SEBS “Bring Your Child to Work Day” attendees gather in front of Martin Hall on the George H. Cook Campus. Photo: OPOC

The School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) came alive with energy, laughter and discovery on April 23 as it hosted its annual “Bring Your Child to Work Day,” a growing tradition that continues to deepen connections across the SEBS community while sparking curiosity in the next generation.

Lia Papathomas, director of External Relations and Strategic Initiatives at SEBS/NJAES, pictured with her sons during the Bioblitz and String Safari event. Photo: OPOC

Now in its fourth year since its launch in 2023, the event welcomed 60 pre-teens and teens alongside 33 parents for a full day of immersive, hands-on learning across the vibrant George H. Cook Campus.

“Bring Your Child to Work Day” is a special opportunity to connect our SEBS community across generations. By welcoming the children of our faculty and staff onto campus, we hope to spark early interest in science, discovery and the meaningful work we do every day,” said Laura Lawson, executive dean of SEBS.

From science exploration to creative expression, every corner of the campus became a gateway to discovery.

The day unfolded as an adventure in environmental exploration, beginning with the popular Bioblitz and String Safari. Here, young participants stepped into the role of field scientists, learning firsthand how challenging—and exciting—it can be to observe and document biodiversity. With curiosity as their guide, they combed through garden spaces, identifying and classifying living organisms while gaining a deeper appreciation for the complexity of ecosystems.

Inside the NJAES Research Greenhouse, students and parents alike experienced science in action. The greenhouse tour revealed how plants are cultivated and studied in controlled environments, connecting research to everyday life—from the food on our tables to sustainable solutions for the planet.

Gary Panetta, assistant dean in the SEBS Office of Academic Programs, and his child visit the Nutritional Sciences Teaching Kitchen, which hosted the “Twist & Learn: Pretzel Nutrition Fun” event. Photo: OPOC

In celebration of National Pretzel Day, the Department of Nutritional Sciences hosted Twist & Learn: Pretzel Nutrition Fun, where learning met laughter in the kitchen. Guided by instructor Melissa Keresztes, participants explored the science of carbohydrates while shaping their own pretzels—an engaging reminder that nutrition can be both educational and delicious.

This year also marked an exciting expansion of the program with the launch of a pilot high school track, designed to engage teens aged 15 and older in deeper academic and career exploration. Through curated experiences—including a campus tour, faculty-led discussions, and an interactive communication workshop—students were introduced to the breadth of opportunities within SEBS.

The teens explored the Waksman Museum of Microbiology and engaged in wellness and mindfulness activities that offered moments of reflection amid the day’s excitement. Academic talks and lab tours provided a glimpse into cutting-edge research, helping students envision themselves as future scientists, innovators and leaders.

Teens enjoyed the Bloom & Build: Terrariums, Plants, and Plant Careers event at the Floriculture Greenhouse on the George H. Cook Campus. Photo: OPOC

Creativity and nature came together in Bloom & Build: Terrariums, Plants, and Plant Careers, where participants crafted their own living ecosystems while learning about the powerful role plants play in health, industry, and daily life. From rare botanical specimens to innovations like the pineberry and Scarlet Sunrise tomato, the session highlighted the diverse and evolving field of plant science.

The day concluded with a visit to the Rutgers Center for Ocean Observing Leadership (RU COOL), where teens explored how ocean data is collected and analyzed in real time. Surrounded by cutting-edge technology, they gained insight into how interdisciplinary research is shaping our understanding of climate, weather, and coastal systems.

More than just a day of activities, SEBS’ “Bring Your Child to Work Day” continues to grow as a meaningful tradition that celebrates family, fosters community and opens doors to possibility for youth through discovery of the school’s world-class programs.

    

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Graphic credit: ARIS

Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences (DMCS) Department Chair Oscar Schofield and Professor Kay Bidle were honored for their work elevating research impact at the 2026 Center for Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS)’s Summit, “Impact by Design”, which took place March 30 – April 1. 

Schofield was awarded the Enduring Achievement Award, which honors those with a long and storied history of work that has demonstrated measurable and lasting societal impact. 

The citation emphasized his purposeful weaving of research and outreach across his career and within DMCS. His work includes leading marine and coastal training for educators, collaborating with the U.S. Coast Guard on rescue modeling, and partnering with the Rutgers SEBS Science in Action group to create two documentary films focused on science literacy.  

With this award, he joins past awardees such as Nalini M. Nadkarni (University of Utah), Portal to the Public and The Center for Science and the Schools (Penn State University).  

