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 Postdoc Rojda Aslan-Sungur’s research profile by Maria Maring >>>

Read Postdoc Stephanie Juice’s research profile by April Wending >>>

Read Research Assistant Professor Sheng Wang’s profile by the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology >>>

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 >>>

Madhu Khanna: Theme Leader

Khanna, the ACES Distinguished Professor of Environmental Economics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is also the Alvin H. Baum Family Chair and Director at the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment. She has has more than 25 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.

Her Agricultural and Consumer Economics page >>>

Her CABBI research profile >>>

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.

His Agronomy page >>>

His lab page >>>

Wendy Yang: Deputy 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.

Her School of Integrative Biology page >>>

Her lab page >>>

The Lead Scientists

Carl Bernacchi

Plant Physiologist, U.S. Dept. of Ag. Agricultural Research Service Global Change and Photosynthesis Research, Urbana, IL

His School of Integrative Biology page >>>

His USDA ARS page >>>

His lab page >>>

The Research Team

Elizabeth Boughton

Research Director and Biologist, Archbold Biological Station

Her Archbold page >>>

The Research Team

Edward Brzostek

Associate Professor of Forest Ecology and Ecosystem Modeling, West Virginia University

His Biology page >>>

Ximing Cai

Colonel Harry F. and Frankie M. Lovell Endowed Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

His Civil & Environmental Engineering page >>>

Evan H. DeLucia

Arends Professor Emeritus of Plant Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

His School of Integrative Biology page >>>

His lab page >>>

Adrien Finzi

Professor of Biology, Boston University

His Biology page >>>

His lab page >>>

Kaiyu Guan

Associate Professor of Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

His Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences page >>>

Jeremy Guest

Associate Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

His Civil & Environmental Engineering page >>>

His lab page >>>

Emily Heaton

Professor of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

Her departmental page >>>

Her Illinois Regenerative Agriculture Initiative page >>>

Her research profile from her Iowa State days >>>

Adina Howe

Associate Professor of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University

Her Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering page >>>

Her lab page >>>

Her research profile >>>

Tara Hudiburg

Associate Professor of Forest, Rangeland & Fire Sciences, University of Idaho

Her Natural Resources page >>>

Feature article on her lab >>>

Angela Kent

Professor of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Her Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences page >>>

Her lab page >>>

D.K. Lee

Professor of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

His Crop Sciences page >>>

His lab page >>>

Marshall McDaniel

Assistant Professor of Agronomy, Iowa State University

His Agronomy page >>>

His lab page >>>

William Parton

Senior Research Scientist, Colorado State University

His Natural Resources page >>>

Jian Peng

Associate Professor of Computer Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

His Computer Science page >>>

His lab page >>>

Jennifer Pett-Ridge

Group Leader of Environmental Isotope Systems, Nuclear and Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Her LLNL page >>>

Article on LLNL joining CABBI >>>

William Rooney

Professor of Soil and Crop Sciences and Borlaug-Monsanto Chair for Plant Breeding and International Crop Improvement, Texas A&M University

His Soil and Crop Sciences page >>>

Thomas Voigt

Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

His Crop Sciences page >>>

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

Postdoc

PIs: VanLoocke, McDaniel

Iowa State University

ROJDA ASLAN-SUNGUR

Postdoc

PI: VanLoocke

Iowa State University

More >>>

Her research profile >>>

DANIELLE BERARDI

Ecology Ph.D. Candidate

PI: Hudiburg

University of Idaho

Feature article on the Idaho lab >>>

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

NIC BOERSMA

Agronomy Research Scientist

PI: Heaton

Iowa State University

More >>>

EMMA 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

More >>>

His research profile >>>

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

MARC-ANDRE GIASSON

Biogeochemistry Lab Technician

PI: Finzi

Boston University

More >>>

CHRISTY GIBSON

Postdoc

PI: Bernacchi

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Her research profile >>>

EMMA GOLUB

Civil & Environmental Engineering M.S. Candidate

PI: Cai

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

NURIA GOMEZ-CASANOVAS

Visiting Research Scientist

PI: DeLucia

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

MELANNIE HARTMAN

Ecology Programmer/Analyst

PI: Parton

Colorado State University

More >>>

THEODORE HARTMAN

Agronomy Ph.D. Candidate

PI: VanLoocke

Iowa State University

More >>>

XINCHEN 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

CHONGYA JIANG

Research Scientist

PI: Guan

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

STEPHANIE JUICE

Postdoc

PI: Brzostek

West Virginia University

Her research profile >>>

MITCHELL KENT

Soil and Crop Sciences M.S. Candidate

PI: Rooney

Texas A&M University

More >>>

NAKIAN (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

JAEJIN LEE

Research Scientist

PI: Howe

Iowa State University

More >>>

JUNG 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

SUSAN LUTZ

Technical/Research Support

PI: Parton

Colorado State University

More >>>

M-R

FAHD MAJEED

Agricultural and Applied Economics Ph.D. Candidate

PI: Khanna

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

MINU MATHEW

Research Scientist

PI: Bernacchi

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

JESSICA NELSON

Agronomy Ph.D. Candidate

PI: VanLoocke

Iowa State University

More >>>

ZOE 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

More >>>

BRYAN PETERSEN

Agronomy M.S. Candidate

PI: VanLoocke

Iowa State University

ERIC POTASH

Postdoc

PI: Peng

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

STEPHEN POTTER

Research Technician

PI: McDaniel

Iowa State University

More >>>

LORIEN 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

Her research profile >>>

JOANNA RIDGEWAY

Biology Ph.D. Candidate

PI: Brzostek

West Virginia University

Her research profile >>>

HEATHER RONEY

Crop Sciences Ph.D. Candidate

PI: Heaton

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

S-Z

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

His research profile >>>

JACOB STUDT

Soil Science M.S. Candidate

PI: Heaton

Iowa State University

More >>>

MUHAMMAD 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

More >>>

Her research profile >>>

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

His research profile >>>

HALEY WARE

Research Technician

PI: DeLucia

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

DESTINY WILLIAMS

Agronomy M.S. Candidate

PI: VanLoocke

Iowa State University

STEPHEN WILLIAMS

Technician

PI: Parton

Colorado State University

GENGHONG WU

Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Ph.D. Candidate

PI: Guan

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

MADELYNN WUESTENBERG

Agronomy M.S. Candidate

PI: VanLoocke

Iowa State University

JIHOON YANG

Postdoc

PI: Howe

Iowa State University

More >>>

PAN YANG

Postdoc

PI: Cai

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

NA 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 >>>

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 >>>

Kate Glanville, Postdoc (VanLoocke/Heaton), Iowa State University

Amandine Germon, Postdoc (Leakey/Yang), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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.

Avarna Jain, Plant Biology Field Research Specialist (DeLucia/Yang), University of Ill. Urbana-C.

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

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

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.

Ke Xu, Computer Science M.S. Candidate (Guan/Peng), University of Illinois Urbana-C.

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