stipend for Doctoral students.

The Fellowship is an important opportunity for students to meet and interact with graduate students from other departments, with other areas of expertise. “With climate change and other pressing food systems challenges, we need interdisciplinary solutions and we hope this Fellowship is the start of students working beyond their discipline. Some of our past Fellows are now collaborating with other CEFS Fellows on ideas sparked during their Fellowship experience. I’m excited to see what happens with this year’s cohort,” says Dr. Angel Cruz, CEFS Academic and Extension Initiatives Manager.

The CEFS North Carolina State University (NC State) Graduate Fellowship Program was made possible by an endowment from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation.

The 2023-2024 CEFS NC State Graduate Fellows and their departments/research areas are:

2023-2024 Cohort – NC State

Bianca Jimenez | Doctorate | Applied Ecology | NC State University

Bianca Jimenez is a PhD student within the Applied Ecology Department conducting research under the guidance of Dr. Rebecca Irwin. Her research is centered on understanding the underlying mechanisms that facilitate the transmission of the bumble bee parasite, Crithidia bombi, particularly in the context of spillback transmission. Recent studies have revealed that although bumble bees serve as the primary hosts for Crithidia bombi, other potential hosts can also become infected. What remains largely unexplored is the extent to which these alternate hosts can transmit these infections back to bumble bees. Parasitic infections in bumble bees have been linked to population declines, and such declines have direct implications for our food systems due to their role in pollination. Gaining insights into the spillback mechanisms associated with these infections could potentially contribute to mitigating the decline of bumble bee populations and thereby offer significant benefits for our food systems. In the future, Bianca aspires to continue her research, delving deeper into the factors driving bee population decline and their impacts on our food systems. She is also excited to connect with other CEFS fellows and work together to create sustainable food systems.

DoYeong Hur | Doctorate | Soil Science | NC State University

DoYeong Hur is a Ph.D. student in Soil Science at North Carolina State University, in the Sustainable and Organic Soil Fertility Lab led by Dr. Alex Woodley. His research is primarily focused on the evaluation of enhanced efficiency fertilizers for reducing nitrous oxide emissions and ammonia volatilization in corn systems. The objective of his research is to provide production level regional emission factors, economic assessments, and reduction potential of environmental externalities of management choices that include full and reduced nitrogen rates with the use of enhanced efficiency fertilizers. DoYeong’s research aims to investigate the possibilities of reducing N losses in the form of nitrous oxide and ammonia while sustaining crop productivity by applying enhanced efficiency fertilizers. Moreover, he intends to utilize data collected over three years from six field sites annually, in conjunction with DeNitrification DeComposition (DNDC) modeling, to simulate nitrogen cycling and assess nitrous oxide emissions.

Prior to joining NC State, DoYeong completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Soil Science at Pusan National University in South Korea. During his graduate studies, he researched recycling byproducts like bottom ash to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, he contributed to research that registered nitrous oxide emission factors from various types of animal manure in South Korea with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Throughout the CEFS program, he eagerly anticipates gaining insights from colleagues and experts in this field, all the while applying and disseminating that knowledge through research and extension initiatives.

Lillian Lower | Doctorate | Biological and Agricultural Engineering | NC State University

Lillian is a Ph.D student in Biological and Agricultural Engineering at North Carolina State University, in the Biocarbon Utilization and Sequestration Lab. Her research is focused on producing anode materials for lithium-ion batteries from unique biomasses and waste materials via catalytic graphitization. This process can produce battery-grade graphite from previously non-graphitizing materials and will enable the valorization of lignocellulosic wastes and residues while producing an energy storage material. The goal of this work is to study the particular implications mechanism, biomass, catalyst type and loading have on electrochemical performance of the anode materials produced. Lillian hopes that this work will create more avenues for sustainability and waste utilization in North Carolina’s food and agriculture systems while establishing interdisciplinary partnerships between material scientists and agricultural stakeholders. Before beginning her doctoral program, Lillian received her Bachelor’s degree from Gonzaga University in Civil Engineering and her Master’s degree from NC State in Biological and Agricultural Engineering. She has also had the chance to work on small and large-scale urban and rural farms through an AmeriCorps term of service in West Virginia. She continues to pursue her passions for sustainability and service by being an active member of her department’s education and outreach group. Through the CEFS Fellowship, Lillian hopes to learn more about North Carolina’s farming systems and how her and her peer’s research and extension projects can create lasting impacts. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her dog and cooking.

