Sustainability: Environmental & Economic Bottom Line
Using a data-driven and integrated modeling framework, CABBI Sustainability Theme researchers will develop the predictive capability to determine which feedstock combinations, regions and land types, market conditions, and bioproducts have the potential to support the ecologically and economically sustainable displacement of fossil fuels. Key areas of emphasis will be to obtain a mechanistic understanding of the plant, soil, microbe, and climate interactions that underlie the productivity and ecosystem services of different feedstocks, and on investigating the technological and economic pathways to a sustainable and resilient bioeconomy. The Sustainability Theme will provide CABBI’s environmental and economic lens, closing the loop on an integrated research program.
STRAIGHT FROM THE SCIENTISTS: Research Profiles Offer Insight into CABBI Work
Read a visit with new Theme Leader Wendy Yang by April Wendling >>>
Read Postdoc Rojda Aslan-Sungur’s research profile by Maria Maring >>>
Read Postdoc Stephanie Juice’s research profile by April Wending >>>
Read Research Specialist Rachel Van Allen’s research profile by Maria Maring >>>
Read M.S. Candidate Josh Bendorf’s research profile by Maria Maring >>>
Read an article on new Sustainability partners Jennifer Pett-Ridge and LLNL, by Jenna Kurtzweil >>>
Read Ph.D. Candidate Sierra Raglin’s research profile by Maria Maring >>>
Read an article on the vital sustainability work by Tara Hudiburg’s University of Idaho lab >>>
Read M.S. Candidate Dalton Stewart’s research profile by Jenna Kurtzweil >>>
Read Ph.D. Candidate Luoye Chen’s research profile by Taylor Jennings >>>
Read Ph.D. Candidate Joanna Ridgeway’s research profile by Jenna Kurtzweil >>>
Read M.S. Candidate Carrie Leibensperger’s research profile by Chloe Rice >>>
Read an article on Finzi Lab members’ work at the Illinois Energy Farm by Jenna Kurtzweil >>>
Read Postdoc Christy Gibson’s research profile by Jenna Kurtzweil >>>
Read Postdoc Mark Burnham’s research profile by Taylor Jennings >>>
Read Co-PI Emily Heaton’s research profile by Jenna Kurtzweil >>>
Read Co-PI Adina Howe’s research profile by Jenna Kurtzweil >>>
Read Postdoc Adam von Haden’s research profile by Jordan Goebig >>>
Read Ph.D. Candidate Kelsie Ferin’s research profile by Jenna Kurtzweil >>>
Read Theme Leader Madhu Khanna’s research profile by Emily Scott >>>
Read M.S. Candidate Yoel Cortes-Peña’s research profile by Jenna Kurtzweil >>>
Wendy Yang: Theme Leader
Yang, an Associate Professor of Plant Biology and Geology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is also on the Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology faculty. She researches human influence on natural and managed ecosystems and how ecosystem responses to global change can affect future changes. She studies controls on greenhouse gas emissions, soil nitrogen and carbon dynamics, and the coupling of biogeochemical cycles beyond carbon and nitrogen. Yang got her Ph.D. in 2010 in Environmental Science, Policy & Management from the University of California at Berkeley.
Carl Bernacchi: Deputy Theme Leader
Bernacchi is a Plant Physiologist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Global Change and Photosynthesis Research Unit in Urbana, IL, and an Adjunct Professor of Plant Biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He investigates global change-related issues like rising CO2, tropospheric O3, and temperatures, drought, and land-use change. His team focuses on measurements ranging from the biochemical level to that of the whole ecosystem. Bernacchi received his Ph.D. from the U of I.
