2026 Graduate Research Seed Grants Awarded
We are pleased to announce this year’s Graduate Research Seed Grant awards!
The AMP Graduate Research Seed Grant Program is designed to empower and enable OSU graduate students to conduct research that builds the knowledge base required to accelerate transitions towards healthier and more equitable agroecosystems. Applications are due February 1.
Proposals are reviewed by a 3-member faculty committee and are selected for their scientific rigor, impact, innovativeness, and contribution to AMP’s vision and mission.
This year’s selected projects are listed below. You can read more about the program at https://amp.osu.edu/amp-programs/amp-graduate-research-seed-grant-program
Improving Watershed Nutrient Runoff Predictions with Drone and Satellite Mapping of Manure Management Practices
Arshad Ansari, PhD candidate in CFAES Department of Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering
Although commercial fertilizers dominate nutrient inputs, Ohio State research estimates that livestock manure contributes 10–12% of phosphorus and remains difficult to track at the field scale. SWAT (soil and water assessment tool) models are not well equipped for modeling manure applications or the resulting nutrient runoff.
This project will improve modeling capabilities for manure applications, using a combination of satellite and drone imagery to track spectral differences in moisture and surface properties on fields that receive manure applications. Allowing an easier way for modeling teams to use field observations in place of generalized assumptions will reduce uncertainty and strengthen the credibility of watershed modeling.
Manure management remains one of the most persistent challenges in Midwest agroecosystems.
Assessing the Survival, Growth and Phenology of Red Oak Ecotypes Using Long-Term Common Garden Trials in Ohio to Inform Forest Restoration Strategies Across Working and Natural Landscapes.
Ellen Kieser, MS Student in CFAES School of Environment and Natural Resources
Forest ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to the dominance of long-lived tree species which are less able to adapt and more likely to cause dramatic changes to their ecosystems if they perish (change in light, food for wildlife, etc.). For example, acorn production may be weakened by changes in humidity or precipitation, which would impact wildlife depending on acorns for food, and the reseeding of oak trees.
Northern red oak (Quercus rubra) is widespread throughout Ohio’s diverse landscapes, demonstrating its ability to adapt to different environmental conditions. Using two long-term plantings of northern red oak ecotypes (same species hailing from different geographic areas), the study will assess the roles of environmental cues and genetics in shaping phenological patterns including bud development, leaf out, and leaf senescence. This research will reveal which ecotypes adapt quickly and thrive under novel environmental conditions, highlighting those with the greatest potential for climate resilience.
To secure Ohio’s forests, and the ecosystem services they provide within working landscapes, new tools are needed to better understand and facilitate climate adaptation.
Exploring the future of farming in the US: Comparing expectations of farmers versus traditional experts
Kaustubh Kumar, PhD candidate, CFAES School of Environment and Natural Resources
Environmental and agricultural systems predictive models are great at incorporating historical geospatial and climate data but often ignore the impact of human factors such as policy, technology, markets, or farm structure which also stand to impact adaptability. When researchers do include human comments it often focuses solely on “experts” in the field like prominent researchers and government officials who are not dealing directly with the everyday realities of farm management and agricultural markets.
This study will include experienced farmers along with other traditional experts in an accepted method of capturing and comparing expert opinions (Delphi study). Comparisons will show how farmers' expert opinions differ or align with traditional experts.
We have become intrigued by the idea that conventional definitions of ‘experts’ may miss key insights that people who are ‘embedded in society’--like farmers--might have about the likelihood of future events.
Strengthening Agroecosystem Sustainability Through Farmer-Distiller Partnerships
Nicole Volk, PhD candidate, CFAES Department of Agricultural Communications, Education, and Leadership
Research shows that adding small grains to corn-soybean rotations can improve yields and soil health. However, farmers face barriers to adopting small grain production, including market pricing, availability, and the need for better varietals. There are many distilleries in the Midwest who might benefit from the use of heirloom or open-pollinated species of grains to create a distinctive whiskey that boasts sustainability value as well.
This project will use interviews with farmers and distillers to help form a consumer-facing sustainability study. The project interviews will provide a first step in developing educational and marketing guidelines for distillers and their customers, potentially opening new local markets for small grains.
Nicole’s focus on small grains, crop diversification, and sustainability in distilling addresses a timely and important challenge in Midwest agriculture: identifying viable pathways that support soil health, biodiversity, and farm resilience while ensuring economic profitability.