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 M.S. Candidate Dalton Stewart’s 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 Postdoc Sarah Acquah’s research profile by Chloe Rice >>>
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 M.S. Candidate August Schetter’s research profile by Jordan Goebig >>>
Read Theme Leader Madhu Khanna’s research profile by Emily Scott >>>
Read M.S. Candidate Yoel Cortes-Peña’s research profile by Jenna Kurtzweil >>>
Read Postdoc Caitlin Moore’s research profile by Emily Scott >>>
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 Research 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 Lead Scientists
Carl Bernacchi
Plant Physiologist, U.S. Dept. of Ag. Agricultural Research Service Global Change and Photosynthesis Research, Urbana, IL
The Research Team
Elizabeth Boughton
Research Director and Biologist, Archbold Biological Station
The Research Team
Edward Brzostek
Assistant Professor of Forest Ecology and Ecosystem Modeling, West Virginia University
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
Associate 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
Professor of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
D.K. Lee
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
William Rooney
Professor of Soil and Crop Sciences and Borlaug-Monsanto Chair for Plant Breeding and International Crop Improvement, Texas A&M University
Thomas Voigt
Professor of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The Research Team
An alphabetical listing of all researchers, postdocs, technicians, and graduate students doing CABBI research in the Sustainability Theme.
A-F
- Guler Aslan-Sungur
- Josh Bendorf
- Danielle Berardi
- Sarang Bhagwat
- Bethany Blakely
- Elena Blanc Betes
- Nic Boersma
- Mark Burnham
- Luoye Chen
- Allison Cook
- Yoel Cortes-Peña
- Jennifer DeBellis
- Deepayan Debnath
- Danyang Duan
- Patrick Edmonds
- Kelsie Ferin
Postdoc
Agronomy M.S. CandidateDANIELLE BERARDI
Ecology Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Hudiburg
University of Idaho
SARANG BHAGWAT
Civil & Environmental Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Guest
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
BETHANY BLAKELY
Postdoc
PI: Bernacchi
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
ELENA BLANC BETES
Postdoc
PI: DeLucia
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Agronomy Research ScientistMARK BURNHAM
Postdoc
PIs: Yang/DeLucia
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
LUOYE CHEN
Agricultural and Applied Economics Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Khanna
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
ALLISON COOK
Field Research Scientist
PI: Yang
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
YOEL CORTES-PEÑA
Civil and Environmental Engineering M.S. Candidate
PI: Guest
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
JENNIFER DeBELLIS
Academic Hourly
PI: Guest
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
DEEPAYAN DEBNATH
Senior Research Scientist
PI: Khanna
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
DANYANG DUAN
Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences M.S. Candidate
PI: Kent
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Associate ScientistKELSIE FERIN
Agricultural Meteorology Ph.D. Candidate
PI: VanLoocke
Iowa State University
G-L
- Marc-Andre Giasson
- Christy Gibson
- Nuria Gomez-Casanovas
- Melannie Hartman
- Ingrid Holstrom
- Xinchen Hu
- Yizhi Huang
- Chuck Hyde
- Chunhwa Jang
- Niuniu Ji
- Chongya Jiang
- Stephanie Juice
- Jeff Kent
- Mitchell Kent
- Isaac Klimasmith
- George Kontos
- Jaejin Lee
- Yuan Yao Lee
- Carrie Leibensperger
- Kaiyuan Li
- Yalin Li
- Yijia Li
- Yu-Jeh Liu
- Di Liang
- Susan Lutz
Biogeochemistry Lab TechnicianCHRISTY GIBSON
Postdoc
PI: Bernacchi
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
NURIA GOMEZ-CASANOVAS
Visiting Research Scientist
PI: DeLucia
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Ecology Programmer/AnalystINGRID HOLSTROM
Field Research Specialist
PI: Yang
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
XINCHEN HU
Graduate Student
PI: Cai
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
YIZHI HUANG
Computer Science M.S. Candidate
PIs: Guan/Peng
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
CHUCK HYDE
Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Yang
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
CHUNHWA JANG
Postdoc
PI: Lee
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
NIUNIU JI
Postdoc
PI: Kent
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
CHONGYA JIANG
Postdoc
PI: Guan
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
STEPHANIE JUICE
Postdoc
PI: Brzostek
West Virginia University
JEFF KENT
Postdoc
PI: Hudiburg
University of Idaho
Soil and Crop Sciences M.S. CandidateISAAC KLIMASMITH
Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Kent
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
GEORGE KONTOS
Civil & Environmental Engineering Graduate Student
PI: Guest
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
PostdocYUAN YAO LEE
Postdoc
PI: Khanna
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
CARRIE LEIBENSPERGER
Civil and Environmental Engineering M.S. Candidate
PI: Cai
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
KAIYUAN LI
Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Guan
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
YALIN LI
Postdoc
PI: Guest
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
YIJIA LI
Agricultural & Applied Economics Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Khanna
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
YU-JEH LIU
Graduate Student
PI: Peng
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
DI LIANG
Postdoc
PIs: Yang/Kent
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Technical/Research SupportM-R
- Fahd Majeed
- Hiroshi Matsushima
- Jessica Mulcrone
- Tom Parkinson