Andy VanLoocke: Deputy Theme Leader
VanLoocke, an Associate Professor of Agronomy at Iowa State University, is an expert in agricultural meteorology. He researches how humans’ use of land might impact agro-ecosystem processes in tandem with global change. He aims to develop and refine estimates of the impacts of ongoing and future land use change and global change on agro-ecosystem processes and services with a combination of field-based measurements and agro-ecosystem models. VanLoocke received his Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science in 2012 from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
The Lead Scientists
Edward Brzostek
Associate Professor of Forest Ecology and Ecosystem Modeling, West Virginia University
The Research Team
Ximing Cai
Colonel Harry F. and Frankie M. Lovell Endowed Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The Research Team
Evan H. DeLucia
Arends Professor Emeritus of Plant Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Nuria Gomez-Casanovas
Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University AgriLife Research
Kaiyu Guan
Associate Professor of Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Jeremy Guest
Associate Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Emily Heaton
Professor of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Adina Howe
Associate Professor of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University
Angela Kent
Professor of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Madhu Khanna
ACES Distinguished Professor of Environmental Economics, Director of Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
D.K. Lee
Professor of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Marshall McDaniel
Assistant Professor of Agronomy, Iowa State University
Senior Research Scientist, Colorado State UniversityJian Peng
Associate Professor of Computer Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Jennifer Pett-Ridge
Group Leader of Environmental Isotope Systems, Nuclear and Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
William Rooney
Professor of Soil and Crop Sciences and Borlaug-Monsanto Chair for Plant Breeding and International Crop Improvement, Texas A&M AgriLife Research
The Research Team
An alphabetical listing of all researchers, postdocs, technicians, and graduate students doing CABBI research in the Sustainability Theme.
A-F
- Toby Adjuik
- Rojda Aslan-Sungur
- Sarang Bhagwat
- Maria Florencia Bianco
- Bethany Blakely
- Elena Blanc-Betes
- Nic Boersma
- Elizabeth Boughton
- Emma Brace
- Emily Braun
- Janith Chandrasoma
- Tianhang Cheng
- Dominick Cifelli
- Allison Cook
- Yoel Cortes-Peña
- Hari Dave
- Danyang Duan
- William Eddy
- Kristin Ellis
- Shah-Al Emran
- Katerina Estera-Molina
- Xinxin (Winnie) Fan
- Jared Flater
TOBY ADJUIK
Postdoc
PIs: VanLoocke, McDaniel
Iowa State University
ROJDA ASLAN-SUNGUR
Research Scientist
PI: VanLoocke
Iowa State University
SARANG BHAGWAT
Civil & Environmental Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Guest
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
MARIA FLORENCIA BIANCO
Civil & Environmental Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Guest
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
BETHANY BLAKELY
Postdoc
PI: Bernacchi
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
ELENA BLANC-BETES
Postdoc
PI: DeLucia
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Agronomy Research Scientist
Research Director and BiologistEMMA BRACE
Postdoc
PI: Guest
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
EMILY BRAUN
Sustainability Theme Data Specialist
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
JANITH CHANDRASOMA
Postdoc
PI: DeLucia
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
TIANHANG CHENG
Computer Science M.S. Candidate
PI: Peng
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
DOMINICK CIFELLI
Ecology M.S. Candidate
PI: Brzostek
West Virginia University
ALLISON COOK
Field Research Scientist
PI: Yang
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
YOEL CORTES-PEÑA
Civil & Environmental Engineering M.S. Candidate
PI: Guest
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
HARI DAVE
Civil & Environmental Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Cai
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
DANYANG DUAN
Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences M.S. Candidate
PI: Kent
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
WILLIAM EDDY
Visiting Scholar
PI: Yang
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
KRISTIN ELLIS
Technician
PI: Kent
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
SHAH-AL EMRAN
Postdoc
PI: Heaton
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
KATERINA ESTERA-MOLINA
Research Scientist
PI: Pett-Ridge
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
XINXIN (WINNIE) FAN
Postdoc
PI: Khanna
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
JARED FLATER
Postdoc
PIs: VanLoocke/McDaniel
Iowa State University
G-L
- Christy Gibson
- Emma Golub
- Melannie Hartman
- Theodore Hartman
- Xinchen Hu
- Yu Kai Huang
- Chuck Hyde
- Chunhwa Jang
- Niuniu Ji
- Stephanie Juice
- Mitchell Kent
- Nakian (Nak Hyun) Kim
- Lavanya Kudli
- Jaejin Lee
- Jung Woo Lee
- Yalin Li
- Emily Lin
- Di Liang
- Jia Liu
- Susan Lutz
CHRISTY GIBSON
Postdoc
PI: Bernacchi
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
