Team Leader
C V Reddy
Texas A&M University
Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
cvreddy@tamu.edu
Project Type
Research
Who Can Join
Staff/Postdoctoral Scholars, Graduate Students, Masters Students, Undergraduate Students
Project Description
This project focuses on understanding how different corn genotypes interact with soil nitrogen and soil microbes in real field conditions.
U.S. farmers are planting nearly 100 MILLION acres of corn each year, dumping billions in nitrogen fertilizer into the soil, and watching microbes eat half of it even before the plant gets sufficient. The result? Money lost, crops struggling, and the environment taking a hit.
What if we could change that?
We could breed corn that literally tells soil microbes to back off! This isn't theoretical, it's called Biological Nitrification Inhibition (BNI), and we're hunting for corn varieties with these epic abilities.
In this study, we will evaluate different corn hybrids and inbreds for BNI activity through field observations.
Team Needs
An ideal candidate will:
• Help collect plant and soil samples from corn plots and learn how field experiments are conducted in agricultural research.
• Assist with core nitrogen assays in the lab focusing on evaluating key plant nitrogen traits.
Students are required to attend training sessions, follow safety guidelines, and be available during key sampling periods throughout the growing season. Team members must be comfortable with fieldwork, including walking through plots under real farming conditions.
No experience? No problem! We’ll teach you everything. All you need is curiosity, reliability, and interest in learning. If you are ready to put in the effort and want to see your impact, we want you!!
Special Opportunities
As an undergraduate researcher, you will get hands-on experience beyond classroom; not just watching from the sidelines.
Potential opportunities include:
Networking and recognition: Attending CANVAS 2026 at Portland
Shine at TAMU: Presenting research at TAMU Undergraduate Research Scholars Symposium!
Acknowledgement in scientific publications
This experience is especially valuable for students considering graduate school, research careers, or professional programs related to agriculture, environmental science, or biology.
Want to be part of a fun-driven team? Want your work to count? Consider applying !!