Eajaz Dar earned his Ph.D. in Agronomy and is currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Cropping Systems at the UF|IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center in Jay, Florida. His research integrates field experimentation and modeling approaches to enhance the sustainability and profitability of row crop systems, with a primary focus on cotton. Dr. Dar’s work includes evaluating N and K management strategies to optimize yields while reducing nutrient losses, as well as updating fertilizer rate recommendations for cotton in Florida. A major component of his current efforts involves improving the CROPGRO-Cotton model to estimate leaching losses and simulate alternative management practices for Cotton in Florida. Recently, Dar got associated with the research on integration of cash cover crops within cotton–peanut rotations, with an emphasis on system productivity, soil health, and profitability. He is also engaged in harmonizing large datasets to guide the selection of optimal cover crop species for Florida. Beyond research, Dr. Dar contributes to data analysis, authorship of peer-reviewed and extension publications, mentoring graduate students, facilitating lab meetings, and developing competitive grant proposals.
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Ednaldo Borgato
Celso is a Ph.D. student in Agronomy under the supervision of Dr. Ednaldo Borgato. His research integrates weed science, bioinformatics, statistics, and molecular approaches to better understand weed ecology, adaptation, and herbicide resistance in agricultural systems. His work aims to support the development of more sustainable and science-driven weed management strategies for modern crop production.
Alan is pursuing a Ph.D. in Forest Resources and Conservation under Dr. Victoria Donovan. His research explores the effects of cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) invasions on forest ecosystems in the Southeastern United States, with a focus on biodiversity loss, wildfire risks, and impacts on wildlife habitat.
Sarah is pursuing a M.S. In Forest Resources and Conservation under Dr. Carissa Wonkka. Her research focuses on characterizing the relationships between invasive cogongrass, fire, and longleaf pine communities in forest ecosystems of the Florida panhandle. In her free time, Sarah enjoys reading, crocheting, and hanging out in the forest.
Nkem is pursuing a Ph.D. in Agronomy with specialization in Cropping Systems. He is interested in crop nutrient management, sustainable land management practices, soil health and climate change management studies. His research is focused on evaluating the influence of cover crops and nitrogen fertilizer rates in optimizing cotton yields, nitrogen dynamics, soil moisture and soil quality/health improvement. He is also actively evaluating the best nitrogen fertilizer rates and sources for optimal fiber and seed yield of Industrial hemp (Cannabis Sativa) in Florida.
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Anmoldeep is a master's student specializing in agroecology in the Cropping Systems Lab. He is interested in solving environmental issues through improving resource use efficiency in row crops, utilizing modern technologies such as Geographic Information System (GIS), Remote Sensing, and Machine Learning (ML) & Deep Learning (DL) techniques which will help the world leading towards sustainable development. More information about his research can be found at his linked in profile at https://tinyurl.com/28wheppf
Kulpreet Singh is master's student specializing in cropping systems. His research focuses primarily on nutrient management in row crops, with a particular emphasis on nitrogen fertilizers and their application methods. In his research, he is evaluating the efficacy of different nitrogen fertilizer rates and application methods, particularly in rainfed cotton systems and seeks to identify strategies that minimize nitrogen losses while maximizing crop productivity and environmental sustainability.
Amina Twaibu is an international student from Malawi pursuing a Ph.D. in Entomology. With a passion for understanding and mitigating agricultural challenges, Amina’s research focuses on Insect Resistance Management in Row Crops. Having a master's degree in Entomology from the University of Arkansas, Amina brings the knowledge and experience to her doctoral studies. Her dedication to addressing the complex issues surrounding insect resistance in agricultural systems stems from her desire to contribute meaningfully to global food security.