Bidle was awarded the Impact Innovations Award, which recognizes leaders in developing new strategies for societal impact. He was awarded for his work on the Tools of Science educational video series, a project focused on communicating the scientific process and science practices. 

The project seeks to highlight the collaborative nature of research and its impacts in society, with videos focused on tangible scientific methods—like “Modeling” and “Sampling” and more intangible concepts—like “Collaboration” and “Creativity”. The video series is designed to be used by students and educators, and it adheres to the U.S. Next Generation Science Standards.  

Graphic credit: ARIS

Bidle worked on the Tools of Science project with other collaborators, including Rutgers colleagues Janice McDonnell (SEBS Associate Dean of Research Impact) and Kim Thamatrakoln (Associate Professor, Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences). With this award, he joins past awardees such as the Zooniverse project, MinuteEarth, and the Teen Science Cafe Network.  

The 2026 ARIS Summit’s theme was centered around how researchers and research impact professionals can elevate the results of research impact–focusing on what changed as a result of the research, who it changed for, and why the change mattered. 

In his acceptance, Schofield noted the importance of communicating science and its impacts. He credits collaborating with impact professionals with “allow[ing] me to elevate efforts to increase wider understanding of why the ocean is critical to all of humanity and that doing/learning about science is fun, creative, and important….Communities such as ARIS are so important, I thank the broad community of ocean communicators and science translators.” 

About ARIS 
The Center for Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS), formerly the National Alliance for Broader Impacts, was founded in 2014 and is the largest societal impact community organization in the U.S. ARIS supports practitioners, researchers and communities in achieving positive societal impact. With more than 1,800 members worldwide, ARIS offers resources, certifications, and programs to build capacity, grow partnerships, and enhance scholarship. Visit researchinsociety.org. 

    

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In middle of students from left to right Students with the Executive Marketing Director David Troupos, Vice President and Community Manager Melvin Rodriguez, Branch Manager Andrea Rodriguez, Vice President and Community Development Manager Seyi Ola, JP Morgan Chase & Co. team following their community resources and career session, held on March 26, 2026, at Rutgers.

In a traditional classroom, learning often ends when the lecture does. But during Spring 2026 at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, students engaging with the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics (DAFRE) stepped into something different—an experience where coursework extended directly into conversations with industry leaders, entrepreneurs and decision-makers.

Sonal Pandey, lecturer in the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.

Guided by Sonal Pandey, a lecturer in DAFRE, the externship-driven course in Business Finance and Innovation and Entrepreneurship reimagined what it means to prepare students for real careers.

“This initiative grew directly from the conviction that the most transformative learning happens when students are in the room with the people who are actually doing the work,” Pandey said.

She created and designed the Spring 2026 industry engagement series around a simple but powerful idea: exposure to real professionals, who grapple with real challenges, is not an enhancement to learning, but the learning itself.

“Students in agricultural and resource economics are solving some of the most complex problems of our time, like food security, sustainability and community development,” she said. “They deserve direct access to the people doing that work professionally.”

Over the semester, students engaged directly with leaders such as Sho Islam, Director of the Office of Business Engagement for Middlesex County; Melvin Rodriguez, Vice President of Community Banking and Business Development at JPMorgan Chase & Co.; and Lukman Ramsey, Head of AI Solutions and former Google leader in public sector innovation.

Each session was intentionally structured, ranging from founder talks and mock interviews to live pitch simulations. Students were not passive listeners, but active participants navigating real-world scenarios.

Students from Innovation and Entrepreneurship class in the Environmental and Business Economics major.

And for Pandey, what set the experience apart was what happened after the sessions ended.

“When a student tells you they followed up with a JPMorgan VP, or that a guest speaker invited them to a professional conference where they made real connections for their startup—that is not a classroom outcome,” Pandey said. “That is a career outcome. This program exists to make that the norm, not the exception.”

Connecting Conversations to Career Pathways for Students

For many students, those outcomes became immediate and tangible.

Sarah B. Hogan followed up with a JPMorgan executive and secured introductions to professionals in her target field—transforming a single classroom interaction into an expanding professional network.

Don O. Lopez, a student from Pandey’s “Innovation and Entrepreneurship” class, has been invited for an interview by Seyi Ola, JPMorgan’s Vice President and Community Development Manager.

Anjo Therattil, Founder & CEO of Lock Guard, presenting to the Innovation and Entrepreneurship class on January 29, 2026.

