The University of Rhode Island’s Metcalf Institute, Michigan State University’s Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, and the URI Science and Story Lab are excited to introduce the third and final cohort of SciComm Identities Project Fellows!
Out of a competitive applicant pool, fourteen Fellows were selected to participate in the third cohort of this innovative science communication fellowship for pre-tenure faculty of color. The 2025 Fellowship will focus on the intersection of climate change and food-related issues, including food insecurity, agriculture, and aquaculture. While Fellows bring a diverse range of cultural and disciplinary backgrounds, they all share a strong history of personal commitment to science communication and inclusive community engagement. The Fellows bring a range of experiences that can strengthen their science communication practices, such as being immigrants, first-generation Americans, and/or the first in their family to attend college.
“My work focuses on climate change, water scarcity, and sustainable farming, areas where the stakes are high and the audiences – farmers, policymakers, and communities — need clear, actionable insights,” says 2025 SCIP Fellow Gaurav Jha, Assistant Professor at Kansas State University. Dr. Jha collaborates with diverse communities, including the Navajo Nation and Punjabi American growers, facing similar climate and water scarcity issues that may be combated with cutting-edge research and technology. “My goal is simple – to empower farmers with the tools and practices they need, turning data into meaningful insights and guiding informed decisions that help them thrive in the face of climate change. This training will help me make science more accessible and help my team and the communities we serve gain the most from our research, ultimately creating real, positive change.”
Dr. Igwe is an Assistant Professor in Biological Sciences at Virginia Tech, studying how microbes adapt to soils and promote plant growth under normal, heavy metal, and salt stress (www.igwelab.com). She earned a Ph.D. in microbiology from UC Davis, an M.S. in soil science from Texas A&M, and a B.S. in biology from Howard University. With experience as a science communicator and success coach, Dr. Igwe is committed to creating inclusive environments where students can explore and grow. Her research aims to restore degraded urban lands using insights from microbial communities in natural ecosystems.
Dr. Avneet Hira is an Assistant Professor and Sabet Family Dean’s Faculty Fellow in the Department of Engineering with a courtesy appointment in the Department of Teaching, Curriculum and Society at Boston College. She is also an affiliate faculty of the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society. Her research is in the field of engineering education with a focus on educational technologies, humanistic design methods, and K-12 STEM education. She specializes in community-based participatory design methods and working in informal educational environments with youth and families, for which she was awarded an NSF CAREER award in 2023. Her current projects include promoting belonging and reducing harm to people and the environment in technology-rich P-12 settings, restorative AI-enhanced farming, informal education and community co-design for climate adaptation, developing Maker literacies in early childhood, and co-designing transdisciplinary STEM pedagogies with teachers. She is also a founding faculty member of the Human-Centered Engineering B.S. program at Boston College.
Dr. Deepak Joshi
Dr. Deepak Joshi is an Assistant Professor and Precision Agriculture Extension Specialist at Kansas State University. His primary research interests focus on integrating multidisciplinary knowledge of modern sensors (ground-based, drone, or satellite), precision agriculture, soil health, greenhouse gas emissions, and agronomy with cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology to enhance farmers’ decision support systems. His main research goal is to improve and sustain the production capacity, profitability, and sustainability of diverse cropping systems.
Dr. Díaz-Almeyda is an Assistant Professor of Biology at California State University, San Marcos. She investigates how climate change and rising sea temperatures affect symbiosis, and how anthropogenic stressors impact microbial diversity. As part of her research, she investigates how environmentally friendly agroecological systems impact soil microbial diversity and function. Her work emphasizes traditional ecological practices, integrating local stakeholder perspectives, and collaborating with local communities to address the complexities of coastal ecosystems. She holds a B.S. in Biology and an MS. In Marine Biology from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. She completed her Ph.D. in Biology at The Pennsylvania State University. She was an NIH-FIRST fellow at Emory University.
Dr. Gaurav Jha is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agronomy at Kansas State University, specializing in digital agriculture, climate resilience, and precision water management. His lab, the Digital Agronomy Research Team (DART), focuses on developing AI-driven precision irrigation technologies to optimize water use, addressing challenges like Ogallala Aquifer depletion and drought. Dr. Jha collaborates with diverse communities, including the Navajo Nation and Punjabi American growers, applying sensor and mapping technologies for sustainable farming. His research emphasizes the soil-water-energy nexus, advancing climate-smart agriculture through innovative, data-driven strategies.
Dr. Hisham Abdelrahman is an Assistant Professor of Marine Biology and Aquaculture Extension Specialist at Roger Williams University, with a joint appointment at Cairo University. His research focuses on sustainable aquaculture, aquatic physiology, water quality, and fisheries conservation. Dr. Abdelrahman holds a Ph.D. in Fisheries and Aquaculture and has published over 51 peer-reviewed articles. He actively mentors students in aquaculture science and contributes to regional initiatives, serving on Rhode Island’s Coastal Resources Management Council Biosecurity Board. His work strengthens educational and research collaboration between RWU and Cairo University, advancing sustainable aquaculture practices globally.
