The University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment recently recognized outstanding faculty for their significant contribution in research and extension efforts.

Tiffany Messer, associate professor in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering and Gatton Foundation Endowed Chair, was recognized with the Bobby Pass Excellence in Grantsmanship Award; Tomo Kawashima, associate professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, was recognized with the Prestigious Original Research Paper Award; and a Plant and Soil Sciences team consisting of Brad Lee, John Grove, Jason Unrine and Erin Haramoto were honored with the Research and Extension Impact Award.

“It is a great honor to recognize faculty who have excelled in the triad of activities critical to achieving the college’s research and extension missions—procurement of funding, generation and dissemination of scientific discoveries and application of these discoveries”, said Jamie Matthews, associate dean for research and director of the Kentucky Agricultural Experimentation Station.

The Bobby Pass Excellence in Grantsmanship Award 

This award is given in memory of Bobby Pass, who chaired the Department of Entomology from 1968 to 2001 at Martin-Gatton CAFE and was dedicated to promoting scientific excellence. 

Messer’s research focuses on environmental biogeochemistry and water resources engineering. Her work focuses on identifying, tracing and treating nutrients and emerging contaminants using ecological engineered designs. Messer has garnered more than $23 million in competitive extramural grants from federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Geological Survey.

These prestigious federal grants have allowed her to explore innovative strategies in improving water quality in Kentucky and beyond. 

“I am deeply honored and grateful to receive the 2024 Bobby Pass Excellence in Grantsmanship Award,” Messer said. “The recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of my research team and the support of Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment to continue our work in developing cost-effective solutions to provide clean water for all people in the Commonwealth.” 

Prestigious Original Research Paper Award 

This award is presented to a faculty member for the most prestigious original research paper, with emphasis placed on scientific merit, article citation, and impact. 

Kawashima’s award-winning 2023 paper “Cellular dynamics of coenocytic endosperm development in Arabidopsis thaliana” was published in Nature Plants, considered one of the most prestigious journals in plant biology.

His lab focuses on the molecular and cellular dynamics of sexual plant reproduction, with emphasis on understanding endosperm development in seeds, which plays a crucial role in determining the final seed size. 

This study sets a new benchmark for understanding endosperm development and its impact on seed formation. Moreover, by identifying key pathways controlling seed size, Kawashima’s research opens new possibilities for addressing global food security challenges.

"This recognition is especially meaningful because it comes from my own academic community, department and college, who have directly witnessed and supported my work,” Kawashima said. “I am deeply grateful, and this acknowledgment reinforces my sense of connection while motivating me to continue contributing to our shared academic mission." 

Research and Extension Impact Award 

This award is presented to faculty in a research program that has resulted in a fully developed extension program. Lee, Grove, Unrine and Haramoto’s program Blue Water Farms: Edge-of-Field Water Quality Monitoring, in partnership with Glynn Beck of the Kentucky Geological Survey, seamlessly integrates water quality, cropping system and soil fertility. 

The Blue Water Farms applied research and engagement project focuses on quantifying the benefits of on-farm best management practices relative to current cropping systems in Western Kentucky. This integrated program was initiated in 2017 with support from the USDA National Resources Conservation Service, Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board and the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board and has secured $8 million external funding. 

This interdisciplinary team works with nine cooperating farms, across 29 instrumented watersheds, to measure nutrient and sediment runoff during every runoff generating precipitation event—helping more Kentucky farmers make knowledgeable cropping system decisions, specifically in nutrient retention and erosion prevention.

This work is highly relevant to Kentucky’s changing climatic conditions, which include more frequent and intense precipitation events.

“These achievements illustrate how our research and extension faculty directly contribute to the health and financial well-being of Kentucky’s citizens,” Matthews said.

To learn more about research at Martin-Gatton CAFE, visit https://research.ca.uky.edu. 

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Writer: Christopher Carney, christopher.carney@uky.edu  

The University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research, education information and other services to individuals and institutions that provide equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.