Collaborators
Jim Anderson, Ph.D.
Breeding and Genetics
Professor of Wheat Breeding & Genetics
Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics
University of Minnesota
411 Borlaug Hall
1991 Upper Buford Circle
St. Paul MN 55108-6026
ander319@umn.edu
Carol Kiam Assato
Breeding & Genetics
Graduate Student
School of Biological Sciences
Illinois State University
Campus Box 4120
Normal IL 61790
cskiama@ilstu.edu
Chris Aulbach
Agronomic Management
Education/Extension/Outreach
CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132
caulbach@covercress.com
Mark Bernards, Ph.D.
Agronomic Management
Weed Science (Lead)
USDA – ARS
ARS Soil Management Research Unit, Morris, Minnesota
mark.bernards@usda.gov
Jason Bond, Ph.D.
Agronomic Management (SCN)
Professor of Plant Soil & Ag. Systems
College of Agricultural Sciences
Southern Illinois University
Carbondale IL 62901
jbond@siu.edu
Mary Brakke, Ph.D.
Education/Outreach/Extension
Lead: Integrated Plant Systems
Undergraduate Research Experience
Teaching Assistant Professor
Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics
University of Minnesota
A213 Hayes Hall
1509 Gortner Ave
St Paul MN 55108
brakk001@umn.edu
Anthony Brusa, Ph.D.
Breeding & Genetics
Researcher 5
Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics
University of Minnesota
230 Borlaug Hall
St Paul MN 55108
abrusa@umn.edu
Senyu Chen, Ph.D.
Agronomic Management (SCN)
Professor
Southern Research and Outreach Center
University of Minnesota
35838 120th St.
Waseca MN 56093
Ratan Chopra, Ph.D.
Breeding and Genetics
Vice-President for Research
CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132
rchopra@covercress.com
Kevin Cook
Breeding and Genetics
Director of Breeding
CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132
kcook@covercress.com
Steve Csonka
IPREFER Advisory Board
Executive Director
Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI)
Julija Cubins, Ph.D.
Project Data Management
Research Associate
Postdoctoral Associate, Wells Lab
University of Minnesota Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics
cure0012@umn.edu
Colin Cureton, M.S.
Supply Chain Development
Research Associate
Supply Chain Development Specialist, UMN Forever Green Initiative
University of Minnesota
Forever Green Initiative: https://www.forevergreen.umn.edu/crops-systems/winter-annual-grains-oilseeds/pennycress
1270 Van Buren Ave
Saint Paul MN 55104-2014
cure0012@umn.edu
Rashmi Dangol
Graduate Student
Graduate Student
Illinois State University
Campus Box 4120
Normal IL 61790-4120
rdangol@ilstu.edu
Rebekka Darner, Ph.D
On sabbatical starting May 16, 2023
Executive Leadership Team
Co-PI - Education/Outreach/Extension
Associate Professor of Biology Education
Director - Center for Mathematics, Science & Technology (CeMaST)
Illinois State University
Campus Box 4120
Normal IL 61790-4120
rldarne@ilstu.edu
Mike DeCamp
IPREFER Advisory Board
Chief Executive Officer
CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132
mdecamp@covercress.com
Alexandra Diemer
Supply Chain Team
AURI Business Development Director of Novel Supply Chains
adiemer@auri.org
Alan Doerning
Supply Chain Development
Sr. Scientist – Coproducts
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)
510 County Road 71, Suite 120
Crookston MN 56716
adoering@auri.org
Ahmad M. Fakhoury, Ph.D.
Agronomic Management (SCN)
Assoc. Professor of Plant Soil & Ag. Systems
Dir. of Graduate Programs
College of Agricultural Sciences
Southern Illinois University
1205 Lincoln Dr.
Carbondale IL 62901-4415
amfakhou@siu.edu
Neville Fernandes, PE.
IPREFER Advisory Board
VP, Chevron Renewable Energy Group
Frank Forcella, Ph.D.
Pennycress Ecosystem Services
(Pollinators)
Adjunct Professor
Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics
University of Minnesota
Morris MN 55108-6026
forcellafrank@gmail.com
Liza Gautam
Breeding and Genetics
Graduate Student (Ph.D.)
School of Biological Sciences
Illinois State University
Campus Box 4120
Normal Il 61790
bgautam@ilstu.edu
Russ Gesch, Ph.D.
Agronomic Management
Research Plant Physiologist
USDA-ARS
North Central Soil Conservation Research Lab
803 Iowa Ave.
Morris MN 56267
russ.gesch@ars.usda.gov
Brad Glenn
Agronomic Management (Producer)
CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132
brad.glenn@frontier.com
Riley Gordon
Supply Chain Development
Engineer
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)
510 County Road 71, Suite 120
Crookston MN 56716
rgordon@AURI.org
Matthew Hagaman, M.S., M.A.