Sam Carroll | Master’s | Crop Science | NC State University

Sam is pursuing her Master’s Degree in Crop Science at NC State under the direction of Dr. David Suchoff in the Alternative Crops Lab. Her research is part of a large grant focused on developing best field practices for fiber hemp in the Southeast. She is hoping to help establish fiber hemp as an economically viable and sustainable option for growers in North Carolina as a response to the declining tobacco acreage and increasing environmental pressures. Sam’s research focuses on yield and fiber quality. Fiber hemp is a “new” crop for North Carolina (due to legislation and loss of generational knowledge of growing practices), so she enjoys experimenting with new and improving methods for planting, harvesting, and processing fiber. Fiber hemp has numerous applications in the woven and non-woven industries, which has opened the door for partnership with the Wilson College of Textiles at NC State. She hopes to use her time at NC State to build relationships between researchers, growers, and the textile industry.

Fred Teasley | Doctorate | Crop and Soil Sciences | NC State University

Fred Teasley is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences working with advisor Dr. Alex Woodley. His research is investigating soil health dynamics of farming systems transitioning from conventional to organic management. Soil health, a concept that can be broadly defined as functioning for a desired purpose, is largely tied to soil organic carbon in agroecosystems. Soil organic carbon is important for organic farming because it promotes soil biological activity, which in turn controls the release of plant nutrients from important sources, such as cover crop residues. Farmers seeking to adopt organic management are often hampered by low soil organic carbon levels, a condition especially pertinent to the Coastal Plain region of North Carolina. Therefore, the conventional-to-organic transition period represents a period of increased risk for farmers seeking to maximize yields and maintain profit.

Soil health indicators, laboratory tests that couple the biological, chemical, and physical functions of soil, can provide useful insight into the capacity of agricultural soils for supporting organic management during the transition period. However, test results may be subject to differences between soils of different regions, necessitating region-specific studies that seek to better understand how test results should be interpreted. Fred’s research seeks to better understand which soil health indicators are of the most relevance to organically managed, low carbon soils of the North Carolina Coastal Plain.

Fred obtained a B.S. from Towson University in Environmental Science and a M.S. from the University of Delaware in Plant and Soil Science. His interest in agriculture was initially kindled while engaged in work-trade arrangements on small farms located throughout the United States. Upon graduating from the University of Delaware, he took a job unrelated to agriculture working for a local government, but realized that his interest in agriculture was not abating when he found himself running backyard, DIY field studies in soil fertility. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music, cooking, and repairing vintage motorcycles.

For more information about the CEFS NC State Graduate Fellows Program, please visit the CEFS website.

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems is a partnership of NC State University, NC Agricultural and Technical State University and the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. CEFS develops and promotes just and equitable food and farming systems that conserve natural resources, strengthen communities, improve health outcomes, and provide economic opportunities in North Carolina and beyond. For more information, visit www.cefs.ncsu.edu.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Media Contact: Dr. Angel Cruz,  Academic and Extension Initiatives Manager – aecruz@ncsu.edu

Raleigh, NC:  The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) Graduate Fellowship was developed to provide financial support and recognition for future leaders, researchers and contributors in sustainable agriculture and local food systems while they engage in academic research to further the field of study.

The Fellowship offers a one-year, $5,000 stipend for Master’s students and a two-year, $5,000-per-year stipend for Doctoral students.

Angel Cruz, CEFS Academic and Extension Initiatives Manager, is excited about another great cohort of diverse graduate students and our first Graduate Fellows from the Bio and Ag Engineering Department. “I’m especially excited to get back to doing in person activities with this year’s cohort. We are planning a trip to DC to learn more about the intersection of agricultural policy and research, as well as visiting local farms across NC.”

The CEFS North Carolina State University (NC State) Graduate Fellowship Program was made possible by an endowment from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation.

