Research News for the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

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Apples are a “temperate” crop, meaning that they are adapted to temperate zones. In North America, the ideal areas are those that have the right blend of temperatures (not too hot in the summer, not too cold in the winter, and a long enough growing season
Crisp Destinations: 2025’s Top 20 States for Apple Lovers

Crisp Destinations: 2025’s Top 20 States for Apple Lovers

Apples are a “temperate” crop, meaning that they are adapted to temperate zones. In North America, the ideal areas are those that have the right blend of temperatures (not too hot in the summer, not too cold in the winter, and a long enough growing season...

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Ty Wilson’s undergraduate research prepared him to be well ahead of his peers during an internship he attended at Michigan State. The 24-year-old Rupert, Idaho native has spent the past two years working in Dr. Amita Kaundal’s lab researching plant-microb
Drought Resistance and Water in the West

Drought Resistance and Water in the West

Ty Wilson’s undergraduate research prepared him to be well ahead of his peers during an internship he attended at Michigan State. The 24-year-old Rupert, Idaho native has spent the past two years working in Dr. Amita Kaundal’s lab researching plant-microb...

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The group came together with two main objectives: to experience firsthand the complex ecological and social dilemmas facing the Colorado River watershed at an especially pivotal point in history, and to launch a research project to monitor ubiquitous and
Drones & Data: Learning How to Restore a Complex River System with AI

Drones & Data: Learning How to Restore a Complex River System with AI

The group came together with two main objectives: to experience firsthand the complex ecological and social dilemmas facing the Colorado River watershed at an especially pivotal point in history, and to launch a research project to monitor ubiquitous and ...

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While pursuing a college degree in her native country, India, Amita Kaundal didn’t have a chance to participate in research as an undergraduate student. But after coming to the United States and spending two years as a postdoctoral research fellow at the
Cultivating Future Scientists: Amita Kaundal's Impact on Undergraduate Research at USU

Cultivating Future Scientists: Amita Kaundal's Impact on Undergraduate Research at USU

While pursuing a college degree in her native country, India, Amita Kaundal didn’t have a chance to participate in research as an undergraduate student. But after coming to the United States and spending two years as a postdoctoral research fellow at the ...

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Science and journalism might be considered sibling fields — each is the pursuit of knowledge through discovery with an emphasis on objectivity, the collection of evidence, and the reporting of verifiable conclusions. Yet scientists do not often engage in
New Model For Concurrent Scientific, Journalistic Investigation Being Pioneered at USU

New Model For Concurrent Scientific, Journalistic Investigation Being Pioneered at USU

Science and journalism might be considered sibling fields — each is the pursuit of knowledge through discovery with an emphasis on objectivity, the collection of evidence, and the reporting of verifiable conclusions. Yet scientists do not often engage in ...

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Utah State University soil scientists are uncovering how fire severity affects soil erodibility and the likelihood of flooding, using drone mapping and ground analysis on burn scars like those in Spanish Fork Canyon near Price. Their findings reveal how p
USU Soil Scientists Examine Link Between Fires and Floods

USU Soil Scientists Examine Link Between Fires and Floods

Utah State University soil scientists are uncovering how fire severity affects soil erodibility and the likelihood of flooding, using drone mapping and ground analysis on burn scars like those in Spanish Fork Canyon near Price. Their findings reveal how p...

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Bailey Guinn, a master’s student in landscape architecture at Utah State University, has been awarded the prestigious JSR Foundation Scholarship and BLT Built Design Award for her "Waking Water" project. Her design aims to heal the Warm Springs and North
USU Landscape Architecture Student Wins Prestigious Scholarship, Design Award

USU Landscape Architecture Student Wins Prestigious Scholarship, Design Award

Bailey Guinn, a master’s student in landscape architecture at Utah State University, has been awarded the prestigious JSR Foundation Scholarship and BLT Built Design Award for her "Waking Water" project. Her design aims to heal the Warm Springs and North ...

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Professor Michael Pate is making a real difference in the world of agricultural safety, especially for young people. His research has been instrumental in creating safety protocols that help protect youth from the unique hazards found in agricultural work
From Field to Future: Making Agricultural Work Safer for Young People

From Field to Future: Making Agricultural Work Safer for Young People

Professor Michael Pate is making a real difference in the world of agricultural safety, especially for young people. His research has been instrumental in creating safety protocols that help protect youth from the unique hazards found in agricultural work...