Kush Kavadia leveraged a post-session conversation into LinkedIn connections and outreach within the energy and sustainability sector. “This course completely changed how I approach my job search,” he said, noting a shift toward relationship-building over traditional applications.

Marian J. Hollenbeck turned a conversation with Sho Islam into a real-world opportunity. “Sho told me about an event the following week that I attended,” she said. “I made several connections personally and for my hydroponic farming project that I hope will take off in the near future.”

Beyond individual success stories, the externship model reshaped how students think about careers, entrepreneurship and opportunity.

Isaac Levin, who followed up with industry professionals after class, is now being introduced to senior leaders in the sustainability field—an outcome that would be difficult to replicate through traditional coursework alone.

For Aneil L. Persaud, hearing a peer founder present a startup journey reignited his own ambitions. “The spark is back,” he said. “I’m excited for the future.”

Across the cohort, students reported a fundamental shift: entrepreneurship was no longer viewed simply as starting a company, but as identifying and solving real problems—often in collaboration with others.

Designing a Model for the Future

Pandey, an academic with more than 18 years of experience across economics, business administration and AI integration, also brings a global perspective shaped by her work at institutions such as Hannan University and Shanghai Technical University.

Her long-term vision is to formalize what Spring 2026 demonstrated: a structured externship and industry engagement program embedded within DAFRE.

“This externship initiative is my way of building that bridge,” she said. “I want to see it become a permanent part of what this department offers every student.”

Such a program would create sustained partnerships across agriculture, finance, sustainability and entrepreneurship, offering students not just exposure, but continuity through mentorship pipelines and co-curricular experiences.

What began as a course innovation has the potential to become a model for how higher education can evolve to meet the realities of today’s workforce.

And for Pandey, the goal is not simply to repeat it, but to scale it.

“This is about building something lasting,” she said. “A system where every student has the opportunity to step into the room and leave with a future already in motion.”

Pictured 4th from left is Sho Islam, Director of the Office of Business Engagement, Department of Economic Development, New Jersey, with students, following his presentation. DAFRE’s Sonal Pandey is front row, fifth from left.

    

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Image by Smileus, licensed via Adobe Stock (Education License)

Plants are remarkably good at adjusting how they capture sunlight and produce food through photosynthesis. A new computer model helps scientists better understand these adjustments by looking at what happens at different heights within a plant canopy, from the sun-drenched leaves at the top to the shaded leaves near the ground.

Chi Chen, assistant professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, and affiliate of the Rutgers Climate and Energy Institute, is the author of the study.

The research, published in the Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, introduces a model called GMC-OPT (Global Multilayer Canopy OPTimization) that tracks how plants adjust their photosynthesis hour by hour and season by season. Unlike simpler models that treat an entire forest or field as one big leaf, this model considers how conditions change at different heights. Leaves at the top receive intense sunlight but risk damage, while lower leaves get less light and are more limited by energy availability. 

The model reveals several interesting patterns. First, the best time for leaves to maximize photosynthesis is not always at solar noon when sunlight is strongest. Upper canopy leaves actually perform best in the morning, before the sun becomes too intense, the environment becomes too dry, and conditions become potentially harmful to photosynthesis. Second, beyond instantaneous stomatal regulation, leaves adjust their photosynthetic capacity based on their position in the canopy at seasonal scales – called photosynthetic acclimation. The relationship between light and acclimated leaf photosynthetic capacity is not simply a straight line. Upper leaves can become saturated with too much light and other stresses, while lower leaves respond more efficiently to the light they receive.

The model also discovered that different types of vegetation manage their leaves differently through the seasons. Tree-dominated forests like evergreen and mixed forests prioritize keeping their upper, light-gathering leaves healthy. In contrast, grasslands and deciduous forests replace leaves more uniformly throughout the canopy. This helps explain why different ecosystems respond differently to seasonal changes and why forests and grasslands have distinct growth patterns.

Understanding these patterns has important implications for climate science. Photosynthesis is the largest carbon flux on land, meaning plants absorb enormous amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Better models of photosynthesis help scientists predict how ecosystems will respond to climate change, increasing temperatures, and rising carbon dioxide levels. They also help farmers and land managers understand how plants use water and nutrients, which is crucial for sustainable agriculture and water management.

“By understanding how plants optimize photosynthesis at different levels of the canopy and across different timescales, we can better predict how ecosystems will respond to environmental changes. This knowledge is essential for managing our forests, crops, and natural areas in a way that maximizes carbon capture while conserving water and nutrients,” said Chen.