The 2022-2023 CEFS NC State Graduate Fellows and their departments/research areas are:

April Dobbs | Doctorate | Crop Science | NC State University

April is pursuing her Ph.D. in Crop Science at North Carolina State University, in the Weed Ecology and Biology Lab. Her research is focused on using 3-D imaging techniques to model and predict the effects of cover crops on weed suppression. The goal of this research is to provide growers with predictive tools for predicting late-season weed escapes based on variable cover crop performance in the field. This will enable growers to identify and spot-treat weedy patches earlier and with greater efficiency, which will greatly reduce labor and herbicide use. In addition to this research, April is also doing projects related to weediness risk potential and ecological factors in weed germination. 

Before coming to NC State, April completed her Bachelor’s degree in Genetics and Plant Biology at U.C. Berkeley, and a Master’s degree in Organismal and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard, where she studied seed morphology and dispersal in wild relatives of Arabidopsis thaliana. She also spent several years working on organic farms around the world, which is where she discovered her love for small-scale agriculture and the CSA model. April is excited to be joining the newest CEFS cohort and learning more about food production systems in North Carolina. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and playing the cello.

Carly Graves | Masters | Biological and Agricultural Engineering | NC State University

Carly is a Master’s student studying Biological and Agricultural Engineering with a passion for providing sustainable food sources for a growing population. Growing up in Wake Forest, NC, her exposure to agriculture was limited, but exposure at NC State to the intricacies of our food production systems sparked her interest. 

Her current research is in the area of agricultural waste management, specifically trying to engineer sustainable alternatives to reduce harmful emissions from animal production. After graduating with her M.S., Carly plans to join the workforce in a position that will allow her to interact with growers and producers while helping problem solve solutions in agricultural production while keeping air, water, and soil quality a priority.

During the CEFS program, she looks forward to learning from peers and experts in this field while applying and sharing that knowledge through research and extension opportunities.

Mariella Carbajal Carrasco | Doctorate | Biological and Agricultural Engineering | NC State University

Mariella Carbajal is a Ph.D. student in the Biosystems Analytics Lab led by Dr. Natalie Nelson. She is also part of the Sweetpotato Analytics for Produce Provenance and Scanning project (Sweet-APPS), which strives to develop new technologies to minimize waste and maximize value of North Carolina sweet potatoes. Her dissertation research focuses on the characterization and development of a growth simulation model for main North Carolina sweetpotato varieties, which currently do not exist. In addition, she is building predictive models using data analytics, machine learning and remote sensing to identify the main drivers of sweetpotato yield quality (in terms of shape characteristics) and quantity. As an agricultural scientist, she aims to create foundational knowledge and decision-support tools that help growers to implement improved crop management practices for optimizing productivity and sustainability for the benefit of local food systems and the environment.  

Prior to joining NC State, Mariella worked for several years as a researcher specialized in geospatial environmental and crop modeling, as well as in satellite and UAV based remote sensing applications. She was also a USDA Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellow at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where she researched soil organic carbon stocks using spectroscopy techniques.

Sandy Ethridge | Doctorate | Crop Science | NC State University

Sandy is a Ph.D. student at North Carolina State University in the Weed Ecology and Biology Lab. Her current research is focused on variable precision planting for site-specific maximization of weed suppression and yield in conventional or organic row crop systems. Field experiments were conducted to compare high density planting arrangements that maximize weed suppression, but might reduce yield, with low density planting arrangements to maximize crop yield under weed-free conditions. A bioeconomic model will then be created in order to optimize the balance between low density, weed free areas and high density, weedy areas that should be targeted for variable planting, considering seed costs and expected yield changes. This would provide a cost-benefit analysis when adopting this new integrated pest management strategy. Before she started her Ph.D., Sandy completed her Bachelor’s degree in Plant and Soil Science, with a concentration in Agroecology, at NC State. Sandy has also worked on many farms, including the Agroecology Education Farm at NC State, an organic vegetable farm in Long Island, New York, and in Dr. Jim Holland’s Maize Breeding and Genetics Lab.

