For ongoing coverage of department news and access to an archive of past newsletters, check out the Plant & Soil Science Newsroom online.

UPCOMING
EVENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS
&
RESEARCH

Kris Petterson honored with doctorate in Plant and Soil Science

During the May 2022 Graduate School Commencement ceremony, Texas Tech University honored the life and work of Kris Petterson, a graduate student from the Department of Plant and Soil Science who passed away in October 2021. Upon the request of Petterson's advisor, Dr. Jyotsna Sharma, and a review of her research productivity, the Texas Tech Graduate School determined that her progress was sufficient to approve the conferral of a posthumous Ph.D. The distinction is one element of recognizing a young woman whose life impacted so many, and it honors the tremendous passion, skill, and dedication that Dr. Petterson poured into her scientific curiosity about the complex interactions between orchids and microbes.

PSS researchers looking for sustainable solutions to water shortages

Three professors in the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources recently received a $294,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture to study the integration of a resilient cropping system and precision conservation for sustainable agriculture in a semi-arid region. Principal investigator Wenxuan Guo is joined on the project by Chenggang Wang, an associate professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, and Glen Ritchie. They will use predictive modeling techniques to gain a better understanding of which crops will work best in rotation depending on water availability.

Viticulture Certificate Program application window opens June 1

Headquartered at the Hill Country University Center in Fredericksburg and delivered through a combination of online courses and hands-on training, the Texas Tech Viticulture Program is designed for wine industry entrepreneurs and prospective vineyard managers seeking comprehensive knowledge of viticulture principles and commercial grape production practices. The application period runs from June 1 to July 31, and the program is expected to begin in mid-September.

AWARDS
&
RECOGNITION

PSS students honored with 2022 Hoss Newsom Viticultural Scholarships

During the annual Newsom Grape Day & Expo held on April 29, several students in the Department of Plant and Soil Science's Viticulture & Enology program were recognized as 2022 Hoss Newsom Viticultural Scholarship Recipients.

Jason Holder — Undergraduate, Viticulture & Enology at-a-distance student from Weatherford

Emily Land — Undergraduate, Viticulture & Enology at-a-distance student from Ft. Worth

Rogelio Orocio — Undergraduate, Viticulture & Enology on-campus student from Muenster

Sarah Yockey — Undergraduate, Viticulture & Enology on-campus student from Fair Oaks

The Hoss Newsom Viticultural Scholarship is awarded to deserving students who demonstrate the qualities of commitment to and passion for the growing Texas wine industry. Established by the Texas Wine & Grape Growers Association in 2012, the scholarship is funded by donations to the Texas Wine Foundation.

2022 Tereshkovich-Pilgrim Awards go to Pabuayon and Foster

Every year, two graduate students in the Department of Plant and Soil Science — one MS and one Ph.D. — are presented with the Tereshkovich-Pilgrim Outstanding Graduate Student Awards. The awards honor students who have not only completed their degree, but who have also achieved a level of excellence in their research, scholarship, and recognition that sets them apart in their field. The 2022 Tereshkovich-Pilgrim Outstanding Master's Graduate Student is Delaney Foster, and the Outstanding Doctoral Graduate Student is Irish Pabuayon.

Students and faculty recognized at Davis College Honors Banquet

Several members of the Department of Plant and Soil Science were recognized at the Spring 2022 Davis College Honors Banquet this April. Representing PSS as the department's recipient of both the Outstanding Student and Highest Academic Achievement awards was Robert Hanson. One of the Ag Council's Matador of the Month recipients was PSS's own Abigail Oliver of the Agronomy Club. Additionally, the Ag Council votes each semester for a Faculty Member of the Semester. The Spring 2022 winner was Glen Ritchie, PSS department chair, J.A. Love Endowed Chair, and Professor of Crop Physiology.

What are we missing?

Have an announcement, research development,
publication, or upcoming event? We want to hear about it!

If you have any questions, corrections, or contributions
regarding the PSS Newsletter or online Newsroom,
please contact Melanie Jackson at melanie.jackson@ttu.edu.