Crop Sciences Newsletter #121, January 16, 2007

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

...Congratulations to the Department!  The 2005 Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index, by Academic Analytics, which lists the Top Research Universities, ranks Crop Sciences as the number 3 department in the U.S. This ranking is based on number of publications, number of faculty with one or more publications and number of citations of articles published by our faculty as well as grants obtained from federal agencies, and awards and honors.  They ranked 7,294 individual doctoral programs in 104 disciplines at 354 institutions. They also rank institutions in broader categories, like the humanities and biological sciences, as well as institutions as a whole.  For a copy of the article go to Top Research Universities in the 2005 Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index.

...Congratulations to recipients of American Society  of Agronomy Awards presented at the annual meetings in Indianapolis.  Gary Heichel received the Monsanto Crop Science Distinguished Career Award which is presented to a crop scientist who has exhibited an outstanding record of service during a minimum of 25 years.  Emerson Nafziger received the Crop Science Extension Education Award which recognizes excellence in Extension teaching activities in the area of crop science.  Heather Clodfelter received the Frank D. Keim Graduate Fellowship which recognizes academic excellence, leadership activities and future plans related to agronomic sciences.  Jared Walter received a J. Fielding Reed Scholarship which recognizes an outstanding undergraduate senior pursuing a career in the soil or plant sciences.  Both student awards are funded through the Agronomic Science Foundation.

...Teaching Enhancement Grants from the Karl E. Gardner Enhancement endowment were received by Germán Bollero for CPSC 440 and 499; Cleo D’Arcy and Darin Eastburn , for PLPA 200; and, Patricia Stoller for CPSC 499.  Congratulations!

...Glen Hartman, Monte Miles and Susan Ratcliffe were members of the Asian Soybean Rust Team which was selected to receive one of the 2006 Department of Agriculture Secretary’s Honor Awards in the category of Enhancing Protection and Safety of the Nation’s Agriculture and Food Supply.  These awards are the most significant recognition the Department can bestow to acknowledge outstanding contributions to agriculture, to the consumers of agricultural products, and to the ability of the Department to serve America.  The award was presented at a ceremony and reception held in Washington, DC.  Congratulations to all three of you!

...Welcome to our new Crop Sciences members.

Carl Bradley is an Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology and Extension.  Liudmila Yafremava and Han Zhao are new postdoctoral research associates.  Liudmila is working with Gustavo Caetano-Anolles and Han is with Steve Moose.  Scott Martin is a Communications and Marketing Specialist with Susan Ratcliffe.

Loretta Ortiz-Ribbing and Elizabeth Wahle are Extension Specialists.  Loretta is with the Macomb Extension Center and Elizabeth is in the Edwardsville Extension Center.  James Theuri is an Extension Educator and in the Kankakee County Extension Unit.

Catherine Byers, Joana Novais and A. J.  Woodyard are new M.S. graduate students.  Catherine is working with Fabian Fernandez, Joana is with Martin Bohn and A. J. is with Dean Riechers.  Sridevi Nakka and Ramya Vittal are new Ph.D. graduate students.  Sridevi is working with Frank Zhao and Ramya is with Glen Hartman.

...Congratulations to some M.S. graduates.  Heather Clodfelter worked with Emerson Nafziger and is a Product Quality Analyst for AgReliant Genetics.  Sushma Jossey was advised by Mohammad Babadoost and will pursue a doctoral degree under the supervision of Les Domier.  Jeremy Lake was advised by Aaron Hager and is now working as an Agronomist with the Masters Choice Seed Company and for Byson Seeds.  Sofia da Silva was supervised by Torbert Rocheford and will continue work toward a Ph.D. degree.

...Congratulations to Phillip Michener, who completed his Ph.D. degree working with Snook Pataky.  He is now employed as a Corn Breeder/Hybrid Testing Manager for Terral Seed in Mississippi.

FUNDING RECEIVED

...The Illinois-Missouri Biotechnology Alliance  awarded grants to Martin Bohn, $86,003, for the project “Genomic Evaluation of the Defense Response of Maize Against Herbivory by the Western Corn Rootworm”; Matt Hudson, $135,638, for “Discovery and Modification of Photomorphogenic Regulation in Maize”; Yun Lin, $100,000, for “Exploring the Mechanism of Soybean Oil Deposition and Increasing Soybean Oil Content Through Genetic Engineering”; and, Vera Lozovaya, $67,520, for “Metabolic Analysis of Soybean-Nematode Interactions:  A Prelude to Metabolic Engineering for Nematode Resistance.”