The model was tested against data from 119 monitoring stations worldwide and accurately predicted carbon uptake at hourly to annual scales. While the model is complex, requiring detailed information about canopy structure and radiation, it provides insights that simpler models cannot. As satellite technology improves, scientists will be able to gather the detailed vertical structure information needed to apply this model globally, leading to better predictions of how vegetation affects our climate. Read the full study here.

This article was written with assistance from Artificial Intelligence, was reviewed and edited by Oliver Stringham, and was reviewed and edited by Chi Chen, the author of the study.

    

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Pictured, at center, SEBS Executive Dean Laura Lawson, and fourth from left, Cara Cuite, undergraduate program director and associate professor in the Department of Human Ecology with the SEBS students enrolled in the RU Engaged: A Community Engaged Byrne Seminars with Alternative Spring Break class. Photo credit: Kathe Newman.

On April 3, Laura Lawson, Executive Dean of the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS), spoke with the students gathered in the classroom at the Institute for Food, Nurtition and Health for their final class of the RU Engaged: A Community Engaged Byrne Seminars with Alternative Spring Break.

SEBS Executive Dean engages with students in the final class of RU Engaged: A Community Engaged Byrne Seminars with Alternative Spring Break.

The students in this interactive seminar shared their experiences with community gardening with Executive Dean Lawson. The one-credit Byrne seminar was co-developed by Cara Cuite, undergraduate program director and associate professor in the Department of Human Ecology at SEBS, and Kathe Newman, professor at Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and director of the Ralph W. Voorhees Center for Civic Engagement. 

After eight weeks in the classroom, the group of 20 mostly first-year students participated in an inaugural, weeklong service program launched over Spring Break 2026, staying in the community and working alongside food-security organizations in New Brunswick. The students in this inaugural program helped build raised garden beds, unloaded food, served clients at the Unity Square Choice Food Pantry and prepared meals at the mobile soup kitchen for Elijah’s Promise.

Read below about this inaugural RU Engaged seminar and spring break experience as extracted from the original article published in Rutgers Today 

Students build raised garden beds as part of the RU Engaged program that connects them to their host community in New Brunswick.

“This experience has truly been transformative,” said Isabelle Latorre, of Roselle Park, New Jersey, who is majoring in molecular biology and biochemistry at the School of Arts and Sciences. “I felt incredibly fulfilled seeing our team’s efforts create such a tremendous impact and becoming much closer to the New Brunswick community in only a few days.”

The weeklong experience was part of the RU Engaged Byrne seminar, a one-credit course focused on the issue of food security. The class aimed to connect first-year students to the community through a series of service projects and was capped with the RU Engaged Spring Break trip funded by a 2025 New Brunswick Chancellor’s Challenge Grant. 

“RU Engaged spring break was designed to help students understand that Rutgers and New Brunswick are deeply interconnected,” said Kathe Newman, professor at Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and director of the Ralph W. Voorhees Center for Civic Engagement. She developed the class with Cara Cuite, undergraduate program director and associate professor in the Department of Human Ecology at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences.

“We hope that this course and Spring Break experience created the conditions for meaningful learning and genuine relationships between students and community partners,” Newman said.

Cuite and Newman designed the program in collaboration with the Office of the Vice Provost for Experiential Learning and the Alternative Breaks Office.

“This is exactly the kind of work the Chancellor’s Challenge was designed to support,” Rutgers–New Brunswick Chancellor Francine Conway said. “RU Engaged brings together academic learning and meaningful community engagement in a way that benefits both our students and the city of New Brunswick. It reflects our commitment to preparing students not only for careers, but for lives of purpose and impact.”

Next year, RU Engaged will expand to three Byrne Seminar classes each with an associated spring break trip to address a different social issue. 

Cuite said the program was designed to build lasting connections. 

Rutgers students also worked at Elijah’s Promise in New Brunswick, helping to prepare the evening’s meals of vegetables and pasta.

“We were blown away by the commitment and energy of the students, and we hope it is only the first of many times they will partner with these New Brunswick organizations,” Cuite said.

For many of the students, the course provided an opportunity to make a difference beyond campus they were seeking.

At Unity Square, students contributed to the ongoing efforts to expand access to fresh food and create shared spaces for community connection. Gardening experts from Rutgers Cooperative Extension and the Bloustein School showed the students the importance of soil quality, garden layouts and the role of urban gardens in bringing neighbors together to a shared space for growing food.

“We can’t wait for the students to come back in a few months to see the vegetables growing in the garden beds that 

they built,” said Michelle Gil, director of Unity Square.