Christopher Gillespie | Doctorate | Plant Pathology | NC State University

Christopher Jorelle Gillespie was born in Champaign-Urbana. Gillespie grew up in Douglas Park, an area historically stagnated by racial segregation and economic curtailment. Raised by a single mother, Gillespie was introduced to the sciences by his grandmother, who was an educator and University of Illinois affiliate. In May 2017, Gillespie received his bachelors in Crop and Soil Science from Michigan State University. Gillespie then matriculated to Oklahoma State University, obtaining a M.S. in Plant and Soil Science specializing in soil chemistry in June 2019. Currently, Gillespie is working towards a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology (specializing in soil biogeochemistry) at North Carolina State University. As a member of the Hu Lab, Gillespie’s primary research endeavors are focused on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within differing agroecosystems. Moreover, Gillespie seeks to explore the influence of soil physical properties, chemical processes, and microbial structure and functionality on GHG emissions in Southeastern soils.

Rebecca Shisler | Doctorate | Sociology and Anthropology | NC State University

Rebecca Shisler (she/her) is a Ph.D. student in the sociology department at North Carolina State University. Her dissertation research will focus on people who forage wild foods and plant materials (also referred to as Non-timber Forest Products (NTFPs)) and how one’s relationship to the land, local food systems, and policy shapes these practices. Her work engages with the socio-cultural aspects of agrifood systems and the natural environment.

At NC State, Rebecca has also conducted research for CEFS and the sociology department on farm to early care and education programs, farmers’ experiences with growing organic crops, student food and housing insecurity, food insecurity in North Carolina, and most recently, food insecurity and state policy during the Covid-19 pandemic as part of the FIRST research study. Rebecca earned her M.A. in Sociology at Colorado State University in 2016, where she studied the experiences of women farmers in Northern Colorado, and later worked for the local farmers’ market.

In the coming years, she is excited to connect with the other fellows and engage with people who are passionate about creating a better, more sustainable food system through research and extension.

Linnea Andersen | Doctorate | Applied Ecology | NC State University

Linnea Andersen is a PhD candidate at North Carolina State University. Her dissertation research is focused on using machine learning to determine genetic markers for superior aquaculture production traits in two commercially important fish, the striped bass and the hybrid striped bass. Linnea plans to use similar, “omics” -based approaches throughout her career to address issues of production yield, environmental sustainability, and overall food security for local and global agriculture systems and their communities. Linnea’s professional goals stem from a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors that distinctly took shape during her time as an undergraduate student learning about the potential for scientific research to help address challenges in natural resource management and food insecurity at the University of Maryland, College Park.

For more information about the CEFS NC State Graduate Fellows Program, please visit the CEFS website.

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems is a partnership of NC State University, NC Agricultural and Technical State University and the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. CEFS develops and promotes just and equitable food and farming systems that conserve natural resources, strengthen communities, improve health outcomes, and provide economic opportunities in North Carolina and beyond. For more information, visit www.cefs.ncsu.edu.

August 19, 2021: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Media Contact: Dr. Angel Cruz,  Academic and Extension Initiatives Manager – aecruz@ncsu.edu

Raleigh, NC:  The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) Graduate Fellowship was developed to provide financial support and recognition for future leaders, researchers and contributors in sustainable agriculture and local food systems while they engage in academic research to further the field of study.

The Fellowship offers a one-year, $5,000 stipend for Master’s students and a two-year, $5,000-per-year stipend for Doctoral students.

Angel Cruz, CEFS Academic and Extension Initiatives Manager, is especially excited this year about the breadth of research and experiences represented in the cohort. “With the complex food system challenges of today, such as global climate change, food security, environmental concerns, and all the supply chain challenges brought on by COVID-19,  innovation and interdisciplinary approaches to agricultural research and education are more necessary now than ever. This year’s cohort brings together students working in Plant Pathology, Crop Science, Entomology Sociology, and Applied Ecology and I am sure they will all learn a lot from each other. ”

The CEFS North Carolina State University (NC State) Graduate Fellowship Program was made possible by an endowment from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation.

