Department of Plant & Soil Science Chair Sandeep Kumar
Sandeep Kumar, a nationally recognized soil scientist who has helped shape federal research priorities at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA), has been selected as chair of Texas Tech's Department of Plant & Soil Science. His appointment begins Sept. 1.
'I look forward to working with our outstanding faculty, staff, students, alumni and stakeholders to build on the department's strong foundation, expand interdisciplinary research and innovation, and prepare the next generation of leaders.'
Prior to joining Texas Tech, Kumar served as the national program leader in the Institute of Bioenergy, Climate & Environment at the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. In this role, he oversaw federal research investments aimed at improving soil health, reducing agricultural emissions and building more resilient farming systems.
His appointment places a scientist equally comfortable in research laboratories, university classrooms and federal policy discussions at the helm of a department whose work ranges from crop genomics and plant breeding to water conservation and fiber innovation.
For Kumar, the opportunity represents both a professional homecoming to higher education and a chance to expand research partnerships at a pivotal moment for agriculture.
"I’m honored to join Texas Tech University and the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources," Kumar said. "I look forward to working with our outstanding faculty, staff, students, alumni and stakeholders to build on the department's strong foundation, expand interdisciplinary research and innovation, and prepare the next generation of leaders."
College leaders said Kumar's blend of scientific accomplishment and federal leadership distinguished him during a national search.
"Dr. Kumar brings visionary leadership, strong federal research experience and a proven record of translating science into practical solutions for farmers," said Clint Krehbiel, dean of Texas Tech's Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources.
“His ability to connect interdisciplinary research with industry partnerships,” Krehbiel said, “will strengthen the college's impact across the Southern High Plains while helping prepare the next generation of agricultural professionals.”
Sustainable Production
Throughout his career, Kumar has sought to answer one of agriculture's most pressing questions: How can producers increase productivity while preserving the natural resources on which farming depends?
His research has examined how conservation practices -- including no-till production, cover crops, livestock integration and diversified crop rotations -- affect soil health, water quality and long-term agricultural sustainability. He is widely known for quantifying changes in soil organic carbon, greenhouse gas emissions and water retention under different management systems, research that has informed conservation strategies nationwide.
Kumar has also pioneered the use of advanced imaging technologies, including X-ray computed tomography, to visualize underground soil structures and better understand how water, nutrients and contaminants move through agricultural landscapes.
That systems-oriented perspective became central to his work at USDA, where he coordinated research programs spanning agronomy, engineering, economics, extension education and environmental science. The goal was not simply to generate new scientific knowledge but to ensure that discoveries reached farmers, land managers and policymakers.
Krishna Jagadish, the Thornton Distinguished Chair in Davis College and leader of Texas Tech's Sustainable Integrated Systems Research Program and the Texas Alliance for Water Conservation, said that collaborative approach makes Kumar especially well-suited to guide the department's next chapter.
"Dr. Kumar is ideally positioned to lead Plant & Soil Science to greater strength and enhance both national and international visibility by catalyzing multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research," Jagadish said, noting that Kumar's experience at both a land-grant university and a federal funding agency provides an uncommon perspective on how major research initiatives are built.
Bridging Research & Practice
Before joining USDA in 2021, Kumar spent nearly a decade as faculty member at South Dakota State University, where he led research programs in soil management and carbon dynamics while mentoring graduate students and collaborating on regional and national research initiatives. Earlier in his career, he served as a research scientist and postdoctoral researcher at The Ohio State University.
Darren Hudson, associate dean for strategic initiatives and assessment and the Larry Combest Endowed Chair for Agricultural Competitiveness, said Kumar's career has prepared him to connect scientific discovery with the practical needs of agriculture.
"He has tremendous experience and has already outlined exciting strategic initiatives for the department," Hudson said. "His understanding of both the research enterprise and stakeholder needs positions Plant & Soil Science for continued growth and impact."
Born in India, Kumar earned bachelor's and master's degrees in agriculture and soil science from Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University before completing a doctorate in soils at the University of Missouri and a graduate certificate in Geographic Information Systems.
His contributions have earned national recognition, including election in 2025 as a Fellow of both the Soil Science Society of America and the American Society of Agronomy. He also has received multiple USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Achievement Awards, and South Dakota State University's Gamma Sigma Delta Research Award.
Growing Research Enterprise
Kumar assumes leadership of a department that has become one of the university's most research-intensive academic units. The Department of Plant & Soil Science enrolls approximately 330 undergraduate and graduate students and conducts teaching and research across more than 46,000 square feet of laboratories, classrooms and specialized research facilities.
Faculty expertise spans plant genetics and genomics, crop breeding, soil science, agronomy, horticulture, water management, viticulture and enology, and fiber and biopolymer science.
Among its signature initiatives is the Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance, or IGCAST, established to develop crops capable of withstanding drought, heat, salinity and other environmental stresses. Since its founding in 2018, the institute has attracted more than $10 million in competitive research funding and grown into a multidisciplinary enterprise involving more than 50 scientists and dozens of graduate students.
The department also oversees the academic program of the Fiber & Biopolymer Research Institute, one of the nation's few academic facilities capable of transforming cotton from raw seed into finished textile products under a single roof. Researchers there are developing biodegradable materials derived from renewable fibers while providing advanced testing services to industry and public-sector partners.
Additional research programs include the Texas Alliance for Water Conservation, the Davis College Horticultural Gardens and Greenhouse Complex, and university research farms in Lubbock and near New Deal, Texas.
Noureddine Abidi, associate dean for research in Davis College and Texas Tech's interim associate vice president for research and innovation, said Kumar's selection reflects both the department's momentum and its ambitions.
"Through a national search, we are excited to have Dr. Kumar lead the department and maintain the momentum that has been built over the past several years," Abidi said.
CONTACT: Clint Krehbiel, Dean, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or Clint.Krehbiel@ttu.edu
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