EMMA GOLUB
Civil & Environmental Engineering M.S. Candidate
PI: Cai
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Ecology Programmer/Analyst
Agronomy Ph.D. CandidateXINCHEN HU
Civil & Environmental Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Cai
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
YU KAI HUANG
Postdoc
PI: Khanna
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
CHUCK HYDE
Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Yang
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
CHUNHWA JANG
Postdoc
PI: Lee
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
NIUNIU JI
Postdoc
PI: Kent
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Postdoc
Soil and Crop Sciences M.S. CandidateNAKIAN (NAK HYUN) KIM
Postdoc
PI: Lee
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
LAVANYA KUDLI
Civil & Environmental Engineering M.S. Candidate
PI: Guest
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Research ScientistJUNG WOO LEE
Crop Sciences Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Lee
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
YALIN LI
Postdoc
PI: Guest
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
EMILY LIN
Civil & Environmental Engineering M.S. Candidate
PI: Guest
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
DI LIANG
Postdoc
PIs: Yang/Kent
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
JIA LIU
Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Howe
Iowa State University
Technical/Research SupportM-R
- Fahd Majeed
- Michael Millican
- Jessica Mulcrone
- Nictor Namoi
- Jessica Nelson
- Zoe Pagliaro
- Taylor Pederson
- Bryan Petersen
- Eric Potash
- Stephen Potter
- Lorien Radmer
- Sierra Raglin
- Joanna Ridgeway
- Heather Roney
FAHD MAJEED
Agricultural and Applied Economics Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Khanna
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
MICHAEL MILLICAN
Postdoc
PI: Howe
Iowa State University
JESSICA MULCRONE
Plant Biology Field/Lab Technician
PI: Yang
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
NICTOR NAMOI
Crop Sciences Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Lee
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Agronomy Ph.D. CandidateZOE PAGLIARO
Biology Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Brzostek
West Virginia University
TAYLOR PEDERSON
Plant Biology Lab/Field Research Technician
PI: Bernacchi
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
BRYAN PETERSEN
Agronomy M.S. Candidate
PI: VanLoocke
Iowa State University
ERIC POTASH
Postdoc
PI: Guan
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Research TechnicianLORIEN RADMER
Research Scientist
PI: Howe
Iowa State University
SIERRA RAGLIN
Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Kent
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
JOANNA RIDGEWAY
Biology Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Brzostek
West Virginia University
HEATHER RONEY
Crop Sciences Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Heaton
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
S-Z
- Bijay Sharma
- Dalton Stewart
- Jacob Studt
- Muhammad Umar
- Rachel Van Allen
- Anav Milind Vora
- Sheng Wang
- Haley Ware
- Destiny Williams
- Genghong Wu
- Xiaocui Wu
- Madelynn Wuestenberg
- Jihoon Yang
- Na Zhang
- Ziliang Zhang
BIJAY SHARMA
Postdoc
PI: Khanna
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
DALTON STEWART
Civil & Environmental Engineering M.S. Candidate
PI: Guest
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Research ScientistMUHAMMAD UMAR
Postdoc
PIs: Heaton/VanLoocke
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
RACHEL VAN ALLEN
Plant Biology Field Research Specialist
PI: Yang
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
ANAV MILIND VORA
Civil & Environmental Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Cai
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
SHENG WANG
Research Assistant Professor
PI: Guan
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
HALEY WARE
Research Technician
PI: DeLucia
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
DESTINY WILLIAMS
Agronomy M.S. Candidate
PI: VanLoocke
Iowa State University
GENGHONG WU
Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Guan
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
XIAOCUI WU
Postdoc
PI: Guan
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
MADELYNN WUESTENBERG
Agronomy M.S. Candidate
PI: VanLoocke
Iowa State University
PostdocNA ZHANG
Agricultural & Applied Economics Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Khanna
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
ZILIANG ZHANG
Postdoc
PI: Yang
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
FORMER TEAM MEMBERS
Sarah Acquah, Postdoc (Khanna), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Research profile >>>
Jayne Allen, Civil & Envtl. Eng. M.S. Candidate (Guest), U. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Kara Allen, Postdoc (Brzostek), West Virginia University
Corben Andrews, Field Research Specialist (DeLucia/Yang), U. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Josh Bendorf, Agronomy M.S. Candidate (VanLoocke), Iowa State University Research profile >>>
Danielle Berardi, Ecology Ph.D. Candidate (Hudiburg), University of Idaho
Taylor Bozman, Plant Biology Field/Lab Technician (Yang), University of Illinois Urbana-C.