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Here at Utah State, researchers in the Crop Physiology Lab and in Plants, Soils and Climate are developing a new way to grow plants in orbit. They’re building a new high-tech planter box that, if selected, will be installed in the ISS and act as a self-co
USU Researchers Working on New Plant Growth System for NASA

USU Researchers Working on New Plant Growth System for NASA

Here at Utah State, researchers in the Crop Physiology Lab and in Plants, Soils and Climate are developing a new way to grow plants in orbit. They’re building a new high-tech planter box that, if selected, will be installed in the ISS and act as a self-co...

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Cheeses like mozzarella and cheddar melt smoothly due to their high-fat content and protein structure, which allows them to stretch and flow when heated. In contrast, cheeses like ricotta don’t melt the same way because they contain more moisture and lowe
The Science of Melting Cheese

The Science of Melting Cheese

Cheeses like mozzarella and cheddar melt smoothly due to their high-fat content and protein structure, which allows them to stretch and flow when heated. In contrast, cheeses like ricotta don’t melt the same way because they contain more moisture and lowe...

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Idowu Atoloye, a research postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Plants, Soils, and Climate, recently received a $225,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to study biochar, a charcoal-like materi
Idowu Atoloye Receives NIFA Grant to Develop Improved Biochar

Idowu Atoloye Receives NIFA Grant to Develop Improved Biochar

Idowu Atoloye, a research postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Plants, Soils, and Climate, recently received a $225,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to study biochar, a charcoal-like materi...

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Associate Professor Matt Yost received funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to study how other parts of the country are managing drought.
Matt Yost Receives NIFA Grant to Study Irrigation and Precision Agriculture Across the Country

Matt Yost Receives NIFA Grant to Study Irrigation and Precision Agriculture Across the Country

Associate Professor Matt Yost received funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to study how other parts of the country are managing drought.

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Bruce Bugbee and Lance Seefeldt are principal investigators for a multi-institution, NASA-funded team awarded a prestigious honor for foundational research efforts toward sustaining human exploration on Mars.
USU Scientists Among Multi-Institution Team Receiving NASA Achievement Award

USU Scientists Among Multi-Institution Team Receiving NASA Achievement Award

Bruce Bugbee and Lance Seefeldt are principal investigators for a multi-institution, NASA-funded team awarded a prestigious honor for foundational research efforts toward sustaining human exploration on Mars.

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On Jan. 18, Utah’s two Carnegie-classified R1 public research universities showed off the best work of their undergraduate researchers during the Utah Legislature’s spring session.
Op-Ed: The Magic Behind the High-Impact Discoveries From Utah's Universities

Op-Ed: The Magic Behind the High-Impact Discoveries From Utah's Universities

On Jan. 18, Utah’s two Carnegie-classified R1 public research universities showed off the best work of their undergraduate researchers during the Utah Legislature’s spring session.

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Each January, Utah’s two public research universities—Utah State University and the University of Utah— come together and undergraduate student researchers share their work with legislators, business leaders, and the public at a celebration of research.
Research on Capitol Hill 2024

Research on Capitol Hill 2024

Each January, Utah’s two public research universities—Utah State University and the University of Utah— come together and undergraduate student researchers share their work with legislators, business leaders, and the public at a celebration of research.

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Utah's population growth has made it imperative to address the consequences of drought and the detrimental effects it brings to the Great Salt Lake. Mary Claire Jennings is passionate about water conservation and points out that “grass lawns are especiall
Sustainable Solutions: Student Identifies Ways to Save 8 Million Gallons of Water a Year at USU

Sustainable Solutions: Student Identifies Ways to Save 8 Million Gallons of Water a Year at USU

Utah's population growth has made it imperative to address the consequences of drought and the detrimental effects it brings to the Great Salt Lake. Mary Claire Jennings is passionate about water conservation and points out that “grass lawns are especiall...