Executive Leadership Team
Education/Outreach/Extension
Instructional Designer
Center for Math, Science, & Technology (CeMaST)
Illinois State University
Campus Box 5960
Normal IL 61790
mthagam@ilstu.edu
Alex Hard
Agronomic Management
Research Scientist
Department of Agronomy and Plant Sciences
University of Minnesota
Room 411 Borlaug Hall
1991 Upper Buford Circle
St. Paul MN 55108
hardx006@umn.edu
Aaron Hauger
Education/Outreach/Extension
Graduate Student (Ph.D)
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
College of Education and Human Development
178 Pillsbury Dr. S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
hauge553@umn.edu
Brett Heim
Breeding & Genetics
Researcher
Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics
University of Minnesota
132 Crops Research
1991 Upper Buford Circle
St. Paul MN 55108
hbrett@umn.edu
Nicholas Heller, Ph.D.
Agronomic Management
Education/Outreach/Extension
Assistant Professor of Crop Sciences
Dept. of Agriculture
Illinois State University
Ropp Agriculture Building 146
Campus Box 5020
Normal IL 61790
njhelle@ilstu.edu
Mitch Hunter
Collaborator
Supply Chain Development
Assoc. Director, Forever Green Initiative
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Department of Agronomy & Plant Genetics
University of Minnesota, Twin-Cities
411 Borlaug Hall
St. Paul, MN 55108
mhunte@umn.edu
William Hunter, Ph.D.
Co-PI
Education/Outreach/Extension
Professor of Chemistry Education
Department of Chemistry
Illinois State University
Julian Hall 214
Campus Box 4160
Normal IL 61790
wjhunte@ilstu.edu
Nikhil Jaikumar
Breeding & Genetics
PostDoc
School of Biological Sciences
Illinois State University
Campus Box 4120
Normal IL 61790
njaikum@IllinoisState.edu
Kaveh Javanshirjavid
Agronomic Management (SCN)
Graduate Student (Ph.D.)
College of Agricultural Sciences
Southern Illinois University
1205 Lincoln Dr.
Carbondale IL 62901-4415
kaveh.javanshirjavid@siu.edu
Gregg Johnson, Ph.D.
Agronomic Management
Supply Chain Development
Associate Professor of Agronomy and Plant Genetics
Southern Research and Outreach Center
University of Minnesota
35838 120th Street
Waseca MN 56093
johns510@umn.edu
Frances Lawrenz, Ph.D.
Education/Outreach/Extension
Associate Vice President for Research
University of Minnesota
174 EdSciB
56 East River Rd
Minneapolis MN 55455
lawrenz@umn.edu
Matthew Leiphon
Supply Chain Development
Project Manager
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)
510 County Road 71, Suite 120
Crookston MN 56716
Matt Luetje
Supply Chain Development (Lead)
COO, CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132
Jason Lindbom
Agronomic Management
Farm Manager
Illinois State University
Campus Box 5020
Ropp Agriculture Building
Normal Il 61790
jmlindb@ilstu.edu
Alexander Lindsey, Ph.D.
Co- PI
Agronomic Management
Education/Outreach/Extension
Assistant Professor of Crop Ecophysiology
Department of Horticulture and Crop Science
The Ohio State University
312A Kottman Hall
2021 Coffey Road
Columbus OH 43210
lindsey.227@osu.edu
Aaron Lorenz, Ph.D.
Breeding & Genetics
Associate Professor
University of Minnesota
Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics
1991 Upper Buford Circle
St. Paul MN 55108
lore0149@umn.edu
Lauren Lurkins J.D.
IPREFER Advisory Board
Director of Environmental Policy
Governmental Affairs and Commodities Division
Illinois Farm Bureau
Shahriar Mahmud
Breeding & Genetics
Graduate Student
School of Biological Sciences
Illinois State University
Campus Box 4120
Normal Il 61790
smahmu1@ilstu.edu
Danny Marchiafava
Breeding & Genetics
Graduate Student (Master's)
School of Biological Sciences
Illinois State University
Campus Box 4120
Normal IL 61790
dmarchi@ilstu.edu
M.David Marks, Ph.D.
Co-PI Breeding & Genetics
Professor of Plant and Microbial Biology
Department of Plant and Microbial Biology
University of Minnesota
Forever Green Initiative: https://www.forevergreen.umn.edu/crops-systems/winter-annual-grains-oilseeds/pennycress
140 Gortner Laboratory
1479 Gortner Avenue
St. Paul MN 55108
marks004@umn.edu
Mark Messmer, Ph.D.