“Being at a big school like Rutgers means you have access to the whole world, but no one to bring you through the door,” said first-year School of Engineering student Robert Sorkin, of Scotch Plains, New Jersey. “This is the first program I’ve seen that really tries to do that.”

Cuite and Newman, along with their community partners, hope it is also a foundation for students’ continued connection to the community of New Brunswick.

 “When students come ready to help their neighbors, they become part of our community, not just visitors,” said Michelle Wilson, director of Elijah’s Promise. “Our motto is transforming lives through food, and we hope the students felt a bit of that transformation.”

    

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Participants in the 35th Annual Rutgers Turfgrass Symposium included research associate Stephanie Rossi; graduate student Mark Labarge; invited speaker Susana Milla-Lewis, professor of turfgrass breeding and genetics at North Carolina State University; and Distinguished Professor Bingru Huang, who also served as moderator of one of the sessions. Photo credit: Shaun Barry

The Rutgers Center for Turfgrass Science hosted its 35th Annual Turfgrass Symposium on March 19, bringing together faculty, staff, students, researchers and industry leaders for a day of collaboration, innovation and knowledge exchange.

Held at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, the symposium highlighted the breadth of turfgrass research underway across the university while reinforcing Rutgers’ leadership in advancing sustainable turf systems.

Rutgers post-doc associate Juan Gonzalez, keynote speaker Eric Watkins, and Stacy Bonos, associate director of the center and a moderator of one of the sessions. Photo credit: Shaun Barry

Josh Kohut, dean and director of research at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, welcomed attendees and underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing emerging environmental and industry challenges.

The keynote address was delivered by Rutgers alumnus Eric Watkins, professor in the Department of Horticulture and Vice Provost for Distributed Learning at the University of Minnesota. His presentation, “Investigating New Strategies for Turfgrass Survival in a Changing Winter Climate,” explored how innovative tools are being used to better understand and mitigate the unpredictable effects of winter stress on turfgrass systems.

According to James Murphy, director of the Center for Turfgrass Science, the symposium also featured a distinguished group of invited speakers. Susana Milla-Lewis of North Carolina State University presented insights from 14 years of collaborative warm-season turfgrass breeding. Lisa Bern of Syngenta reflected on 25 years of innovation in plant protection, while James Brosnan of the University of Tennessee addressed evolving strategies for managing Poa annua, a persistent challenge in turfgrass systems.

The symposium also showcased research from Rutgers faculty, postdoctoral associates and graduate students. Stephanie Rossi discussed early detection of heat and drought in creeping bentgrass. Mark Labarge presented results from his research on bermudagrass and zoysiagrass fairway turf. Juan Gonzalez presented his research on high-volume turfgrass monitoring using drones. Ryan Earp described his experience at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort during the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. Leandro Lopes da Silva discussed his research on SDHI fungicide resistance in Clarireedia jacksonii (the dollar spot pathogen). Matthew Brown presented research on the interactions among entomopathogenic nematodes, fungicides, silicon and plant hosts. Katie Diehl Tuck described the effects of plant growth regulators on goosegrass and cool season turfgrass.

Invited speaker James Brosnan, professor in the Plant Sciences Department at the University of Tennessee; Matt Brown, post-doc associate, Department of Entomology; Matt Elmore, associate extension specialist, Department of Plant Biology, who served as moderator at one of the sessions, and Katie Diehl Tuck, Department of Plant Biology. Photo credit: Shaun Barry

Graduate student excellence was a central highlight of the event. Three students were recognized for award-winning presentations at the Crop Science Society of America Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City. Ryan Earp earned first place in the Turfgrass Breeding, Genomics, Physiology and Molecular Biology poster session, while Devan Gladden received second place in Turfgrass Water Conservation, and Emmanuel Nwachukwu placed third in Golf Turf Management and Remote Sensing.

Earp was also recognized as the fourth recipient of the Sean S. Pattwell Graduate Student Internship, an experiential learning opportunity established through the generosity of Sean Pattwell in 2022. The program supports graduate training through immersive industry experiences; Earp recently completed a three-week internship at the renowned Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

The success of the symposium was made possible through the efforts of the planning committee, chaired by Bingru Huang and including Jim Murphy, Stacy Bonos, Ning Zhang and Ming-Yi Chou. Barbara Fitzgerald and Kelly Esposito served as co-editors of the symposium proceedings. Technical support for livestreaming and event production was provided by Bernard Ward, Phil Wisneski and Brad Park.

