Research

The School of Agricultural Sciences is recognized as a premier non-Land Grant institution, renowned for its pioneering agricultural research in the United States.

Home to over a hundred enthusiastic faculty members, researchers, and students, the School is engaged in a broad spectrum of projects across both traditional and modern realms within the agriculture, food, and fiber sectors. Our research shines in areas such as human nutrition and wellness, soybean production innovation, the cutting-edge fields of biotechnology and genomics, comprehensive studies in animal nutrition, renewable energy advancements, weed science, strategies for rural economic development, outdoor recreation management, water quality improvement, and sustainability.

Central to our research efforts is the Office of Research at the SIU Carbondale School of Agricultural Sciences. This office is responsible for overseeing specialized research activities in diverse fields including molecular biology, bioinformatics, food processing technology, plant pathology, agricultural systems technology, soil science, hydrology, and studies in both human and animal nutrition, endocrinology, and cell culture.

Recently, the School has been successful in acquiring numerous sponsored grants, driving forward research in vital areas such as soybean production and utilization, water quality, sustainable agricultural practices, local food initiatives, wildlife habitat conservation, biofuel production, and global agricultural issues. Significantly, the School has received two substantial grants from the Howard Buffett Foundation for research into the effects of long-term sustainable agricultural practices.

Our research excellence also extends to the practical applications at the University Farms, a 2,000-acre operational farm and forest that serves as an active site for top-tier research.

The research programs at the School of Agricultural Sciences are not just remarkable in their breadth and impact; they offer unmatched opportunities for those driven by the desire to learn, innovate, and contribute to the evolving world of agriculture. Here, your passion for agricultural sciences finds both a challenge and a home, where you can make a tangible difference in the field.