Breeding & Genetics
VP, Breeding and Product Development
CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132
Ryan Meyer
Pennycress Ecosystem Services
Graduate Student
Illinois State University
Normal Il 61790-4400
rtmeye1@IllinoisState.edu
Yesuf Mohammed, Ph.D.
Agronomic Managment
Executive Leadership Team
Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics (Postdoctoral Associate)
Research Agronomist
USDA-ARS-NCSCRL
803 Iowa Ave.
Morris, MN 56267
yesuf.mohammed@usda.gov
Ethan Morales
Agronomic Management
Agronomic Technician
North Central Soil Conservation Research Lab
803 Iowa Ave.
Morris MN 56267
ethan.morales@usda.gov
William Perry, Ph.D.
Executive Leadership Team
Co-Pi - Pennycress Ecosystem Services
Supply Chain Development
Professor of Ecology
Illinois State University
Campus Box 4120
Normal Il 61790-4400
wlperry@ilstu.edu
Kathryn Phillips
Supply Chain Development
Graduate Student (Ph.D.)
Bioproducts and Biosystems Science, Engineering, and Management
University of Minnesota
St. Paul MN 55108
phil0929@umn.edu
Mary Phippen. M.S.
Collaborator
Research Chemist
Alternative Crops Research Program
School of Agriculture
Western Illinois University
Knoblauch Hall, Room 304
Macomb IL 61455
ME-Phippen@wiu.edu
Winthrop (Win) Phippen, Ph.D.
Project Director
Breeding and Genetics
Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics
School of Agriculture
Western Illinois University
Knoblauch Hall, Room 310
Macomb IL 61455
wb-phippen@wiu.edu
Krishan Mohan Rai, Ph.D.
Breeding & Genetics
CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132
krai@covercress.com
Rob Rhykerd, Ph.D.
Pennycress Ecosystem Services
Supply Chain Development
Professor of Agronomy & Soil Science
Department of Agriculture
Illinois State University
Campus Box 5020
Normal IL 61790
rrhyker@ilstu.edu
Lucas Roberts
Breeding & Genetics
Graduate Student (Ph. D.) & Research Assistant
Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics
University of Minnesota
411 Borlaug Hall, 1991 Upper Buford Circle
St. Paul MN 55108
robe2110@umn.edu
Leonardo Rocha
Agronomic Management (SCN)
PostDoc Researcher
College of Agricultural Sciences
Southern Illinois University
1205 Lincoln Dr.
Carbondale IL 62901-4415
leonardo.rocha@siu.edu
Rebecca Rutte
CoverCress
CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132
krai@covercress.com
Emily Schoenfelder, M.S.
Education/Outreach/Extension
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
University of Illinois Extension
1505 Valle Vista Blvd
Pekin IL 61554
eschoe@illinois.edu
John C. Sedbrook, Ph.D.
Executive Leadership Team
Co-PI Breeding & Genetics (Southern Breeding Lead)
Supply Chain Development
Professor of Genetics
School of Biological Sciences
Illinois State University
Campus Box 4120
Normal IL 61790
jcsedbr@ilstu.edu
Tim Smith, Ph.D.
Supply Chain Development
Professor
Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering
University of Minnesota
BioAgEng Bldg #224A
St. Paul MN 55108
timsmith@umn.edu
Dale Sorenson
Pennycress Commercialization
Chief Commercial Officer
CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132
Michael Sparby
Supply Chain Development
Commercialization Director
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)
1501 State Street
St. Paul MN 55311
msparby@auri.org
Harold Stanislawski
Supply Chain Development
Project Development Director
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)
1501 State Street
St. Paul MN 55311
hstanislawski@auri.org
Michael Stutelberg, Ph.D.
Supply Chain Development
Scientist (Chemistry)
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)
1501 State Street
St. Paul MN 55311
mstutelberg@auri.org
Pamela Tas, Ph.D.
Agronomic Management
Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator Sustainability & Renewable Energy Systems
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
tasp@uwplatt.edu
Jennifer Wagner-Lehr
Supply Chain Development
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)
510 County Road 71, Suite 120
Crookston MN 56716
Alan Weber
IPREFER Advisory Board
MARC-IV Consulting
Samantha S. Wells, Ph.D.
Co-PI - Agronomic Management
Data Management LEAD
Education/Outreach/Extension
Supply Chain Development
Assistant Professor, Agronomy and Plant Genetics
College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
University of Minnesota
College of Biological Sciences Building
St. Paul MN 55108
SSWELLS@UMN.EDU
Tad Wesley
Agronomic Management
Breeding & Genetics
Research Agronomist
School of Agriculture
Western Illinois University
Macomb IL 61455
TL-Wesley@wiu.edu
Jeffrey Wilson
Breeding & Genetics
CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132
Julia Zhang, Ph.D.