- Taylor Pederson
- Ximin Piao
- Ryan Quinn
- Sierra Raglin
- Joanna Ridgeway
FAHD MAJEED
Agricultural and Applied Economics Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Khanna
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
HIROSHI MATSUSHIMA
Agricultural and Applied Economics Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Khanna
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
JESSICA MULCRONE
Plant Biology Field/Lab Technician
PI: Yang
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
TOM PARKINSON
Civil & Environmental Engineering M.S. Candidate
PI: Guest
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
TAYLOR PEDERSON
Plant Biology Lab/Field Research Technician
PI: Bernacchi
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
XIMIN PIAO
Civil & Environmental Engineering M.S. Candidate
PI: Cai
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
RYAN QUINN
Biology Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Finzi
Boston University
SIERRA RAGLIN
Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences M.S. Candidate
PI: Kent
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
JOANNA RIDGEWAY
Biology Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Brzostek
West Virginia University
S-Z
- Mustafa Saiffudin
- Bijay Sharma
- Rui Shi
- Sandra Simon
- Thanwalee Sooksa-nguan
- Alex Steiner
- Dalton Stewart
- Jacob Studt
- Tianyu Sun
- Rachel Van Allen
- Adam von Haden
- Rachel Waltermire
- Sheng Wang
- WeiWei Wang
- Shuran Wei
- Genghong Wu
- Pan Yang
- Xinyi Zhang
- Qiankun Zhao
- Na Zhang
- Jia Zhong
Biology Ph.D. CandidateBIJAY SHARMA
Postdoc
PI: Khanna
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
RUI SHI
Postdoc
PI: Guest
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
SANDRA SIMON
Field Research Technician
PI: Kent
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
THANWALEE SOOKSA-NGUAN
Postdoc
PI: Howe
Iowa State University
ALEX STEINER
Plant Biology Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Heaton
Iowa State University
DALTON STEWART
Civil & Environmental Engineering M.S. Candidate
PI: Guest
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Soil Science M.S. CandidateTIANYU SUN
Computer Science M.S. Candidate
PI: Peng
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
RACHEL EMILY VAN ALLEN
Plant Biology Field Research Specialist
PI: Yang
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
ADAM VON HADEN
Postdoc
PIs: DeLucia/Yang
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
RACHEL WALTERMIRE
Field Research Technician
PI: Kent
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
SHENG WANG
Postdoc
PI: Guan
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
WEIWEI WANG
Agricultural and Consumer Economics Researcher
PI: Khanna
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
SHURAN WEI
Civil and Environmental Engineering Academic Hourly
PI: Cai
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
GENGHONG WU
Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Guan
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
PAN YANG
Postdoc
PI: Cai
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
XINYI ZHANG
Civil and Environmental Engineering M.S. Candidate
PI: Guest
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
QIANKUN ZHAO
Civil Engineering M.S. Candidate
PI: Cai
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
NA ZHANG
Agricultural & Applied Economics Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Khanna
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
JIA ZHONG
Agricultural and Applied Economics Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Khanna
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
FORMER TEAM MEMBERS
Sarah Acquah, Postdoc (Khanna), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Research profile >>>
Kara Allen, Postdoc (Brzostek), West Virginia University
Taylor Bozman, Plant Biology Field/Lab Technician (Yang), University of Illinois at Urbana-C.
Jinlyung Choi, Postdoc (Howe), Iowa State University
Erhu Du, Consultant (Cai), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Desarae Echevarria, Civil and Envtl. Eng. M.S. Candidate (Guest), University of Illinois at Urbana-C.
I-Fang Hsieh, Biology Ph.D. Candidate (Finzi), Boston University
Avarna Jain, Plant Biology Field Research Specialist (DeLucia/Yang), University of Ill. at Urbana-C.
Dongwon Ki, Integration Postdoc (Guest/Rao/Jin), University of Illinois at Urbana-C.
Jordan Koos, Graduate Hourly Researcher (Kent), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Yu-Jeh Liu, Electrical & Computer Eng. M.S. Candidate (Peng), U. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Eleanor Lucadamo, Field Research Specialist (Kent), U. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Yunan Luo, Computer Science Ph.D. Candidate (Peng), U. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Lanying Ma, Postdoc (Howe), Iowa State University
Caitlin Moore, Postdoc (Bernacchi), University of Ill. at Urbana-Champaign Research profile >>>
Eberhard Morgenroth, Visiting Scholar (Guest), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Sean Ooi, Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biology Ph.D. Candidate (Yang), U. of Ill. at U.-C.
August Schetter, Crop Sciences M.S. Candidate (Lee), Univ. of Ill. at Urbana-C. Research profile >>>
Majid Shafiee Jood, Civil and Environmental Engineering Ph.D. Candidate (Cai), U. of Ill. at Urbana-C.
Matthew Siebers, Postdoc (Bernacchi), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Konrad Taube, Academic Hourly (DeLucia), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Mauricio Tejera, Agronomy Ph.D. Candidate (Heaton), Iowa State University
Xiao Wang, Agricultural and Applied Economics Ph.D. Candidate (Khanna), U. of Ill. at U.-C.
Karen Gupta Weichold, Civil & Envtl. Eng. M.S. Candidate (Guest), U. of Illinois at Urbana-C.
Ke Xu, Computer Science M.S. Candidate (Guan/Peng), University of Illinois at Urbana-C.