Progress 07/01/23 to 06/30/24
Outputs
Target Audience:Undergraduate and graduate students in the disciplines of agricultural, environmental, and computer sciences, especially those from historically underserved communities. Academic coordinators and faculty from sister institutions. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We have developed a graduate-level course, named Soil Health and Data, which have received a permanent course number. In the past three years, 29 students have taken the course. Fellows organized a Data Bootcamp in August 2023 to promote good data literacy and skills among graduate students in the Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Science Department (SWES). Fellows helped other students by offering hands-on data tutorials on topics including data management using spreadsheet, fundamentals in R and RStudio, and exploratory statistics with tidyverse. 18 students participated in the Bootcamp. The group also engaged in productive conservations with invited speakers from SWES and School of Forest, Fisheries, & Geomatics Sciences. Fellows are also developing their research for presentations in professional conferences. See the production for a complete list. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Fellow's research have been in the forms of presentations in professional conferences, theses, and book chapters. All four MS Fellows are preparing their research to published inpeer-reviewed journals. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In the next reporting period, we will continue working with Champiny, our PhD Fellow, in data-enabled, team-based research. Champiny will complete her PhD qualifying exam and develop new research on soil carbon dynamics. We will guide the MS Fellows in developing and submitting their work for peer review. We will encourage the Fellows to develop their leadership and communication skills and expose them to extension and service-learning opportunities. We will also support and mentor the MS Fellows in pursuing their desired career opportunities in agricultural sciences.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
In the third year of the five-year funding period, we advanced all five objectives. Specifically, Objective #1: four MS Fellows all successfully graduated in the summer semester of 2024. Objective #2: All Fellows demonstrated great progress in integrating data science with soil domain knowledge in advancing soil health research. Gil completed her research on modeling nitrogen and carbon mineralization from a variety of organic amendments common in Florida vegetable production systems. Tesch worked on analyzing the state-of-the-art DNA sequencing data to understand the consequences of HLB infection on root microbial community composition. Roen compiled a long-term records of soil test phosphorus from Bahiagrass pastures in Florida and modelled the temporal trends of phosphorus. Donald conducted a large spatial dataset on the long-term impacts of biosolids application on soil heavy metal pollution and phosphorus accumulation. Champiny are finishing a project that leverages the national soil survey data to assess potential saturation of soil mineral-associated carbon. Their accomplishments are documented by their publications, including theses, conference presentations, and a book chapter. All four MS Fellows are preparing their research for peer review in the upcoming months. Objective #3: During their research, fellows were actively engaged with various stakeholders, such as citrus and vegetable farmers, county extension agents, and scientists from NRCS and St. Johns Water Management District. For instance, Donald was collaborating with scientists from the St. Johns Water Management District to collect soil samples and analyze for soil metal and nutrient availabilities. Roen was collaborating with colleagues from the UF Extension Soil Testing Laboratory for compiling and analyzing soil test phosphorus data. Objective #4: We taught Fellows to develop transferrable skills in data analytics, communications, and leadership by requiring them to take at least one course on leadership and communicationsThrough monthly meetings, fellows are building a sense of cohort and helping each other to develop research and presentation skills. Fellows are also actively involved in extracurricular activities, including the SWES Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, SWES Graduate Student Association, UF Citrus Club, Wetland Club, etc. Objective #5: PD Lin developed a graduate-level course, "Soil Health and Data", thanks to the support of the grant. This course was approved by the college and university level curriculum committees and received a permanent course number, SWS6406. It will be offered annually in Fall semesters. In the past three years, 29 students have taken the course. This course contributes to refreshing the department's curriculum in data science.
Publications
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Tesch V. (2024) Huanglongbing Effects On Citrus Rhizosphere Microbiome In Several Rootstock Cultivars. Master of Science Thesis. University of Florida. Gainesville FL.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Gil C. (2024) Nitrogen and Carbon Mineralization from Organic Amendments and Fertilizers used in Florida. Master of Science Thesis. University of Florida. Gainesville FL.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Donald J.B. (2024) Long-Term Impacts of Biosolids On Florida Sandy Soils: Assessing Legacy Phosphorus And Heavy Metals 14 Years Post-Application. Master of Science Thesis. University of Florida. Gainesville FL.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Roen C. (2024) Phosphorus Accumulation in Bahiagrass Pastures: A County-Level Analysis Across Florida. Master of Science Thesis. University of Florida. Gainesville FL.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Roen C, Mylavarapu RS, Klarenberg G, and Lin Y. Phosphorus accumulation in bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) pastures: a county-level analysis in Florida. Poster presentation, 2024 Soil Science Society of America Bouyoucos Summer conference.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Donald J, Bacon A, Hatfield R, and Lin Y. Long-term impacts of biosolids on Florida soils: an analysis 14 years post-application. Poster presentation, 2024 Soil Science Society of America Bouyoucos Summer conference.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Champiny RE, Georgiou K, and Lin Y. Methods matter: identifying saturation behavior of mineral associated organic carbon. Poster presentation, 2024 Soil Science Society of America Bouyoucos Summer conference.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Donald JB, Bacon AR, and Lin Y. Evaluating historical biosolids applications in Florida soils: implications for water quality. 2024 UF Water Institute Symposium.
- Type:
Book Chapters
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Champiny RE and Lin Y. (2024) Enhanced rock weathering as a nature-based solution for carbon sequestration in sandy soils. In Hartemink AE and Huang J (Eds.), Sandy Soils, Progress in Soil Science Series. Springer Cham. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-50285-9_11
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Tesch V, Albercht U, and Strauss SL. (2023) Examining the Interaction between Citrus Rootstock Genotype and Huanglongbing Infection on the Rhizosphere Microbiome. 2023 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. St. Louis, MO.