“The center is grateful for the wonderful partnership with the turfgrass industry in New Jersey and beyond, which enables us to delve into these exciting topics in turfgrass science,” Murphy said.

As the symposium marks its 35th year, it continues to serve as a vital platform for advancing research, fostering collaboration and preparing the next generation of turfgrass scientists—further strengthening Rutgers’ impact on agriculture, environmental sustainability and the green industry.

    

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Wendie Cohick, Vice Provost and Vice Chancellor for Research, Rutgers-New Brunswick.

Wendie Cohick, Vice Provost and Vice Chancellor for Research, Rutgers-New Brunswick and faculty in the Department of Animal Sciences, is one of eight Rutgers faculty named to the 2026 class of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)  fellows. Cohick and her Rutgers colleagues were among the 500 scientists, engineers and innovators spanning 24 scientific disciplines ranging from research, teaching and technology to administration in academia, industry and government, to excellence in communicating and interpreting science to the public. Individuals are elected annually in a tradition dating back to 1874.

Wendie Cohick’s scientific life began in an agricultural research lab at Cornell University, where, as an undergraduate studying animal science, she learned to sit with questions that did not yet have answers. 

Working with dairy cows, she sensed that beneath visible physiology lay an unseen network of signals. 

“How does the body know to divert nutrients to the fetus or to the mammary gland to make milk?” she recalled wondering. “What are the long-term signals that control how the body allocates energy?” 

The search led her into endocrinology and into the emerging field of insulin-like growth factors, or IGFs. The literature was sparse, the players unknown. The field resembled a half-finished puzzle, with only a few edge pieces turned face up and most of the picture obscured. In 1996, Cohick arrived at Rutgers University’s School of Environmental and Biological Sciences as an assistant professor. Studying the cells in the mammary gland that make milk, she began determining how the pieces connected. IGF-1 proved central to normal growth and survival, but a complex system of binding proteins was needed to keep its activity in check. 

Her lab uncovered surprises. One binding protein long thought to dampen IGF-1 instead amplified its effects, strengthening the hormone’s drive toward cell growth. The finding reinforced a principle that guided her work. 

“If you don’t understand the mechanism, you can’t know whether targeting it will ultimately help patients or make things worse,” she said. 

Over time, the biological pathways she traced in cows revealed patterns that held in humans, including the intersection, or “crosstalk,” of hormone systems such as IGF and estrogen. Since alcohol consumption, a risk factor for breast cancer, increases estrogen, Cohick wondered if IGF-1 could also be involved. This shaped her studies of breast cancer and what she calls “the developmental window,” when early exposures like alcohol may influence lifelong risk. 

As her leadership expanded at Rutgers, her instinct remained constant: Understand how the pieces lock together. Whether guiding a laboratory or a universitywide research agenda, she urges scientists to look beneath the surface, to understand not just what happens, but why. Today she envisions more precise, molecularly-guided cancer treatments. 

“What happens inside cells may be invisible to us, but it holds the key to giving patients better futures,” she said. 

AAAS, the world’s largest multidisciplinary scientific society and a leading publisher of cutting-edge research through its Science family of journals, announced the newest members of the class of fellows on March 26. It is among the most distinctive honors within the scientific community. 

Wendie Cohick’s profile was written by Kitta Macpherson. For complete coverage of the 8  Rutgers faculty named to the 2026 class of AAAS fellows, read more in Rutgers Today.

    

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Researchers are examining the relationship between childhood obesity and future success. Sergio Arjona, Shutterstock

Childhood obesity may be quietly undermining one of the central promises of American life.

 A study by a Rutgers researcher has found that children who are obese are far less likely to climb the economic ladder as adults, raising concerns that a rising health problem also could deny many young Americans the chance to achieve the American dream.

“Childhood obesity isn’t just a health crisis,” said Yanhong Jin, a professor with the Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and a coauthor of the study. “It is an economic mobility crisis.”

The research, published in the Journal of Population Economics, examined how childhood obesity affects intergenerational mobility, which measures whether children grow up to earn more than their parents.

The study draws on data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, often called Add Health, a nationwide project that has followed thousands of Americans from adolescence into adulthood for more than two decades. The study is composed of a nationally representative sample of more than 20,000 adolescents who were in grades 7 through 12 during the 1994-1995 school year, and have been followed for six waves of data collection to date, with the  most recent wave from 2022 to 2025. The dataset includes information about participants’ health, education, income and genetic markers linked to body weight.

