Last Updated on September 28, 2026 by Stella Canfield
Horticultural scientist Seunghyun Choi has joined the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (MREC) to lead an urban horticulture research program focused on advancing sustainable specialty crop production.
As a faculty member in the UF/IFAS Department of Horticultural Sciences, Choi will work with urban and small-scale growers to develop practical strategies that improve water and nutrient management, increase resource-use efficiency and support local food production.
“Florida’s rapid urban growth is increasing the need for research and teaching in urban horticulture. Recruiting Dr. Seunghyun Choi, a highly talented horticulturist, represents an important investment by the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center to support the evolving needs of our stakeholders. His expertise will strengthen our ability to deliver innovative research, teaching and outreach programs that benefit Florida’s urban landscapes and communities,” says UF/IFAS MREC Interim Center Director Mathews Paret.
Choi is teaching the Plant Propagation Laboratory during the Fall 2026 semester. The lab, conducted onsite at MREC, provides both undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on experience in various plant propagation techniques and production practices.
Choi began at MREC in June 2026. Prior to joining UF/IFAS, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center, Uvalde, Texas, where he led projects focused on sustainable vegetable production in hydroponic and aquaponic systems. He also led field watermelon and high-tunnel tomato and cucumber production trials, gaining extensive experience across diverse production systems.
Among his research efforts was working with Texas A&M’s Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture, where he investigated strategies to improve the nutritional quality of leafy vegetables and increase access to healthy foods. At MREC, Choi plans to build on this work by exploring how fruit and vegetable production can support human health through UF’s Food is Medicine initiative.
Choi earned his bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from North Dakota State University, and his doctorate in horticulture from Purdue University. He is a member of the American Society for Horticultural Sciences.
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