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New academic staff revitalize Agricultural and Food Sciences

January 1, 2025 — 

Seven new academic members joined the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences in 2024:

Dr. Haillong HeHailong He
Hailong He joined the Department of Soil Science as Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Water Management for Sustainable Agriculture. Trained as soil and water conservationist and soil physicist, he has broad research interests that seek to to better understand, measure and model mass and energy transport processes in arid and cold regions under climate change.

Dr Yang Lui

Yang Liu
Yang Liu joined the Department of Entomology as Assistant Professor. Her research  explores insect systematics: integrative taxonomy, systematics, phylogeny (leafhopper, tumbling flower beetle/Mordellidae, and more); she uses micro-CT and Electron microscope to identify similar species. She is also focused on insect diversity and monitoring, agricultural and forest entomology, and ecology.

Dr Jiating LiJiating Li
Jiating Li joined the Department of Biosystems Engineering as Assistant Professor in Digital Technologies for Agri-food Production. Jiating will be delving into a broad range of digital technologies to advance Canadian agricultural and food production systems. Through intensive collaborations with crop breeders, plant physiologists, soil scientists, animal scientists, and computer engineers, Jiating aims to develop robust systems that promote agricultural productivity as well as sustainability. 

Dr Tengda GongTengda Gong
Tengda Gong joined the Department of Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics as Assistant Professor in Agribusiness Finance. His upbringing in a farming village in China inspired his pursuit of agricultural economics. Tengda’s  research focuses on understanding how public policies and market mechanisms affect the functioning of agrifood systems amid market imperfections and climate change, with a focus on welfare implications. 

Dr Alistair BrownAlistair Brown
Alistair Brown joined the Department of Soil Science as Manitoba Analytical Solutions (MASS) Lab Director and Assistant Professor. Alistair has a range of research and technical experience in pesticides and UV filters in water, agricultural nutrient loading, pharmaceutical metabolites in water, antibiotic impacts on bioreactor microbes, and perfluorinated compounds in air and dust.

Dr Jessica RutherfordJessica Rutherford
Jessica Rutherford has been hired as Instructor II in in Applied Human Nutrition and Dietetics in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences. A UM alum and a Registered Dietitian, she completed her dietetic internship through the Northern Ontario Dietetic Internship Program with a focus on rural and Indigenous communities. She most recently played a lead role in development the new UM Master of Applied Human Nutrition program. In her current role, she is responsible for undergraduate and graduate nutrition course delivery.

Nuria Morfin
Nuria Morfin joined the Department of Entomology as Assistant Professor in Apiculture and Honey Bee Biology. Her expertise includes Integrated Pest Management, selective breeding, and honey bee pathology, with extensive research experience that spans North America. Nuria is committed to enhancing the understanding of honey bee biology and promoting sustainable practices to support pollinator health and the beekeeping industry.

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