Lincoln University Students and Alumni Earn National Recognition at Major Agriculture Conferences

Gursewak Singh presents his poster to a conference attendee.

Lincoln University of Missouri (LU) students and recent graduates showcased their research on national stages, earning awards and professional recognition at three major agricultural conferences held in November and December.

At the CANVAS Annual Meeting, held Nov. 9–12 in Salt Lake City, LU’s Gursewak Singh earned first place in the student poster competition for his project, “Weather Variability Impacts on Corn Production in Missouri Using ARDL Analysis.”

CANVAS, the largest agriculture conference in the United States, brings together crop, agronomic, environmental and soil-science professionals for sessions on climate adaptation, advanced crop modeling, plant-breeding technologies, networking events and career development programming.

Singh, a recent LU graduate who now works with the university’s Integrated Pest Management program, prepared for the competition by practicing his presentation with lab members.

“Presenting my research in front of an international audience felt challenging, especially knowing that I was competing alongside participants from major universities,” Singh said. “Standing next to such well-established institutions initially felt intimidating.”

He said exposure to new analytical tools at the conference expanded his expertise.

“I am more inclined toward exploring weather extremities, so learning about specific software used by the University of Florida was very fascinating,” Singh said. “Being aware of how different tools are being utilized was truly noteworthy.”

Mohak Koirala poses with his second-place award from the poster presentation he delivered at the PAWC conference.

LU graduate student Mohak Koirala earned second place in the graduate student poster competition at the 83rd Annual Professional Agricultural Workers Conference (PAWC), held Nov. 16–18 at Tuskegee University in Montgomery, Alabama.

Koirala attended through a fellowship from the Carver Integrative Sustainability Center HBCU Graduate Fellowship Program. His poster, “Fermentation of Novel Vegetables for Safe and Sustainable Preservation Practice,” explored food preservation, cultural food traditions and the relationships between fermented foods, nutrition and long-term health conditions.

“I was always fascinated with the cultural methods that were practiced for food preservation, such as fermentation,” he said. “This conference helped me to relay this passion to an extended audience. It helped add fuel to my fire.”

He described the conference as “connecting, encouraging and empowering.”

Graduate student Poonam Karki placed third out of 24 presenters at the Soil Health Institute’s 10th Anniversary Virtual Meeting, held Dec. 3–4. The event drew farmers, researchers, industry professionals and policymakers to discuss soil health education, water impacts, measurement tools and future directions for regenerative agriculture.

Her poster, “Soil health comparison of annual versus perennial cover crops in alleyways between vegetable production beds during organic transition,” examined soil health and microbial ecology in organic vegetable production systems.

“I was honored,” Karki said. “[They] recognized the quality of my research and the time I’ve invested in soil health and microbial ecology.”

She added meeting scientists she has followed for years was a memorable highlight.

“One researcher told me, ‘Really cool work. I am always looking for ways to improve the soils in my personal vegetable production,’ and that encouragement meant a lot,” she said.

Matthew Adler, a non-traditional LU graduate student, also presented at PAWC. His professional research poster outlined his planned work on adaptive grazing and post-CRP land restoration. The poster was well received among researchers, extension educators and USDA personnel.

“[Attending the conference] expanded my horizon,” Adler said. “Speaking with researchers from land-grant schools, extension educators, students and USDA personnel reminded me how wide agriculture really is and how much opportunity exists through collaboration.”

His advice to future attendees: “Go. You’ll be stretched, encouraged and challenged — and you’ll come home differently than you left.”

The group of LU attendees at the PAWC conference posed for a picture before sessions began.

Nesa Nur, a first-year international graduate student at LU, was another attendee at PAWC, joining Adler and Koirala in representing the university.

“I got the chance to talk with faculty and students from several different universities. We shared our current research work, including progress and limitations,” Nur said. “Those conversations were extremely insightful because they helped me see different approaches to similar challenges and broadened my understanding of agricultural research.”

Nur noted the gathering offered more than formal sessions. “They arranged a two-hour cruise journey with a special dinner and a lively party afterward,” she said. “The atmosphere, music, and conversations with friends made the entire trip memorable.”

All three LU graduate students who attended PAWC — Koirala, Karki and Nur — agreed the conference was deeply valuable and recommended it to future students interested in agricultural research, leadership and collaboration.

Through participation in these national and international conferences, Lincoln University continues to demonstrate its commitment to impactful research, professional development and student success. By supporting students and recent graduates as they share their work, build professional networks and earn recognition, the university is strengthening its presence within the broader agricultural community and expanding its influence well beyond campus.