The 2021-2022 CEFS NC State Graduate Fellows and their departments/research areas are:

Sandy Ramsey Ethridge | Doctorate | Crop Science | NC State University

Sandy is a Ph.D. student at North Carolina State University in the Weed Ecology and Biology Lab. Her current research is focused on variable precision planting for site-specific maximization of weed suppression and yield in conventional or organic row crop systems. Field experiments were conducted to compare high density planting arrangements that maximize weed suppression, but might reduce yield, with low density planting arrangements to maximize crop yield under weed-free conditions. A bioeconomic model will then be created in order to optimize the balance between low density, weed free areas and high density, weedy areas that should be targeted for variable planting, considering seed costs and expected yield changes. This would provide a cost-benefit analysis when adopting this new integrated pest management strategy. Before she started her Ph.D., Sandy completed her Bachelor’s degree in Plant and Soil Science, with a concentration in Agroecology, at NC State. Sandy has also worked on many farms, including the Agroecology Education Farm at NC State, an organic vegetable farm in Long Island, New York, and in Dr. Jim Holland’s Maize Breeding and Genetics Lab.

Christopher Jorelle Gillespie | Doctorate | Plant Pathology | NC State University

Christopher Jorelle Gillespie was born in Champaign-Urbana. Gillespie grew up in Douglas Park, an area historically stagnated by racial segregation and economic curtailment. Raised by a single mother, Gillespie was introduced to the sciences by his grandmother, who was an educator and University of Illinois affiliate. In May 2017, Gillespie received his bachelors in Crop and Soil Science from Michigan State University. Gillespie then matriculated to Oklahoma State University, obtaining a M.S. in Plant and Soil Science specializing in soil chemistry in June 2019. Currently, Gillespie is working towards a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology (specializing in soil biogeochemistry) at North Carolina State University. As a member of the Hu Lab, Gillespie’s primary research endeavors are focused on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within differing agroecosystems. Moreover, Gillespie seeks to explore the influence of soil physical properties, chemical processes, and microbial structure and functionality on GHG emissions in Southeastern soils.

Rebecca Christine Shisler | Doctorate | Sociology and Anthropology | NC State University

Rebecca Shisler (she/her) is a Ph.D. student in the sociology department at North Carolina State University. Her dissertation research will focus on people who forage wild foods and plant materials (also referred to as Non-timber Forest Products (NTFPs)) and how one’s relationship to the land, local food systems, and policy shapes these practices. Her work engages with the socio-cultural aspects of agrifood systems and the natural environment.

At NC State, Rebecca has also conducted research for CEFS and the sociology department on farm to early care and education programs, farmers’ experiences with growing organic crops, student food and housing insecurity, food insecurity in North Carolina, and most recently, food insecurity and state policy during the Covid-19 pandemic as part of the FIRST research study. Rebecca earned her M.A. in Sociology at Colorado State University in 2016, where she studied the experiences of women farmers in Northern Colorado, and later worked for the local farmers’ market.

In the coming years, she is excited to connect with the other fellows and engage with people who are passionate about creating a better, more sustainable food system through research and extension.

Linnea Kathryn Andersen | Doctorate | Applied Ecology | NC State University

Linnea Andersen is a PhD candidate at North Carolina State University. Her dissertation research is focused on using machine learning to determine genetic markers for superior aquaculture production traits in two commercially important fish, the striped bass and the hybrid striped bass. Linnea plans to use similar, “omics” -based approaches throughout her career to address issues of production yield, environmental sustainability, and overall food security for local and global agriculture systems and their communities. Linnea’s professional goals stem from a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors that distinctly took shape during her time as an undergraduate student learning about the potential for scientific research to help address challenges in natural resource management and food insecurity at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Melissa Pulkoski | Masters| Entomology | NC State University

Melissa has spent most of her life in North Carolina. She previously worked in the agriculture solutions industry working on developing natural or biological pest management strategies. She is currently working on her MS in Entomology with her research focusing on plant-insect interactions and IPM development for industrial hemp. Once she completes her Masters she is planning to continue on to her PhD.

For more information about the CEFS NC State Graduate Fellows Program, please visit the CEFS website.

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems is a partnership of NC State University, NC Agricultural and Technical State University and the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. CEFS develops and promotes just and equitable food and farming systems that conserve natural resources, strengthen communities, improve health outcomes, and provide economic opportunities in North Carolina and beyond. For more information, visit www.cefs.ncsu.edu.

