Horticulture Innovators

Special Feature: Dr. Heath Mills and Dr. Laura E. Fackrell - Horticulture Goes to Space

Dr. Heath Mills (Co-I): Dr. Heath J. Mills is an extreme environment microbial ecologist with academic degrees from Duke University and the Georgia Institute of Technology and has held two faculty positions at Texas A&M University and the University of Houston. As the current Chief Scientific Officer for Rhodium Scientific, he leads initiatives to expand terrestrial and space research capacities into the advanced commercial biotechnology sector. Dr. Mills has been Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator on over 20 International Space Station science and engineering missions. Recently, Mills is on the Advisory Board for GEN-Space, Schull Institute, and was appointed to the ISS National Laboratory User Advisory Committee as the Chair of the Technology Development Subcommittee. Dr. Laura E. Fackrell (PI): Dr. Laura E. Fackrell is the Astrobotany and Agritech Department Lead at Rhodium Scientific. Dr. Fackrell is a geochemist and geomicrobiologist specializing in space biology and astrobiology applications. Her current research focuses on advancing sustainable agriculture and related biotechnologies for both Earth and space. Dr. Fackrell has more than seven years of research experience in space agriculture and has led multiple publications in regolith simulant development and best practices for regolith-based agriculture research. She has designed several regolith simulants for agricultural research. As a postdoctoral fellow at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, Dr. Fackrell led publications on designing applications for agriculture, waste processing, and recovery, and analyzing related microbiomes for closed off-world systems Rhodium Scientific: https://www.rhodiumscientific.com/

S4: Episode 4: Shane Moore - Follow the Crush, A Winemaker's Journey

A native of Orofino, Idaho, Shane had an early interest in wine and agriculture which led him to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Enology and Viticulture from Washington State University. Throughout his college years Shane worked in various winery cellars and upon graduation he decided to take his passion abroad. Shane spent three years gaining international winemaking experience in Canada, Western Australia and Israel’s Golan Heights. Shane met his wife while working in Australia’s Margaret River and in 2011 the pair made their way to her native Sonoma County. At that time, Shane joined the Jackson Family Wines winemaking team as an enologist, where he focused on cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from some of the best vineyard sites in California.  Shane’s skill and passion was evident, and in 2013 he was offered the opportunity to move to Willamette Valley to build the winemaking program for the newly-established Gran Moraine winery. Since relocating and assuming his new role, Shane has worked hand-in-hand with General Manager Eugenia Keegan and Vineyard Director Ken Kupperman in both the winery and vineyard. Shane was named Winemaker at Gran Moraine in 2016.

S4: Episode 3: Andreea Botezatu - The Wine Doctor

Undergraduate Education: B.S., Oenology, University of Agronomy and Veterinary Sciences, Iasi, Romania Graduate Education: Ph.D., Oenology, Brock University, St. Catherine's, Canada M.S., Agricultural Management, University of Agronomy and Veterinary Sciences, Iasi, Romania Areas of Expertise: Enology Sensory Science Professional Summary: Dr. Botezatu received her honors bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, majoring in Oenology from the University of Agronomy and Veterinary Sciences ‘Ion Ionescu de la Brad’, Iasi, Romania in 2000 and her master’s degree in Agricultural Management from the same University in 2001. From 2000 until 2006, she worked as a commercial wine maker in Europe and Canada. She obtained her PhD in Oenology in 2013 from Brock University in St. Catharine’s, Ontario, Canada where she then held a postdoctoral position from 2013-2015. In 2017, Andreea joined the faculty of the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University, as Assistant Professor and Extension Enology Specialist. Her mission is to service the Texas winemaking industry through applied research as well as through developing educational opportunities for current and prospective winemakers. Dr. Botezatu’s previous work focused on wine aroma compounds and wine faults remediation, with a focus on methoxypyrazines and ladybug taint. Her approach was both from a chemical perspective as well as one from sensory evaluation. Currently, Andreea is directing her research towards solving wine quality issues associated with hot climate winemaking, such as low TA, high pH, wine color instability and microbiological instability. Her interest continues to focus on chemical as well as sensory aspect as they relate to wine quality. Texas wine consumer attitudes and sustainability in the wine industry are also areas of interest for Dr. Botezatu’s research. Visit the Texas Viticulture & Enology Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/TXViticulture Visit the Enology YouTube Channel - www.youtube.com/@UC5Oo5L0jMLR57IuUb0XmBxQ  Check out The Wine Lab Podcast - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2519422 All Publications View publications on Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=5IhZFcQAAAAJ&hl=en

S4: Episode 2: Aidan Souder & Hikari Skabelund - Future Innovators

Aidan Souder is currently a Senior majoring in Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University. Throughout his undergraduate studies, he has set out to explore a wide range of topics in horticulture. Some of his favorites include research in genetic engineering, courses in controlled environments, work in horticultural therapy, and internships related to the ornamental horticulture sector. Additionally, he is currently working with Dr. Amit Dhingra on an undergraduate research project in grape genetics. After an award-winning product development internship at Ball FloraPlant, Aidan has decided to pursue a master's degree in Horticultural Sciences with an emphasis on ornamental production. He is thankful for his time at A&M, which has allowed him to spend the past 4 years finding his passion in horticulture. Hikari Skabelund graduated with her bachelor’s in plant science at Utah State University. There she worked at the Crop Physiology Lab under the guidance of Dr. Bruce Bugbee and his graduate students where she assisted on projects including but not limited to far-red lighting and hydroponic systems. Hikari endeavored into a direct PhD program at Texas A&M university A&M University in 2023, under the amazing Dr. Shuyang Zhen. Here she mainly focuses on enhancing crop growth and stress tolerance under lunar regolith and other environmental conditions for sustainable food production in extraterrestrial systems. Outside of research Hikari serves as a Plant the Moon Challenge committee advisor and loves TAing for HORT 202 and floral design.

S4: Episode 1: Joe Masabni - Hydroponics will Advance Us

Dr. Masabni earned his PhD in 1998 at Michigan State University. He joined the University of Kentucky in 2002 as the fruit and vegetable specialist. In 2008, he joined the department of Horticultural Sciences as the Extension Vegetable Specialist. His service appointment extends to homeowners, beginning farmers, County Extension Agents, and Master Gardeners. He conducts research and demonstration trials to meet the needs of urban agriculture production in high tunnels or in hydroponics/aquaponics. He develops online and printed materials for vegetable organic and conventional producers and homeowners, he hosts workshops and conferences and assists county extension agents in serving Texas clienteles. Dr Masabni's YouTube Channel:  @VegetableDoctor [https://www.youtube.com/@VegetableDoctor]