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.
Madhu Khanna: Theme Leader
Khanna, the ACES Distinguished Professor of Environmental Economics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is also Associate Director for Education and Outreach at the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment. She has has more than 20 years of experience directing interdisciplinary projects funded by federal agencies and corporations. Her research examines motivations for producers to adopt innovative production technologies, grow biofuel crops, and to participate in conservation programs. Her work informs stakeholders and policy makers about the cost-effectiveness of various approaches to improve environmental quality. Khanna received her Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics in 1995 from the University of California at Berkeley.
Andy VanLoocke: Deputy Theme Leader
VanLoocke, an Assistant 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 at Urbana-Champaign.
Wendy Yang: Deputy Theme Leader
Yang, an Assistant Professor of Plant Biology and Geology at the University of Illinois at 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.
The Research Team
Carl Bernacchi
Plant Physiologist, U.S. Dept. of Ag. Agricultural Research Service Global Change and Photosynthesis Research, Urbana, IL
The Research Team
Edward Brzostek
Assistant 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 at Urbana-Champaign
Evan H. DeLucia
G. William Arends Professor of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Professor of Biology, Boston UniversityKaiyu Guan
Assistant Professor of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Jeremy Guest
Assistant Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Emily Heaton
Associate Professor of Agronomy, Iowa State University
Adina Howe
Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University
Tara Hudiburg
Assistant Professor of Forest, Rangeland & Fire Sciences, University of Idaho
Angela Kent
Associate Professor of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
DoKyoung Lee
Associate Professor of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Senior Research Scientist, Colorado State UniversityJian Peng
Assistant Professor of Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Thomas Voigt
Professor of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The Operating Team
An alphabetical listing of all postdocs, research technicians, and graduate students doing CABBI research in the Sustainability Theme.
A-F
Kara Allan, Biology Postdoc (Brzostek), West Virginia University
Danielle Berardi, Ecology Ph.D. Candidate (Hudiburg), University of Idaho
Nic Boersma, Agronomy Research Scientist (Heaton), Iowa State University
Taylor Bozman, Plant Biology Field/Lab Technician (Yang), University of Illinois at Urbana-C.
Mark Burnham, Plant Biology/iSEE Postdoc (Yang), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Luoye Chen, Ag. & Applied Economics Ph.D. Candidate (Khanna), University of Ill. at Urbana-C.
Jinlyung Choi, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Postdoc (Howe), Iowa State University
Yoel Cortes-Peña, Civil and Envtl. Eng. M.S. Candidate (Guest), U. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Kelsie Ferin, Agricultural Meteorology Ph.D. Candidate (VanLoocke), Iowa State University
G-L
Avarna Jain, Plant Biology Field Research Specialist (DeLucia/Yang), University of Ill. at Urbana-C.
Chongya Jiang, Natural Resources and Envtl. Sciences Postdoc (Guan), U. of Ill. at Urbana-C.
Jeff Kent, Forestry Postdoc (Hudiburg), University of Idaho
Jaejin Lee, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Postdoc (Howe), Iowa State University
Yunan Luo, Computer Science Ph.D. Candidate (Peng), U. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
M-R
Caitlin Moore, Plant Biology Postdoc (Bernacchi), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Taylor Pederson, Plant Biology Lab & Field Research Tech. (Bernacchi), University of Ill. at Urbana-C.
Joanna Ridgeway, Biology Ph.D. Candidate (Brzostek), West Virginia University
S-Z
Rui Shi, Engineering Postdoc (Guest), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Mauricio Tejera, Agronomy Ph.D. Candidate (Heaton), Iowa State University
Rachel Emily Van Allen, Plant Biology Field Research Specialist (Yang), University of Ill. at Urbana-C.
Adam Von Haden, Plant Biology Postdoc (DeLucia/Yang), U. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
WeiWei Wang, Ag. & Consumer Economics Researcher (Khanna), U. of Ill. at Urbana-Champaign
Qiankun Zhao, Civil Engineering M.S. Candidate (Cai), U. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Jia Zhong, Ag. & Applied Economics Ph.D. Candidate (Khanna), U. of Ill. at Urbana-Champaign
Support Staff
Research Coordinator Anya Knecht Email >>>