David Holding of the Center for Plant Science Innovation and agronomy and horticulture department, and Greg Kruger of the West Central Research and Extension Center and agronomy and horticulture department and the plant pathology department, have been named as recipients of the Junior Faculty for Excellence in Research Award provided by the Branham Endowment Fund for 2013-2014.
The award is given annually by the Agricultural Research Division to up to two tenure-track assistant professors with an ARD appointment who has five or fewer years of professional service at UNL and is based upon publication record, evidence of external funding activity and peer recognition.
David Holding received a bachelor's in biochemistry from the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom and a doctorate in plant molecular genetics from Kings College in London, United Kingdom. After graduation, he was a postdoc at the University of California-Riverside and the University of Arizona.
Holding is currently an assistant professor in UNL's Center for Plant Science Innovation and Department of Agronomy and Horticulture. He has published research papers in journals including Nature Communications, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Plant Cell and Plant Physiology and recently received extramural funding from USDA-NIFA and ConAgra.
Holding's research program aims to identify and functionally characterize genes involved in kernel maturation in corn and sorghum. He is particularly interested in understanding and exploiting the complex relationship between kernel texture and protein quality.
This has important global implications for human and livestock nutrition. He is regularly sought out for his expertise as a research collaborator by some of the top labs studying seed storage protein production and grain quality.
Holding takes an active role within his department, university-wide affiliations, teaching and mentoring, professional outreach activities and the Lincoln community.
His nominators stated that he is a highly valued colleague who has demonstrated great potential for making real world impacts with his research.
Greg Kruger grew up on a corn and soybean production farm in central Ohio. Upon graduating from high school, he enrolled at Ohio State University where he received a bachelor's in agricultural business and applied economics. From there he went to Purdue University where he earned a master's in plant pathology studying root-knot nematode in soybean production.
Kurger then moved into weed science where he earned a doctorate studying herbicide resistance in horseweed.
Kruger joined UNL in January 2010 and is a cropping systems specialist at the West Central Research and Extension Center. His research efforts are focused around limited rainfall production agriculture, herbicide-resistant weeds in Nebraska and pesticide application technology.
Kruger’s program has a strong emphasis on understanding spray nozzles, adjuvants and sprayer modifications. The completion of a wind tunnel facility in North Platte in February marked the flagship of the Pesticide Application Technology lab’s research within the program.
Kruger is responsible for statewide variety testing in the West Central District, cropping systems and crop production work (particularly in corn, soybean and wheat) and has developed a program that has focused on multidisciplinary, systems-based approaches to improving the production and sustainability of cropping systems in Nebraska.
Additional information about Kruger can be found on his web page: http://westcentral.unl.edu/kruger.
A reception to honor both David Holding and Greg Kruger will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. in the Nebraska East Campus Garden Room.