Executive Leadership Team
Co-PI Breeding & Genetics (Northern Breeding Lead)
University of Minnesota
College of Biological Sciences Building
St. Paul MN 55108
zhan0521@umn.edu
Past Board Members, Collaborators, and Students
Heba Hamdy Abouseada
Breeding and Genetics
Visiting Fulbright Scholar (Illinois State University)
Lecturer, Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology
Faculty of science, Ain shams University
heba_1st@hotmail.com
Jeff Bender
Agronomic Management
Retired Summer 2021
Illinois State University
Katie Black
Education, Extension and Outreach
University of Minnesota
Constance Carlson
Market Development
Supply Chain Development
Co-Director, Statewide Sustainable Ag and Food Systems
Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships
Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics
Forever Green Initiative: https://forevergreen.umn.edu/crops-systems/winter-annual-grains-oilseeds/pennycress
University of Minnesota
St. Paul MN 55108-6026
carl5114@umn.edu
Maliheh Esfahanian
Breeding and Genetics
08/2019-05/2021
Dr. Esfahanian is currently a Post Doc in the Moi Exposito-Alonso lab at Stanford University's Carnegie Institution for Science (Plant Biology).
Dr. Esfahanian served on the IPREFER Breeding & Genetics team from Aug. 2019 to Jan. 2021 while a graduate student at Illinois State University.
Katherine Frels, Ph.D.
Breeding and Genetics
8/2019-1/2021
Small Grains Breeder and Geneticist
Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics
University of Nebraska, Lincoln
202 Keim Hall
Lincoln, NE 68583-0915
Dr. Frels served on the IPREFER Breeding & Genetics team from Aug. 2019 to Jan. 2021 while at the University of Minnesota.
Gary Haer
Advisory Board
08/2019-04/21
Gary Haer served on the IPREFER Advisory Board from IPREFER's inception in 2019 in his capacity as Vice President, Sales and Marketing at Renewable Energy Group (REG) until his retirement in April 2021.
Will Hamman
Education/Outreach/Extension
Cristine L. Handel, Ph.D.
Executive Leadership Team
Life Cycle/Supply Chain Development
8/2019-3/21/21
Dr. Handel served on the IPREFER Executive Leadership Team from Aug. 2019 thru Mar. 2021 while at CoverCress. Dr. Handel also led the IPREFER Supply Chain Development objective.
Cody A. Hoerning, Ph.D
Agronomic Management
Pennycress Ecosystem Services
Graduate Research Assistant
Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics
University of Minnesota
Room 411 Borlaug Hall
St. Paul MN 55108
hoern012@umn.edu
Brice Jarvis
Breeding & Genetics
Brice received his Ph.D. in the summer of 2021
School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University
Nasib Koirala
Agronomic Management
Graduate Student (Masters)
Department of Horticulture and Crop Science
The Ohio State University
306A Kottman Hall
2021 Coffey Road
Columbus OH 43210
Koirala.17@osu.edu
Deepika Mishra, Ph.D.
Breeding & Genetics
8/2019 - 12/2020
Global Sustainability Manager
Cotton Council International
National Cotton Council of America
Email: dmishra@covercress.com
Dr. Mishra served on the IPREFER Breeding & Genetics team from Aug. 2019 to Dec. 2020 while employed at CoverCress, Inc.
Matthew A. Ott
Breeding & Genetics
Graduate Student (Ph.D.)
Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics
University of Minnesota
411 Borlaug Hall
1991 Upper Buford Circle
St. Paul MN 55108
ottxx142@umn.edu
Rahul Patharkar
CoverCress, Inc.
Rachel Sparks
Outreach/Extension/Education
Rachel completed her Ph.D. (Illinois University University) in the summer of 2021.
Jerry Steiner
Advisory Board
CoverCress, Inc. CEO, Ret.
08/2019-05/21
Jerry Steiner was an original IPREFER Advisory Board member, a role he took on while serving as CoverCress CEO. Prior to CoverCress Steiner was EVP for Monsanto, focused on Global Corporate Affairs including government industry and public affairs sustainability and new business models for soybeans.
Zenith Tandukar
Breeding & Genetics
Ph.D. Candidate & Graduate Research Assistant
Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics
University of Minnesota
411 Borlaug Hall, 1991 Upper Buford Circle,
St. Paul, MN 55108
tandu002@umn.edu
Tim Ulmasov, Ph.D.
Breeding & Genetics
Chief Technology Officer
CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132
Mujen (Jack) Wang
Ecosystem Services
Graduate Student
Hydrogeology
Illinois State University
Normal IL 61790
mwang40@ilstu.edu
Dalton Williams
Agronomic Management
Breeding & Genetics
Graduate Student
School of Biological Sciences
Illinois State University
Bethany Wohrley
Agronomic Management
Graduate Student
Illinois State University