Alumni
Alumni Awards
Distinguished Alumnus
One alumnus is selected annually to receive this award in recognition of their exceptional career achievements. The recipient will have completed an M.S. or Ph.D. degree in the Crop Science, Plant Physiology, Plant and Soil Science or Soil Science graduate program at least five years prior to the date of the nomination.
IPSS Alumnus Early Career Award
The IPSS Early Career Award is presented by the IPSS Graduate Student Association. Recipients must have completed their doctoral degree in IPSS or the preceding programs within 5-15 years of the award date. The recipient is selected by GSA members based on career progress following graduation.
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Student Programs
We’ve designed our curriculum with farmers and industry partners, then invited them to participate as guest lecturers, experiential learning supervisors and camp hosts. Our approach ensures students are learning real-world concepts and practices from actual players in the agriculture world. Community partners help our students further their academic and professional careers by providing networking opportunities, a wealth of experiences in real agricultural settings and the potential for future employment.
Faculty Research
Our faculty are a part of the local, regional and global community, and that same community is in our classrooms. Gifts to faculty research supplement existing operating budgets and provide revenue that can be directed toward current faculty-led endeavors.
Graduate Student Association Officers
- Co-Presidents: Bridget Bolt & Lucca Madeo Cortarelli
- Vice President: Shristi (FNU)
- Business Officer*: Upama Dev
- Graduate Student Congress Representative: Yan Zhou
- Social Events Chair: Jack Eaker
- Professional Development Chair: Kiera Searcy
- President Emeritus: Paul Cöckson
*Combined Secretary-Treasurer Position
Alumni Spotlight
I had a lot of opportunities for both professional and personal growth while at the University of Kentucky. I have been able to travel and present at conferences, write grants to fund my research, publish manuscripts, give multiple extension presentations over my research, meet industry leaders, plan and attend multiple IPSS GSA professional development trips for our graduate students, host seminar speakers and host departmental events. I would not have these experiences if I did not attend the University of Kentucky and be a part of the Plant and Soil Sciences Department.
-Katherine Rod, Ph.D., IPSS Alumni
My Ph.D. project focused on molecular and cellular dynamics of sperm nuclear migration during fertilization in flowering plants. In today’s agricultural world, one of the biggest concerns is to ensure food security for the growing population in severe weather conditions that we experience every year with no increase in productive lands. Adverse weather conditions hinder the crop production in various ways such as, for example, by failing the onset of fertilization. As we do not have control over the environment, if we know the underlying mechanism of plant fertilization, we will be able to manipulate it to assure successful fertilization even in conditions that are not favorable for the plant.
-Umma Fatema, Ph.D., IPSS Alumni
I admire the courses I have taken here. It helps to understand the basics and apply them in my research. My favorite part is the department and graduate student association helping to build networking through meeting with speakers from both academia and industry that helps to prepare for a future career. Also, arranging the tour and giving platforms for the student to explore not only science in university but also in the industry. I appreciate the effort and opportunity provided by the department to build soft skills, write grants and attend the annual symposium and conferences.
-Sanjay Joshi, Ph.D., IPSS Alumni