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USU junior Ty Wilson, has long been fascinated by how plants grow in extreme environments such as mountains and high deserts. His research focuses on isolating microbes from a drought-tolerant native plant, Shepherdia x utahensis ‘Torrey,’ a hybrid buffal
Microbes from Native Plants Show Drought Tolerance Potential

Microbes from Native Plants Show Drought Tolerance Potential

USU junior Ty Wilson, has long been fascinated by how plants grow in extreme environments such as mountains and high deserts. His research focuses on isolating microbes from a drought-tolerant native plant, Shepherdia x utahensis ‘Torrey,’ a hybrid buffal...

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Even with record snowfall last year, Utah still faces long-term drought impacts. With much of the state covered in dry farmland, the need for crops that thrive in dry conditions is ever-present. Kylie Hansen aims to address this critical issue.
USU Student’s Research Paves the Way for Drought-Resilient Crops

USU Student’s Research Paves the Way for Drought-Resilient Crops

Even with record snowfall last year, Utah still faces long-term drought impacts. With much of the state covered in dry farmland, the need for crops that thrive in dry conditions is ever-present. Kylie Hansen aims to address this critical issue.

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Being able to consistently create a specific food with the characteristics that consumers want and expect is vital in the food industry. Sakshi Singh presented research she has done on cheddar cheese chemistry with mentors Assistant Professor Prateek Shar
From the Lab to Capitol Hill: Student Researcher Contributes to Dairy Industry Sustainability

From the Lab to Capitol Hill: Student Researcher Contributes to Dairy Industry Sustainability

Being able to consistently create a specific food with the characteristics that consumers want and expect is vital in the food industry. Sakshi Singh presented research she has done on cheddar cheese chemistry with mentors Assistant Professor Prateek Shar...

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When you hear about genetically modified organisms, does your mind jump to the end of humanity as we know it? Then let’s start smaller with something like a Syrian hamster.
Editing the Course of Health

Editing the Course of Health

When you hear about genetically modified organisms, does your mind jump to the end of humanity as we know it? Then let’s start smaller with something like a Syrian hamster.

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A multidisciplinary team of researchers at Utah State University and Michigan State University have been awarded $1.97 million over 4 years from the United States Department of Agriculture to study more efficient ways of managing this major crop.
Researchers at USU awarded $1.97 Million to Study Important Utah Fruit Crop

Researchers at USU awarded $1.97 Million to Study Important Utah Fruit Crop

A multidisciplinary team of researchers at Utah State University and Michigan State University have been awarded $1.97 million over 4 years from the United States Department of Agriculture to study more efficient ways of managing this major crop.

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The American Dairy Science Association® (ADSA) is pleased to announce Prateek Sharma as the 2021 recipient of the ADSA Foundation Scholar Award in Dairy Foods.
Prateek Sharma Receives the ADSA® Foundation Scholar Award in Dairy Foods

Prateek Sharma Receives the ADSA® Foundation Scholar Award in Dairy Foods

The American Dairy Science Association® (ADSA) is pleased to announce Prateek Sharma as the 2021 recipient of the ADSA Foundation Scholar Award in Dairy Foods.

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USU dietetics faculty members Katie Brown and Lacie Peterson of the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences (NDFS) have been recognized by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Dietetics Faculty Win Regional Awards

Dietetics Faculty Win Regional Awards

USU dietetics faculty members Katie Brown and Lacie Peterson of the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences (NDFS) have been recognized by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

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Three students working in disciplines within the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences were awarded Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunity Grants (URCO) to support conducting their own research in life, plant and food sciences this summer.
Students Receive Grants to Conduct Impactful Undergraduate Research

Students Receive Grants to Conduct Impactful Undergraduate Research

Three students working in disciplines within the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences were awarded Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunity Grants (URCO) to support conducting their own research in life, plant and food sciences this summer....

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Professor Silvana Martini has been named a fellow of the American Oil Chemists' Society. Martini is a food scientist whose research is focused on developing healthier fats that have excellent sensory appeal to consumers.
Professor Silvana Martini Named a Fellow of the American Oil Chemists' Society

Professor Silvana Martini Named a Fellow of the American Oil Chemists' Society

Professor Silvana Martini has been named a fellow of the American Oil Chemists' Society. Martini is a food scientist whose research is focused on developing healthier fats that have excellent sensory appeal to consumers.