Dr. Mutunga is an Assistant Professor in the School of Science, Engineering and Technology, at Penn State Harrisburg. In addition to teaching courses in Biology, his research in arthropod biology utilizes tools in field ecology, molecular biology and biochemistry to understand how pests and vectors (bugs) affect the health of animals, plants, humans and the environment, under changing climate scenarios. The research focus is on understanding insecticide resistance, resistance-breaking and pathogen transmission-blocking chemistries. Dr. Mutunga teaches courses in ecology at the Biology Program, and supports student engagement in research and outreach. He works with communities to achieve sustained impact of his research.
Dr. Janani Hariharan (she/they) is a Richard and Yvonne P. Smith Postdoctoral-to-Tenure Track Fellow in Biology at Bucknell University. Her research connects multiple disciplines to investigate how environmental stress impacts microbial communities, and explore the consequences for pressing biological and social challenges. Dr. Hariharan is dedicated to fostering an inclusive STEM culture and promoting equity through teaching, research, and science outreach. She holds degrees from Anna University, The Ohio State University, and Cornell University, and has received multiple awards for her teaching and service contributions.
Dr. Kushal Adhikari is an Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA. He holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Texas Tech University, with a focus on water resources and environmental engineering. His teaching and research center on integrating sustainability into engineering practices to build resilient, sustainable communities. His doctoral work led to the development of a Pond-in-Pond (PIP) system to support crop irrigation using recycled wastewater, contributing to both food and water security. Dr. Adhikari continues to lead interdisciplinary projects advancing sustainability in the food-water nexus.
Leslie Holland is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, specializing in fruit crop pathology. Her research focuses on understanding the biology, epidemiology, and management of pathogens affecting Wisconsin’s fruit crops, including cranberries, apples, grapes, and strawberries. Leslie works closely with growers to develop sustainable, integrated disease management strategies that enhance productivity and minimize environmental impact. Through field trials and molecular diagnostics, her program delivers science-based solutions to emerging disease challenges. Her extension efforts provide practical tools and education to support the long-term success of fruit producers.
Dr. Lonnie Hobbs, Jr., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University. Originally from Clarksville, TX, Lonnie has a diverse background in teaching, research, and community involvement. He serves as the primary instructor for the Commodity Futures course (AGEC 420) and Food and Agribusiness Marketing course (AGEC 515). In his research, Lonnie specializes in agribusiness, marketing, pet food economics, teaching and learning, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). His research specifically focuses on analyzing current marketing strategies, customer behavior, and product demand in the food and agriculture industry, and particularly the pet food sector.
Dr. Malena Orduña Alegría (they/she) is a dedicated engineer and researcher from Mexico, currently completing a postdoc in the Kansas Geological Survey, where they investigate the interactions between water resources and agricultural practices through data analysis and environmental modeling. In January 2025, they will join Oregon State University, as assistant professor in the Department of Biological and Ecological Engineering, continuing to advance research at the intersection of water resources, agriculture, and sustainability. With international experience in the US, Germany, New Zealand, and Mexico, Malena collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to develop innovative models and serious games that promote sustainable agricultural and water management practices.
Dr. Roger Figueroa is the Director and Founder of the Figueroa Interdisciplinary Group (FIG) Lab, and Assistant Professor in Social and Behavioral Science in Nutrition in the Division of Nutritional Sciences (DNS), College of Human Ecology at Cornell University. In the FIG Lab, the research team designs testable conceptual frameworks, measures, and multi-faceted research studies to understand how policy, systems, and environmental factors influence diet- and health-related outcomes. Dr. Figueroa is a transdisciplinary scientist with expertise in public health, nutrition, implementation, participatory, and team science. Currently, Dr. Figueroa’s research examines the role of social services and policies (such as childcare, and food assistance), as well as sustainable food systems on the prevention of diet-related chronic diseases in low-income and minoritized communities. To date, Dr. Figueroa has developed a comprehensive skill foundation in research methods, including training in a broad range of quantitative (i.e., advanced linear modeling, structural equation modeling, psychometrics), qualitative methods (i.e., grounded theory, ethnography, qualitative GIS), and mixed method research. Dr. Figueroa has received training and research funding support from the USDA, NIH, and from other institutional-level grant programs.
Dr. Ruchika Kashyap is an Assistant Professor of Urban and Controlled Environment Pathology in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Georgia. She investigates plant disease challenges, focusing on fungal and oomycete pathogens in indoor and urban production systems. Her research utilizes tailored strategies informed by needs assessments and stakeholder collaborations. Dr. Kashyap aims to develop sustainable plant disease management solutions that benefit producers and connect farm and fork through effective science communication. Additionally, she leads an extension program designed to foster a two-way learning process that translates research into practical solutions for the agricultural community.