STUDENT PROJECTS
- K-State home
- K-State Olathe
- Research
- Urban Food Systems Initiative
- Research
- Student Projects
View our student projects
Current M.S. students
Name |
Project Title |
Major advisor(s) |
| Eric Wyatt | Evaluation of high tunnel and open field systems for CBD hemp | Cary Rivard |
| Aaron Prater | An examination of agritourism for connecting consumers with agriculture | Cary Rivard |
| Rebecca Layne | Understanding insect biodiversity on urban farms | Cary Rivard |
| Claire Barnhart | Conserving Soil Moisture in High Tunnels to Maintain Soil Health (working) | Cary Rivard |
| Comfort Kafui Kwamikorkor | Evaluating electrostatic spraying to improve food contact surface disinfection and produce safety and quality | Manreet Bhullar |
| Sagar Pokhrel | Develop posters in the native languages of and with appropriate contexts for refugee growers in Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri. | Manreet Bhullar |
| Sachin Adhikari | Evaluating the postharvest quality of romaine lettuce grown in UV treated Hydroponic system |
Eleni Pliakoni |
| Puja Subedi | Exploring Nutrient Solution Management Techniques to Optimize Quantity and Quality in Hydroponic Production |
Teng Yang |
| Ryan Goertzen-Regier | TBD |
Eleni Pliakoni |
| Brooke Monson | TBD |
Eleni Pliakoni |
| Andrea Dinkel | TBD |
Jeremy Cowan |
| Charles Carpenter | TBD |
Jeremy Cowan |
Current Ph.D. students
Name |
Project title |
Major advisor |
| Markanna Moore | Enhancing microbial safety of hydroponic systems with the use of ultraviolet irradtiation | Manreet Bhullar |
| Vikas Galipothu | Develop an integrated UV-C sanitation system from lab model to industrial prototyping | Manreet Bhullar |
| Olalekan Sipasi | Incorporating culinary mushrooms in diversified agriculture: intercropping and livestock integrations | Jeremy Cowan |
Completed M.S. students
Name, year graduated
|
Project title |
Current work |
|
Angela Anegon, 2014 |
Evaluating the local food system of Manhattan, Kansas: producer and institution perspectives | Organic Field Inspector with Washington State Department of Agriculture Organic Program |
|
Carrie Tanner, 2014 |
Evaluating the interaction between extension educators and urban farmers in the Kansas City metropolitan area | Data Analyst at Centene Corporation, MO |
|
Lani Meyer, 2016 |
Grafting to increase high tunnel tomato productivity in the central United States | Farm Manager at Cloud City Farm, Leadville, CO |
|
Chandalar Randall, 2016 |
Relation of health behaviors to gardening among the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation in Kansas | High School Agriculture Teacher, TX |
|
Kelly Gude, 2016 |
Pre-harvest effects on postharvest quality of spring-planted, day-neutral strawberries in high tunnel system |
Postharvest Scientist, Mori, MA |
|
Erin Bailey, 2018 |
Introducing public edible landscapes as a key component of the urban agricultural framework | Urban Farmer, KS |
| David Loewen, 2018 (Cary Rivard) |
Tomato and pepper grafting for high tunnel production: Effects on yield, compatibility and plant morphology |
Farmer and High School Science teacher, KS |
|
Ryan Dostal, 2018 |
A historical consideration of seed saving and suggestions for future seed savers | Garden History Interpreter, Mount Vernon, VA |
|
Zachary Hoppenstedt, 2018 |
High tunnel propagation systems for organic sweetpotato | Extension Agent, Kansas State Research and Extension |
|
Jesse Gilmore, 2018 |
Evaluation of training methods in an urban agriculture apprenticeship program | Extension Agent, Kansas State Research and Extension |
|
Kenny Artavia-Rojas, 2019 |
Determination of soft skills expected for professionals in the urban food system industry |
House husband, Costa Rica |
|
Joseph Rundquist, 2020 |
Identifying the optimum storage and handling conditions for sweetpotato slips | Lab Technician, Ventiria Bioscience, KS |
|
Ashlee Skinner, 2020 (Cary Rivard) |
Integrating cover crops in high tunnel production systems | Extension Agent, University of Florida |
|
Carly Estes, 2020 |
The use of hydroponics in urban food systems | Real estate agent |
|
Megan McManus, 2021 |
Defining business education and supporting wholesale marketing for beginning specialty crop farmers | Farm to Institution Fellow, Center for Regional Food Systems, Michigan State University |
|
Yeqi Zhao, 2022 (Manreet Bhullar, Eleni Pliakoni) |
Assessment of knowledge and current practices of KS and MO produce growers related to agricultural water quality | Technical Support Team, Novogene (a company based in Beijing) |
|
Kristin Taylor, 2022 (Candice Shoemaker) |
Enhancing Local Resilience: Community Gardens in Post Pandemic Kansas City | Farm owner & master gardener volunteer |
|
Amrita Mukherjee, 2022 (Eleni Pliakoni) |
Cultural practices effecting strawberry quality | University of California Extension |
|
Durga Khadka, 2023 (Manreet Bhullar, Eleni Pliakoni) |
Evaluating the effect of innovative food labeling technology on produce quality, safety and consumer acceptability |
Completed Ph.D. students
Name, year graduated
|
Project title |
Current work |
| Kostas Batziakas, 2019 (Eleni Pliakoni) |
Reducing food losses and improving the quality of locally produced spinach | Research and Development Scientist, CrunchPak, WA |
| Kelly Gude, 2020 (Eleni Pliakoni, Channa B. Rajashekar |
Altering solar light with high tunnel coverings to improve health-promoting phytochemicals of lettuce and tomato | Research Scientist, Mori, MA |
| Tricia Jenkins, 2021 (Eleni Pliakoni) |
Maximizing quality in grafted tomato production systems | Postdoctoral Research Associate, Kansas State University |
| Olivia Haley (Manreet Bhullar) | Application of ultraviolet light technologies in fresh produce production and processing: Agriculture water treatment and produce surface disinfection | Post-doc, USDA ARS |