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems Announces Recipients of 2020-2021 North Carolina State University Graduate Student Fellowships

September 1, 2020: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Media Contact: Angel Cruz,  Academic and Extension Initiatives Manager – aecruz@ncsu.edu

Raleigh, NC:  The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) Graduate Fellowship was developed to provide financial support and recognition for future leaders, researchers and contributors in sustainable agriculture and local food systems while they engage in academic research to further the field of study.

The Fellowship offers a one-year, $5,000 stipend for Master’s students and a two-year, $5,000-per-year stipend for Doctoral students.

Angel Cruz, CEFS Academic and Extension Initiatives Manager, is especially excited this year about the breadth of research and experiences represented in the cohort. “With students working in Agriculture Extension Education, Crop Science, Horticulture and Sociology, I am sure they will all learn a lot from each other.”

The CEFS North Carolina State University (NC State) Graduate Fellowship Program was made possible by an endowment from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation.

The 2020-2021 CEFS NC State Graduate Fellows and their departments/research areas are:

Sara Kidd | Master’s Student | Agricultural and Extension Education | NC State 

Sara is finishing up her Master’s degree in Agricultural and Extension Education at NC State and hopes to pursue a PhD in Sustainable Agriculture or Agroecology. Before NC State, she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from The University of North Carolina at Wilmington and also has an Associates degree in Sustainable Agriculture from Lenoir Community College. Her research is currently focused on investigating the need for apprenticeship programs for military veterans interested in agriculture and farming careers in NC.  When she’s not studying you can find her working on her small farm in Nash County where she raises livestock including pastured poultry and pigs as well as Katahdin hair sheep.

Stephanie Sosinski | Master’s Student | Crop and Soil Sciences | NC State

Stephanie is pursuing her MS degree in Crop Science while working as the research technician for the Forage and Grassland Program.  Her research project focuses on nitrogen management in a crabgrass hay-production system, evaluating the effects of nitrogen application rate and source (synthetic nitrogen fertilizer and poultry litter) on forage productivity, nutritive value, and weed competition. The overall objectives of this research project are to: 1) evaluate plant and soil responses to nitrogen fertilizer rate and source in a crabgrass hay-production system and 2) assess the effects of nitrogen fertilization on weed competition for crabgrass during the establishment phase.  This information will be critical towards providing livestock producers and Extension Agents with general nutrient management guidelines for crabgrass hay production that are best suited for North Carolina growing conditions.

Emilia Cordero Oceguera | Ph.D. Student | Sociology and Anthropology | NC State

Migrant farmworker women from Mexico play a crucial role in North Carolina’s food system. They contribute through their agricultural work and knowledge, as well as their food practices —when they shop for food, cook, and garden. Emilia’s dissertation research employs a participatory community-based methodology and brings together her interest in agroecology and the food practices of immigrant communities. She earned her Master’s in Latin American Studies at UC Berkeley by examining the agroecological knowledge of indigenous peasant communities in central Ecuador. Emilia is certified in Ecological Horticulture by the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Systems (CASFS) at UC Santa Cruz and has been a farming apprentice in Mexico and Bolivia. At NC State, Emilia is a member of the Sustainable Agriculture Graduate Student Association (SAGSA) and instructor of the Food and Society course in the Sociology Department. She also volunteers at farmworker support organizations in rural North Carolina. With her research, Emilia seeks to provide evidence for the need of a sustainable and socially just food system.

Amanda Lay | Master’s Student | Horticultural Science | NC State

Amanda Lay is a North Carolina native and is passionate about the production systems that we use to grow fresh produce. Her research focuses on pre-plant fertilizer in strawberry production. Pre-plant fertilizer is applied before strawberries are planted and supports their growth through the winter. Her research investigates different rates of standard fertilizer and low nitrogen organic fertilizer. The project tracks pre-plant nitrogen movement in the soil, yield, and studies berry quality after harvest. Amanda’s career goal is to continue research in production systems, making them more efficient for farmers and safer for the environment.