...Fred Below received $20,250 from BASF for “Physiological Studies Investigating the Yield Enhancement Potential in Corn.”  Brian Diers received $85,000 from C-FAR for the project “Toward Reducing Soybean Yield Losses Caused by Ozone.”  North Central Sustainable Agricultural Research & Education gave Shin-Yi Lee $9,375 for “Cropping Intensity and Organic Amendments in Transitional Farming Systems:  Effects on Microbial Diversity.”  Rick Weinzierl received $23,875 from North Central Integrated Pest Management Center for “Disease-Resistant Cultivars for Healthy Apples and Healthy Profits.”

PUBLICATIONS

...Singh, R. J. (editor & contributor).  2006.  Genetic Resources, Chromosome Engineering, and Crop Improvement:  Vegetable Crops, Volume 3.  CRC Press.

...Singh, R. J. (editor & contributor).  2006.  Genetic Resources, Chromosome Engineering, and Crop Improvement:  Oilseed Crops, Volume 4.  CRC Press.

FROM OUR OFFICE TO YOURS

...The Social Committee would like to invite everyone to a Department Social. It will be held on February 2, 2007 at the recently completed Alice Campbell Alumni Center, 601 S. Lincoln Ave, Urbana, from 6-8:30 p.m. Please join us for food and fellowship. More details will be sent on Tuesday, January 16th. Looking forward to a great evening!

...Employee reimbursement requests for business meals [including candidate meals, and business meals with University employees and guests] require the department business office to submit an itemized receipt of charges with the reimbursement form. When an itemized receipt is not provided the campus holds the reimbursement process until we acquire an itemized receipt from the business. Needless to say, this is a tremendous hassle for the department and the business; and we have recently been informed by some establishments that an itemized bill will not be provided unless it's requested at the time of purchase. With this in mind, if you plan to request meal reimbursement from the University please request an itemized receipt at the time of service. In addition, alcohol is not an allowable expense on most University funds. If it is purchased, it must be clearly itemized on the receipt. Ideally no alcohol should be involved; if it is, a separate alcohol bill should be requested and submitted to the department. Please keep in mind that we must also submit with the reimbursement request the names of all attendees, their affiliation and the purpose of the business meal.

More about the University business meal policy.

DATES TO REMEMBER

Feb. 2, Crop Sciences Winter Social

Feb. 16, ACES Faculty Meeting 3-5:00 p.m., ILAC Heritage Room

Mar. 9-10, ExplorACES

Apr. 13, ACES Honors Symposium, 12 noon

Apr. 20, 3-5:00 p.m., ACES Faculty Meeting, LIAC Heritage Room

Apr. 22, ACES Student Awards Banquet, 12 noon, Illini Union

Apr. 23, College of ACES and Paul A. Funk Recognition Awards Banquet, Illini Union

May 13, UI Commencement

GRANTS/FELLOWSHIPS

...DEADLINE EXTENDED Based on the great success of the Jefferson Science Fellows program, the Department of State will award up to 10 fellowships in 2007. As a result, the deadline for nominations/applications has been extended to January 31, 2007.
On behalf of the U.S. Department of State, Office of the Science and Technology Adviser, the National Academies is pleased to announce a call for nominations and applications for the 2007 Jefferson Science Fellows program. This program establishes a new model for engaging the American academic science, technology and engineering communities in the formulation and implementation of U.S. foreign policy. Jefferson Science Fellows will spend one year at the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C. and may periodically travel to U.S. foreign embassies and/or missions. Following their one year tenure, Jefferson Science Fellows will return to their academic institutions, but will remain available to the U.S. government as an experienced consultant for short-term projects over the following five years.
Jefferson Science Fellow awards are open to tenured academic scientists, technologists and engineers from U.S. institutions of higher learning. Nominees/applicants must be U.S. citizens and will be required to obtain a security clearance.
Detailed information on the Jefferson Science Fellows program is available on the web:  The deadline for nominations and applications for the 2007 Program is January 31, 2007. The Jefferson Science Fellows program is supported through a partnership between the MacArthur Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation, the U.S. science, technology and engineering academic community, professional scientific societies, and the U.S. Department of State. Nominations and applications from women and minorities are particularly encouraged.

GRAD STUDENT BULLETIN BOARD

...Three Magic Letters: Getting to Ph.D., A symposium for graduate faculty, students, and alumni will be held Monday, February 26, 2007, 1:00-5:00 p.m. Illini Union Rooms A, B, & C.

PERSONALS

...Congratulations to Ben and Rachel Tracy on the birth of their son, Fenton Thomas, on October 9.

...Dear Friends in the Department:  Thanks very much for your thoughtful card & messages on the occasion of my father’s passing.  Your support is most appreciated.  As you probably know, Dad’s final journey followed Mom’s by 14 weeks--after 69+ years of marriage not much could keep them apart, certainly not the small matter that Mom had a head start!  Devoted couples have a remarkable sense of timing--and set an incredible example.  My thanks for your kindness, Gary (Heichel).