Professor Yanhong Jin, an agricultural and health economist, is exploring whether children today have the same opportunities their parents had at the same age.

Jin conducted the study with economists Maoyong Fan of Ball State University and Man Zhang of Renmin University in China.

Using the Add Health data allowed researchers to explore the question in a new way. The study includes genetic information that helped the team separate the effect of obesity itself from other factors such as family income or neighborhood conditions.

The results were striking. Adults who were obese as children ended up much lower on the national income ladder than those who had a normal weight as children. A child is considered obese if his or her Body Mass Index is at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex, based on standardized growth charts.

“If children are obese compared with normal weight children, assuming everything else is the same, their income ranking is about 20 percentile points lower relative to their parents,” Jin said.

The researchers then examined why that economic gap appears to emerge over time.

“The evidence points to lower educational attainment, persistent health problems and disadvantages within the labor market,” said Fan, a coauthor of the study. “These include higher reported job discrimination and adverse occupational sorting.”

For Jin, an agricultural and health economist, the topic carries personal meaning. As a first-generation immigrant from China, she said she has long been interested in the idea that each generation should have a chance to do better than the one before.

Her interest in intergenerational mobility deepened as she began thinking about the American dream and whether children today still have the same chances their parents had.

“We wanted to explore the link between childhood conditions and intergenerational mobility to see what we can do,” she said.

The researchers also found that people who were obese as children were less likely to live in neighborhoods with strong economic opportunities later in life. They were less likely to live in areas with higher average incomes and less likely to live in communities with low poverty rates.

Most previous research on economic mobility has focused on neighborhood conditions and family background. Jin said her team wanted to explore another factor that had received less attention.

Studies that focused on the long-term impacts of obesity were more likely to examine its relationship with social stigma and educational attainment.

“But few have considered its relationship to intergenerational mobility,” Jin said.

The effects weren’t the same for everyone. The study found that the economic penalty linked to childhood obesity was larger for girls than for boys. It also was stronger among children from low-income families and among those who grew up in the South and Midwest.

Jin said the findings highlight the importance of preventing obesity early in life. Many policies focus on treating obesity after it develops, but the research suggests that prevention in childhood before it develops could have long-term benefits for both health and economic opportunity.

“If you are obese in childhood, for whatever the reason, you have a penalty in your adult economic status,” Jin said.

For policymakers, the study offers a broader way to think about the issue, the researchers said. Childhood obesity has often been viewed mainly as a medical concern. The research suggests that, if left unaddressed, childhood obesity may also shape economic opportunity and social mobility for decades to come.

“Interventions that reduce childhood obesity can deliver benefits well beyond lowering medical spending,” said coauthor Zhang. “They can support higher educational attainment, improve job prospects and increase upward economic mobility for the next generation.”

This article first appeared in Rutgers Today.

    

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L-R: Frances Wood (UKRI), and collaborators Bruce Greive (U Manchester), Siobain Duffy (Rutgers), Linda Hanley-Bowdoin (North Carolina State U), Hujun Yin (U Manchester), Jose Trino Ascencio-Ibáñez (NCSU), Vasthi Alonso-Chavez (Rothamsted Research) pictured at the Pioneering UK–US Breakthroughs (PUB) Award event on March 4, 2026. Photo credit: Thomas Pospiech – UKRI North America Thomas.Pospiech@ukri.org

At a reception hosted at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. on March 4, Professor Siobain Duffy and her international research team were recognized with the Pioneering UK–US Breakthroughs (PUB) Award, a distinction honoring seven collaborative teams whose work is addressing some of the world’s most urgent challenges.

Presented by His Majesty’s Ambassador to the United States, Sir Christian Turner, and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) International Director Frances Wood, the award highlights the global impact of cross-border scientific partnerships. Duffy, professor and chair of the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, was part of one of the seven selected teams, recognized for pioneering a transformative technology to detect crop vi

Duffy serves as principal investigator on the NSF-BBSRC-funded project, “US-UK Collab: Resurrecting a role for roguing: Presymptomatic detection with multispectral imaging to quantify and control the transmission of cassava brown streak disease.” The research introduces a novel multispectral imaging device capable of detecting viral infections in crops earlier, faster, and more cost-effectively than traditional genetic testing.

Genetic analysis of cassava brown streak disease root necrosis using image analysis and genome-wide association studies. Copyright © 2024 Nandudu, Strock, Ogbonna, Kawuki and Jannink.