Lais Bastos Martins | Ph.D. Student | Crop and Soil Sciences | NC State

Lais is a Ph.D. student at North Carolina State University and her research focuses on breeding winter cover crops and understanding cover crop seed marketing. She is passionate about collaborative work and bringing people from different backgrounds towards a common goal. In her research, she works in the Cover Crop Breeding Network (www.covercropbreeding.com) as the winter pea lead and is investigating how different winter pea lines (potential new cultivars) perform across the U.S. and which areas are similar enough that the same cultivar could be used. She is also researching the genetic basis of winter pea resistance to Ascochyta blight, a disease that affects peas everywhere they are grown, but especially in NC. One of the things she likes the most in her Ph.D. is having collaborators across multiple states and knowing that her research will improve cover crop options for farmers. Before she started her Ph.D. Lais completed her M.S. at NC State researching multiple disease resistance in corn.

For more information about the CEFS NC State Graduate Fellows Program, please visit the CEFS website.

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems is a partnership of NC State University, NC Agricultural and Technical State University and the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. CEFS develops and promotes just and equitable food and farming systems that conserve natural resources, strengthen communities, improve health outcomes, and provide economic opportunities in North Carolina and beyond. For more information, visit www.cefs.ncsu.edu.

August 7, 2019: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Dr. Angel Cruz, CEFS Academic and Extension Initiatives Manager: 919-513-0954 or aecruz@ncsu.edu

Raleigh, NC: The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) has announced the 2019-2020 recipients of its NC State Graduate Student Fellowships.  The CEFS NC State University Graduate Fellows Program was developed to provide financial support and recognition for the future leaders, researchers and contributors to sustainable agriculture and local food systems while they pursue academic research to further the field of study.

The Fellowship offers a one-year, $5,000 stipend for Master’s students and a two-year, $5,000-per-year stipend for Doctoral students.

“This year was extremely competitive with more than twenty applications for only two spots. It’s exciting to see so many brilliant young scientists dedicated to sustainable agriculture and local food systems in North Carolina. We look forward to seeing where their career paths lead and supporting them along the way,” says Angel Cruz, CEFS Academic and Extension Initiatives Manager.

The CEFS NC State Graduate Fellowship Program was made possible by an endowment from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation.

The 2019-2020 CEFS NC State University Graduate Fellows and their departments/research areas are:

Hannah Levenson | Ph.D. Candidate | Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

Pollinators are facing pressures from a wide range of factors – such as habitat loss, increased monoculture, and pathogens – which can lead to severe population declines. To combat this, providing pollinators with planted habitat has become an increasingly popular conservation method; however, there are still many knowledge gaps on the impact of this conservation method. Hannah’s research evaluates these impacts by surveying native bee populations at planted habitat across the state over time, which will result in the most detailed survey of native bees in NC to date. Additionally, Hannah is evaluating pollinator health at the habitats as well as the effect the presence of this habitat has on nearby crop pollination and the resulting yield. Results from this research will fill important knowledge gaps and aid in making future conservation decisions.

Timothy Clark | Ph.D. Candidate | Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Timothy is a Ph.D. candidate in Sociology at North Carolina State University. His dissertation research examines the disparate effects of economic development on labor and ecology in aquatic food systems and communities. His work connects supply chain management to other issues of social justice, such as food security and community economic well-being.  In the coming years, he hopes to learn more about local seafood supply chains and the potential for increasing ties across them so as to encourage sustainable food system growth. Timothy earned his Master’s in Sustainability Studies at Texas State University, where he studied how city governments implement policies related to sustainability, social equity, and food security.

For more information about the CEFS NC State University Graduate Fellows Program, please visit the CEFS website.

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems is a partnership of NC State University, NC Agricultural and Technical State University and the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. CEFS develops and promotes just and equitable food and farming systems that conserve natural resources, strengthen communities, improve health outcomes, and provide economic opportunities in North Carolina and beyond. For more information, please visit www.cefs.ncsu.edu.

Download this press release as a printable PDF.

The CEFS NC State Graduate Fellows Program was developed to provide financial support and recognition for the future leaders, researchers and contributors in sustainable agriculture and local food systems while they pursue academic research to further the field of study.

One-year stipend awards of $5,000 are available for Master’s students and two-year stipend awards of $10,000 are available for Doctoral students.

The deadline to apply is Friday, April 21, 2017​.​

For more information, please visit the Graduate Fellows page.