Mark Burnham, Postdoc (Yang/DeLucia), University of Illinois Urbana-C. Research profile >>>
Joseph Carrara, Biology Ph.D. Candidate (Brzostek), West Virginia University
Luoye Chen, Ag. & Applied Ec. Ph.D. Candidate (Khanna), U. of Ill. Urbana-C. Research profile >>>
Jinlyung Choi, Postdoc (Howe), Iowa State University
Jennifer DeBellis, Academic Hourly (Guest), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Deepayan Debnath, Senior Research Scientist (Khanna), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Erhu Du, Consultant (Cai), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Desarae Echevarria, Civil and Envtl. Eng. M.S. Candidate (Guest), University of Illinois Urbana-C.
Patrick Edmonds, Associate Scientist (Heaton/VanLoocke), Iowa State University
Kelsie Ferin, Agricultural Meteorology Ph.D. Candidate (VanLoocke), Iowa St. U. Research profile >>>
Co-PI Adrien Finzi, Professor of Biology, Boston University Research feature >>>
Kate Glanville, Postdoc (VanLoocke/Heaton), Iowa State University
Amandine Germon, Postdoc (Leakey/Yang), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Marc-Andre Giasson, Biogeochemistry Lab Technician (Finzi), Boston University
Jack Goldman, Field Research Specialist (DeLucia/Yang), U. of Illinois Urbana-C.
Ingrid Holstrom, Field Research Specialist (Yang), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
I-Fang Hsieh, Biology Ph.D. Candidate (Finzi), Boston University
Yizhi Huang, Computer Science M.S. Candidate (Guan/Peng), University of Illinois Urbana-C.
Co-PI Tara Hudiburg, Assoc. Prof. of Forest, Rangeland & Fire Sciences, U. of Idaho Lab profile >>>
Avarna Jain, Plant Biology Field Research Specialist (DeLucia/Yang), University of Ill. Urbana-C.
Chongya Jiang, Research Scientist (Guan), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Saurajyoti Kar, Postdoc (Khanna), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Jeff Kent, Postdoc (Hudiburg), University of Idaho Feature article on the Idaho lab >>>
Dongwon Ki, Integration Postdoc (Guest/Rao/Jin), University of Illinois Urbana-C.
Isaac Klimasmith, Natural Resources & Envt. Sciences Ph.D. Candidate (Kent), U. of Ill. U.-C.
George Kontos, Civil & Env. Engineering M.S. Candidate (Guest), U. of Illinois Urbana-C.
Jordan Koos, Graduate Hourly Researcher (Kent), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Yuan Yao Lee, Postdoc (Khanna), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Carrie Leibensperger, Civil & Envtl. Eng. M.S. Candidate (Cai), U. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Kaiyuan Li, Natural Resources & Envt. Sciences Ph.D. Candidate (Guan), U. of Ill. U.-C.