“This award reflects the strength of international collaboration in tackling complex global problems,” said Duffy. “By bringing together expertise across disciplines and continents, we are developing tools that can make a real difference for farmers and food systems worldwide.”

At the center of the team’s work is cassava brown streak disease, a devastating viral infection threatening cassava crops across sub-Saharan Africa. Cassava, a staple food for hundreds of millions of people, is also gaining traction globally as a climate-resilient alternative to wheat because it requires less water and can survive in harsher conditions.

The challenge, Duffy explains, is that the disease often goes undetected until it is too late. “The symptoms of the disease are often so subtle on the above-ground parts of the plant that farmers do not know their fields are infected,” she said. “The disease spreads throughout the growing season, and when the roots are harvested, they are full of necrotic lesions.”

To address this, the team has developed a cutting-edge multispectral imaging system that scans cassava leaves using wavelengths beyond the visible spectrum. Combined with machine learning models, the device can identify infected plants before visible symptoms appear—and even earlier than conventional molecular diagnostics.

“Our team has developed a multi-spectral imager that scans cassava leaves with many wavelengths of light,” Duffy explained. “Extensive training has yielded machine learning models that can detect diseased plants earlier than molecular tests, and much earlier than slight symptoms develop.” Early detection enables farmers to remove infected plants before the disease spreads. “If we had a better way to detect which plants were infected earlier in the season, then farmers could ‘rogue’ the diseased plants and prevent further spread of the disease,” she added.

A new device for field-testing crops for Cassava Mosaic and Brown Streak disease. Photo courtesy of UKRI.

The project brings together a highly interdisciplinary team spanning institutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, and East Africa, including molecular virologists, evolutionary biologists, engineers and AI specialists, mathematical modelers, and field-based researchers working directly with farming communities. Field testing of the imaging device is currently underway in Tanzania, where the team is evaluating its effectiveness in real-world conditions.

Looking ahead, Duffy notes that if the technology proves successful, the team plans to partner with Tanzania’s clean seed system to ensure that certified cassava planting material is free of the disease.

The broader implications of the research are significant. By enabling earlier detection and containment of plant viruses, the technology has the potential to reduce crop loss, boost yields, and decrease reliance on expensive laboratory diagnostics. In doing so, it supports local livelihoods, strengthens rural economies, and contributes to more resilient global food systems.

“This technology can help safeguard food security,” said Duffy, underscoring its importance for regions where cassava is a dietary and economic cornerstone.

Funded jointly by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council through the Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease Program, the project exemplifies how international collaboration can drive innovation with meaningful, far-reaching impact.

    

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Post-doc Deepangsu Chatterjee is with the Xiaomeng Jin Lab in the Department of Environmental Sciences.

The School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) is among three schools at Rutgers University-New Brunswick to benefit from a $1.5 million grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to support 37 postdoctoral researchers.

The funding strengthens research in SEBS, the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering, advancing discovery in areas such as astrophysics, quantum and condensed matter physics, materials science, molecular and cellular biology, and microbiology.

The Postdoctoral Fellowship Commitment supports scholars across 12 scientific fields at Rutgers-New Brunswick. The grant award is administered by the Rutgers–New Brunswick Office for Research and led by Dr. Sheila Borges Rajguru, executive director for Research Development & Strategy, who serves as principal investigator and collaborates with the respective school research deans.

Post-doc Da Guo is with the Chi Chen Lab in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources.

“Investing in our early-career research workforce is critical, particularly for postdoctoral researchers who are building independent careers while advancing scientific discovery,” said Josh Kohut, dean of research at SEBS and director of research for the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.

At SEBS, the grant will support researchers who are investigating volcanic carbon emissions, tracing the chemical history of Earth’s mantle and studying how ecosystems respond to environmental stress, and include:

• Deepangsu Chatterjee of the Xiaomeng Jin Lab, Department of Environmental Sciences
• Da Guo of the Chi Chen Lab, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources
• Dr. Liang’s Lab, Department of Food Science
• Dr. Maddamsetti’s Lab, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology
• Dr. Roy’s Lab, Department of Environmental Sciences
• Dr. Shmarakov’s Lab, Department of Animal Sciences

This award provides a valuable opportunity to complement and strengthen support for postdoctoral researchers who have invested many years in rigorous training. The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation’s investment supplements faculty-supported postdocs while also creating opportunities for strategic new hires.

Rutgers-New Brunswick is one of 30 research universities in the United States selected to receive support through the foundation, which is investing $55 million nationally in natural science research. Read an in-depth article about the grant award at Rutgers Today.

    

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