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

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Carol Kiam Assato
Breeding & Genetics

Graduate Student
School of Biological Sciences
Illinois State University
Campus Box 4120
Normal IL 61790
cskiama@ilstu.edu

Illinois State University Logo

Chris Aulbach
Agronomic Management
Education/Extension/Outreach

CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132
caulbach@covercress.com

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Mark Bernards, Ph.D.
Agronomic Management
Weed Science (Lead)

Associate Professor of Agronomy, Crop Science & Weed Control
School of Agriculture
Western Illinois University
1 University Circle
Macomb IL 61455-1390
ml-bernards@wiu.edu

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Katie Black
Education, Extension and Outreach

Education Program Associate
University of Minnesota
411 Borlaug Hall
1991 Upper Buford Circle
St. Paul MN 55108-6026
black807@umn.edu

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Senyu Chen, Ph.D.
Agronomic Management (SCN)

Professor
Southern Research and Outreach Center
University of Minnesota
35838 120th St.
Waseca MN 56093

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Ratan Chopra, Ph.D.
Breeding and Genetics

Vice-President for Research
CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132
rchopra@covercress.com

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Kevin Cook
Breeding and Genetics

Director of Breeding
CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132
kcook@covercress.com

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Steve Csonka
IPREFER Advisory Board

Executive Director
Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI)

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

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Rashmi Dangol
Graduate Student

Graduate Student
Illinois State University
Campus Box 4120
Normal IL 61790-4120
rdangol@ilstu.edu

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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

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Mike DeCamp
IPREFER Advisory Board

Chief Executive Officer
CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132
mdecamp@covercress.com

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Alexandra Diemer
Supply Chain Team

AURI Business Development Director of Novel Supply Chains
mdecamp@covercress.com

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Brad Glenn
Agronomic Management (Producer)

CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132
brad.glenn@frontier.com

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Riley Gordon
Supply Chain Development

Engineer
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)
510 County Road 71, Suite 120
Crookston MN 56716
rgordon@AURI.org

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Nikhil Jaikumar
Breeding & Genetics

Nikhil Jaikumar

PostDoc
School of Biological Sciences
Illinois State University
Campus Box 4120
Normal IL 61790
njaikum@IllinoisState.edu

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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

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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

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Anne Kinzel, J.D.
Program Manager

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

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Matthew Leiphon
Supply Chain Development

Project Manager
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)
510 County Road 71, Suite 120
Crookston MN 56716

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Matt Luetje
Supply Chain Development (Lead)

COO, CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132

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Jason Lindbom
Agronomic Management

Farm Manager
Illinois State University
Campus Box 5020
Ropp Agriculture Building
Normal Il 61790
jmlindb@ilstu.edu

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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

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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

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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

Illinois State University Logo

Danny Marchiafava
Breeding & Genetics

Graduate Student (Master's)
School of Biological Sciences
Illinois State University
Campus Box 4120
Normal IL 61790
dmarchi@ilstu.edu

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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

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Mark Messmer, Ph.D.
Breeding & Genetics

VP, Breeding and Product Development
CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132

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Ryan Meyer
Pennycress Ecosystem Services

Graduate Student
Illinois State University
Normal Il 61790-4400
rtmeye1@IllinoisState.edu

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Yesuf Mohammed, Ph.D.
Agronomic Managment

Postdoctoral Associate
Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics
Research Agronomist
USDA-ARS-NCSCRL
803 Iowa Ave.
Morris, MN 56267
yesuf.mohammed@usda.gov

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Ethan Morales
Agronomic Management

Agronomic Technician
North Central Soil Conservation Research Lab
803 Iowa Ave.
Morris MN 56267
ethan.morales@usda.gov

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Krishan Mohan Rai, Ph.D.
Breeding & Genetics

CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132
krai@covercress.com

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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

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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

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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

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Rebecca Rutte
CoverCress

CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132
krai@covercress.com

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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

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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

Illinois State University Logo

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

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Dale Sorenson
Pennycress Commercialization

Chief Commercial Officer
CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132

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Michael Sparby
Supply Chain Development

Commercialization Director
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)
1501 State Street
St. Paul MN 55311
msparby@auri.org

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Harold Stanislawski
Supply Chain Development

Project Development Director
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)
1501 State Street
St. Paul MN 55311
hstanislawski@auri.org

Agricultural Utilization Research Institute Logo

Michael Stutelberg, Ph.D.
Supply Chain Development

Scientist (Chemistry)
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)
1501 State Street
St. Paul MN 55311
mstutelberg@auri.org

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Pamela Tas, Ph.D.
Agronomic Management

Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator Sustainability & Renewable Energy Systems
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
tasp@uwplatt.edu

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Jennifer Wagner-Lehr
Supply Chain Development

Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)
510 County Road 71, Suite 120
Crookston MN 56716

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Alan Weber
IPREFER Advisory Board

MARC-IV Consulting

Samantha S. Wells, Ph.D.
Executive Leadership Team
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

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Tad Wesley
Agronomic Management
Breeding & Genetics

Research Agronomist
School of Agriculture
Western Illinois University
Macomb IL 61455
TL-Wesley@wiu.edu

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Jeffrey Wilson
Breeding & Genetics

CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132

CoverCress Logo

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

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Luca Zullo
Supply Chain

AURI Senior Director of Science and Technology
lzullo@auri.org

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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

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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

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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.

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

University of Minnesota Logo

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

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Brice Jarvis
Breeding & Genetics

Brice received his Ph.D. in the summer of 2021
School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University

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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

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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

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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

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Rahul Patharkar
CoverCress, Inc.

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Rachel Sparks
Outreach/Extension/Education

Rachel completed her Ph.D. (Illinois University University) in the summer of 2021.

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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.

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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

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Tim Ulmasov, Ph.D.
Breeding & Genetics

Chief Technology Officer
CoverCress, Inc.
1249 N. Warson Road
St Louis, MO 63132

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Mujen (Jack) Wang
Ecosystem Services

Graduate Student
Hydrogeology
Illinois State University
Normal IL 61790
mwang40@ilstu.edu

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Dalton Williams
Agronomic Management
Breeding & Genetics

Graduate Student
School of Biological Sciences
Illinois State University

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Bethany Wohrley
Agronomic Management

Graduate Student
Illinois State University

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