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To food scientists, cheese is more than just an ingredient for sandwiches or an appetizer. Cheese is chemistry, biology and physics all deliciously at work, and it’s big business in the dairy industry.
Cheese Making: Where Dairy Meets Materials Science

Cheese Making: Where Dairy Meets Materials Science

To food scientists, cheese is more than just an ingredient for sandwiches or an appetizer. Cheese is chemistry, biology and physics all deliciously at work, and it’s big business in the dairy industry.

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True-blooded Aggies love the spot where the sagebrush grows and they may have reasons to love it even more, say Utah State University undergraduate researchers David Suisse and Kayla Wasden Suisse.
USU Undergrad Researchers Study Where Sagebrush Grows - and Heals

USU Undergrad Researchers Study Where Sagebrush Grows - and Heals

True-blooded Aggies love the spot where the sagebrush grows and they may have reasons to love it even more, say Utah State University undergraduate researchers David Suisse and Kayla Wasden Suisse.

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A possible vaccine to protect against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 has been tested and found effective and safe in several animal models by a team of scientists at the Rega Institute in Leuven, Belgium.
Potential Single-dose COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Published in Nature

Potential Single-dose COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Published in Nature

A possible vaccine to protect against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 has been tested and found effective and safe in several animal models by a team of scientists at the Rega Institute in Leuven, Belgium.

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It's snack time! USU students used their creativity, food science knowledge and a lot of work to win the Institute of Food Technologists Smart Snacks for Kids competition.
Aggies Win Smart Snacks Competition

Aggies Win Smart Snacks Competition

It's snack time! USU students used their creativity, food science knowledge and a lot of work to win the Institute of Food Technologists Smart Snacks for Kids competition.

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USU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Department and the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) host Utah’s first ever public hemp seminar.
USU Extension Co-hosts Public Hemp Seminar

USU Extension Co-hosts Public Hemp Seminar

USU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Department and the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) host Utah’s first ever public hemp seminar.

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Idowu Atoloye, a student in USU's Department of Plants, Soils and Climate, was awarded the Nelson Yield-Limiting Factors Graduate Student Scholarship by the American Society of Agronomy at its annual conference in November.
Soils Science Graduate Student Earns National Research Award

Soils Science Graduate Student Earns National Research Award

Idowu Atoloye, a student in USU's Department of Plants, Soils and Climate, was awarded the Nelson Yield-Limiting Factors Graduate Student Scholarship by the American Society of Agronomy at its annual conference in November.

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Scientists at Utah State University are studying cultivation practices to optimize the yield and quality of hemp for botanical medicines.
Hemp Research Underway at Utah State University

Hemp Research Underway at Utah State University

Scientists at Utah State University are studying cultivation practices to optimize the yield and quality of hemp for botanical medicines.

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Researchers in Utah are working to introduce more fire-resistant plants into western landscapes to reduce the damage.
Competing with Cheat Grass and Wild Fires--How One Plant Could Level the Playing Field

Competing with Cheat Grass and Wild Fires--How One Plant Could Level the Playing Field

Researchers in Utah are working to introduce more fire-resistant plants into western landscapes to reduce the damage.

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Researchers from Utah State University and two other institutions recently published a study that uses tree rings to link climate variability to long-term patterns in temperature.
Hidden Climate Records Within Tree Rings

Hidden Climate Records Within Tree Rings

Researchers from Utah State University and two other institutions recently published a study that uses tree rings to link climate variability to long-term patterns in temperature.

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Earning a top spot in a national food science competition takes more than proving yourself as a chef, according to Vidita Deshpande, a PhD candidate studying food science at Utah State University.
USU Food Science Students Create Recipe for Success

USU Food Science Students Create Recipe for Success

Earning a top spot in a national food science competition takes more than proving yourself as a chef, according to Vidita Deshpande, a PhD candidate studying food science at Utah State University.

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Exposure to greenspace, as scientists call it, is linked to reduced stress and anxiety, lower rates of allergies and diabetes, better pregnancy outcomes, and even shortened recovery times from surgery, among other benefits. However, this relationship brin
USU Research Investigating How the Shape and Size of Greenspace Can Promote Urban Human Health

USU Research Investigating How the Shape and Size of Greenspace Can Promote Urban Human Health

Exposure to greenspace, as scientists call it, is linked to reduced stress and anxiety, lower rates of allergies and diabetes, better pregnancy outcomes, and even shortened recovery times from surgery, among other benefits. However, this relationship brin...