Yijia Li, Agricultural and Applied Economics Ph.D. Candidate (Khanna), U. of Illinois Urbana-C.
Yu-Jeh Liu, Electrical & Computer Eng. M.S. Candidate (Peng), U. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Eleanor Lucadamo, Field Research Specialist (Kent), U. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Yunan Luo, Computer Science Ph.D. Candidate (Peng), U. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Lanying Ma, Postdoc (Howe), Iowa State University
Minu Mathew, Research Scientist (Bernacchi), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Hiroshi Matsushima, Agric. & Applied Economics Ph.D. Candidate (Khanna), U. of Illinois U.-C.
Caitlin Moore, Postdoc (Bernacchi), University of Ill. Urbana-Champaign Research profile >>>
Eberhard Morgenroth, Visiting Scholar (Guest), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Matt Nowatzke, Crop Prod. & Physiol., Envt Science Ph.D. Candidate (VanLoocke/Heaton), Iowa State U.
Sean Ooi, Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biology Ph.D. Candidate (Yang), U. of Ill. U.-C.
Tom Parkinson, Civil & Environmental Engineering M.S. Candidate (Guest), U. of Illinois Urbana-C.
Ximin Piao, Civil & Environmental Engineering M.S. Candidate (Cai), University of Illinois U.-C.
Ryan Quinn, Biology Ph.D. Candidate (Finzi), Boston University Feature article on her work >>>
Mustafa Saiffudin, Biology Ph.D. Candidate (Finzi), Boston University
Charumeghana Samantula, Civil & Envt. Eng. M.S. Candidate (Guest), U. of Illinois Urbana-C.
August Schetter, Crop Sciences M.S. Candidate (Lee), Univ. of Ill. Urbana-C. Research profile >>>
Majid Shafiee Jood, Civil and Environmental Engineering Ph.D. Candidate (Cai), U. of Ill. Urbana-C.
Rui Shi, Postdoc (Guest), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Matthew Siebers, Postdoc (Bernacchi), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Sandra Simon, Field Research Technician (Kent), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Thanwalee Sooksa-nguan, Postdoc (Howe), Iowa State University
Alex Steiner, Plant Biology Ph.D. Candidate (Heaton), Iowa State University
Tianyu Sun, Computer Science M.S. Candidate (Peng), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Konrad Taube, Academic Hourly (DeLucia), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Mauricio Tejera, Agronomy Ph.D. Candidate (Heaton), Iowa State University
Co-PI Thomas Voigt, Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Adam Von Haden, Postdoc (DeLucia/Yang), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Research profile >>>
Rachel Waltermire, Field Research Technician (Kent), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
WeiWei Wang, Ag. & Consumer Economics Researcher (Khanna), U. of Ill. Urbana-Champaign
Xiao Wang, Agricultural and Applied Economics Ph.D. Candidate (Khanna), U. of Ill. U.-C.
Xinlei Wang, Natural Resources & Envt. Sci. Ph.D. Candidate (Guan/Peng), U. of Illinois U.-C.
Shuran Wei, Civil & Envtl. Eng. Academic Hourly (Cai), U. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Karen Gupta Weichold, Civil & Envtl. Eng. M.S. Candidate (Guest), U. of Illinois Urbana-C.
Stephen Williams, Technician (Parton), Colorado State University
Ke Xu, Computer Science M.S. Candidate (Guan/Peng), University of Illinois Urbana-C.
Pan Yang, Postdoc (Cai), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Xinyi Zhang, Civil and Envtl. Eng. M.S. Candidate (Guest), University of Illinois Urbana-C.
Kejie Zhao, Computer Science M.S. Candidate (Peng/Guan), University of Illinois Urbana-C.
Qiankun Zhao, Civil Engineering M.S. Candidate (Cai), U. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Jia Zhong, Ag. & Applied Economics Ph.D. Candidate (Khanna), U. of Ill. Urbana-Champaign