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Progress 07/01/22 to 06/30/23
Outputs
Target Audience:Undergraduate and graduate students in the disciplines of agricultural, environmental, and computer sciences, especially those from historically underserved communities. Academic coordinators and faculty from sister institutions. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We have developed a graduate-level course, named Soil Health and Data. Four MS Fellows took this course in Fall 2022 to develop the fundamental knowledge and skills in soil health assessment and data science. The course is being evaluated by UF curriculum to gain a permanent course number. Fellows are being involved to develop a Data Bootcamp, which is designed to promote good data literacy and skills among graduate students in the Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Science Department (SWES). Fellows are working in teams to develop hands-on data tutorials on topics including data management using spreadsheet, fundamentals in R and RStudio, and exploratory statistics with tidyverse. The Bootcamp is expected to occur in August 2023. Fellows are also developing their research for presentations in professional conferences. Ms. Champiny attended the 2023 Global Sandy Soil Conference in Madison, Wisconsin, and presented her research on soil carbon stabilization in Florida sandy soils. Ms. Tesch is going to attend the 2023 tri-society meeting and present her thesis research. She has received travel funding from UF IFAS. Ms. Roen and Donald are planning to attend the 2024 SSSA Summer Conference in Puerto Rico. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The creation of the new course, Soil Health and Data, has helped 11 other graduate students to gain skills in soil health assessment and data analytics in Fall 2022. We expect that materials and tutorials generated for Data Bootcamp will be shared publicly. Fellow's research will be disseminated in the forms of presentations in professional conferences, peer-reviewed publications, and extension educational materials. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In the next reporting period, we will engage Fellows in data-enabled, team-based research by guiding Fellows in choosing feasible and collaborative research topics. We will guide the MS Fellows in developing their MS thesis, preparing presentations in professional conferences, and submitting their work for peer review. We will build a sense of peer group belonging among the cohort via hosting monthly meetings and participating in professional and social activities. We will also encourage the Fellows to develop their leadership and communication skills and expose them to extension and service-learning opportunities.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
In the second year of the five-year funding period, we focus on advancing the specific objectives #2, #3, and #4. Specifically, Objective #2: four MS Fellows started their graduate programs in Fall 2022 as a cohort. The PhD Fellow started her program in Spring 2023. All Fellows are making satisfactory progress towards their program. They each have established a graduate committee and identified the topics for their thesis programs. They took courses to develop an interdisciplinary background coupling data analytics with soil and water sciences, such as SWS5050 Soils for Environmental Professionals, SWS6932 Soil Health and Data, and STA 6093 Introduction to Applied Statistics for Agriculture and Life Sciences. Objective #3: Fellows are trained to advance their expertise in soil health and extension services by engaging them in data-enabled, team-based research. Topics of Fellows' research include modeling nitrogen mineralization from amendments used in Florida soils (Ms. Gil), citrus root stocks and their variable resistance to Huanglongbing (Ms. Tesch), mapping and predicting soil heavy metal pollution in fields with biosolids application (Ms. Donald), quantifying temporal trends of phosphorus accumulation in bahiagrass pastures on a county-level across the state of Florida (Ms. Roen), and quantifying soil carbon storage and saturation using National Cooperative Soil Survey data (Ms. Champiny). During the process of identifying their research topics and data, fellows were connected to various stakeholders, such as citrus and vegetable farmers, county extension agents, and scientists from NRCS and St. Johns Water Management District. Objective #4: We teach Fellows to develop transferrable skills in data analytics, communications, and leadership by requiring them to take at least one course on leadership and communications. Fellows are being involved to develop a Data Bootcamp, which is designed to promote good data literacy and skills among graduate students in the Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Science Department (SWES). Through monthly meetings, fellows are building a sense of cohort and helping each other to develop research and presentation skills. Fellows are also actively involved in extracurricular activities, including the SWES Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, SWES Graduate Student Association, UF Citrus Club, Wetland Club, etc.
Publications
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Progress 07/01/21 to 06/30/22
Outputs
Target Audience:Undergraduate and graduate students in the disciplines of agricultural, environmental, and computer sciences, especially those from historically underserved communities. Academic coordinators and faculty from sister institutions. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We have developed a graduate-level course, named Soil Health and Data. The recruited Fellows are expected to take this course in Fall 2022 to develop the fundamental knowledge and skills in soil health assessment and data science. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In the next reporting period, we will engage Fellows in data-enabled, team-based research by guiding Fellows in choosing feasible and collaborative research topics. We will build a sense of peer group belonging among the cohort via hosting monthly meetings, taking the Soil Health and Data course, and participating in professional and social activities. We will also encourage the Fellows to develop their leadership and communication skills and expose them to extension and service-learning opportunities.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
In the first year of the five-year funding period, our primary goal is to recruitfive Fellows (one Ph.D. and four M.S.) from historically underrepresented groups with focus on Black, Latinx, and indigenous American communities. We developed a recruitment website https://soils.ifas.ufl.edu/usda-national-needs-fellowships/ and distributed recruitment materials via social media and at professional listservs, conferences, and selected job sites. We collaborated with the UF McNair Scholars Program to recruit students who are already at UF. We also reached out to academic coordinators and faculty from sister institutions to seek potential applicants. Our recruitment efforts resulted in over 20 applicants. We successfully recruited four MS Fellows who will start in Fall 2022 a cohort. We also have recruited one PhD Fellow who will start in Spring 2023.
Publications
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