FORT PIERCE, Fla.—A Ph.D. candidate who aims to improve crop production and protect soils and water resources garnered seven academic awards in a year.
Jaya “Jay” Nepal pursues a soil, water, and ecosystem sciences doctorate at the University of Florida/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) in Fort Pierce, one of Florida’s major agricultural production regions. Zhenli He guides Nepal’s research in his Soil and Water Sciences Laboratory at IRREC. Zhenli He is a world leader in phosphorus and its application to crop production and soil quality.
Nepal was named a prestigious “Bayer Crop Science Encompass Fellow, 2022-2023” by members of the Agronomy, Crop Science, and Soil Science Society of America (ASA-CSSA-SSSA). Nepal was chosen in recognition of his work with carbon nanoparticle crop nutrients, his aim to protect soils and water resources, and his leadership role in society and the scientific community. The Fellow designation includes recognition in the ASA-CSSA-SSSA Hall of Fame at the annual meeting. Additional full funding will include travel to Nepal and to attend the society’s annual meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, in November 2022.
“The overarching goal of my project is to evaluate the performance of carbon nanoparticles as a crop and soil enhancer. Through field and greenhouse trials, we are studying its performance on crop growth and evaluating its influence on soil quality,” said Nepal.
Nepal said he conducts a column leaching study to look at two factors for carbon nano research: One is the leaching risk of the nanoparticles themselves, and the second is how it affects the nutrients.
“We have different nutrients and rates of fertilizers, and we seek to reduce fertilizer leaching risk to protect groundwater,” Nepal said.
Nepal will depart for the organization’s annual meeting, where he will present his scientific research and findings and their application to agricultural production and environmental protection.
As an Encompass Fellow, Nepal will participate in a “one-year program designed to provide two immersive in-person experiences with additional virtual events,” the ASA-CSSA-SSSA award letter reads. Nepal will also receive total funding to participate in Congressional Visits Day, held in Washington, D.C., which brings ASA, CSSA, and SSSA members to the nation’s Capital to advocate for scientific funding.
In addition to the Fellow award, Nepal’s awards include a UF Office of Research UF Research Award; the Sam Polson Scholarship Award, a UF Graduate Student Council Travel Grant; a UF/IFAS-IRREC Travel Award; a UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences/IFAS Travel Award; and a UF Soil and Water and Ecosystem Sciences Travel Matching Fund award.
“I am grateful to ASA-CSSA-SSSA society, Bayer Crop Science, and all the UF/IFAS departments who support my work to improve food production and the environment on a global scale. Also, I appreciate the continuous support and motivation of Zhenli He, my Ph.D. supervisor, Maltais-Landry, my co-advisor, post-doctoral researcher Xiaoping Xin, and all my colleagues,” said Nepal.
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