Catherine Simpson, an Associate Professor of Sustainable/Urban Horticulture within the Department of Plant & Soil Science, is part of research team selected to receive this year’s Texas Tech Institute for Studies in Pragmaticism’s Cross-Disciplinary Research Excellence Award. The lead principal investigator on the project is Wei Li, an Associate Professor within Tech’s Department of Chemical Engineering.

'Our most successful faculty members collaborate with scientists in other disciplines. Dr. Simpson and Dr. Li are exemplars of the principle that a strong team requires experts in multiple facets of research.'

The honor was presented at the Promoting Cross-Disciplinary Faculty Collaborations in OneHealth Research Conference on Friday (Apr. 12) at the university’s Student Union Building’s Matador Ballroom and included $6,000 in seed funding stipend.

“Our most successful faculty members collaborate with scientists in other disciplines,” said Glen Ritchie, professor of crop physiology and chair of Texas Tech’s Department of Plant & Soil Science. “Dr. Simpson and Dr. Li are exemplars of the principle that a strong team requires experts in multiple facets of research, and I am excited to see the outcomes of their aeroponics research.”

Their study, titled "Cross-disciplinary Research on Developing Hydrogel-based Root Coatings for Enhanced Nutrition Biofortification in Aeroponic Systems,” aims a developing a working platform that can utilize the water efficiency and delivery techniques unique to aeroponics with biofortified hydrogel root coatings that allow for nutrient enhancement. In addition, they want to evaluate their ability to deliver water and nutrients to roots, their impacts on vegetable crop production, and implications for human nutrition.

'This research has great potential for enhancing horticultural crop nutritional quality and resource use efficiency, but also has further implications for addressing issues in human health and nutrient deficiencies.'

This research has great potential for enhancing horticultural crop nutritional quality and resource use efficiency, but also has further implications for addressing issues in human health and nutrient deficiencies,” Simpson said. “We hope to contribute to more sustainable production of healthy and nutrient dense foods.”

Prior to joining the Tech faculty in 2019, Simpson served as an assistant professor and research scientist at the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Citrus Center in Weslaco, Texas. She also worked as an instructor of horticulture at Texas A&M-College Station, and an instructor of plant and soil science at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. 

The Louisiana native’s bachelor's degree in environmental soil science and her master's degree in plant and soil science are from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Her doctorate in horticulture is from Texas A&M-College Station. She is a member of the American Society for Horticultural Sciences, International Society for Horticultural Sciences, and Alpha Chi Honor Society.

Texas Tech’s Institute for One Health Innovation serves the public by training scientists and health professionals in leading transdisciplinary research and developing innovative solutions for today's most pressing One Health problems. It emphasizes rural healthcare access and communities to ultimately benefit the regional and global health and wellbeing of humans, animals, and ecosystems.

Founded in 1971, Texas Tech’s Institute for Studies in Pragmaticism hoors the memory of American scientist and mathematician Charles Peirce (1839-1914), considered one of the nation’s great interdisciplinary scientists. The institute is home to a comprehensive collection of Peirce's works and is supported by several endowments that serve its purpose. 

CONTACT: Glen Ritchie, Department Chair, Department of Plant & Soil Science, Texas Tech University at (806) 742- 4325 or glen.ritchie@ttu.edu

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