-Magdalen Lindeberg
Several awards are given out within the School of Integrative Plant Science at the end of each fall semester.  Among these are the MacDonald and Musgrave Awards, representing the desire of two crop science faculty members, Dr. Robert Musgrave and Dr. Harry MacDonald, to recognize outstanding accomplishments with the Section of Soil and Crop Sciences, at the time known as the Department of Agronomy. The awards were presented by SCS Chair, Toni DiTommaso on December 8.

Tim Setter is this year’s recipient of the faculty McDonald-Musgrave Award for exceptional service to the Department/Section of Soil and Crop Sciences. In his 40 years of service Tim made many significant research contributions, taught important courses in the disciple, served as Director of Graduate Studies for the Field, and mentored many undergraduate and graduate students. Of particular note, Tim served as Chair of Soil & Crop Sciences from 2012 to 2018 as the department was merged into the new School of Integrative Plant Science. In the words of a nominator, “Tim very capably supported our unit through this transition and adjusted well to the new organizational structure.”

Chris Pelzer is this year’s recipient of the staff McDonald-Musgrave Award. Chris serves as lab manager in Matt Ryan’s program where he is involved with virtually all aspects of lab activities. He provides outstanding support to undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, and visiting scientists, is generous with his time, and routinely assists other research programs. In 2022, Chris took over teaching PLSCS 2940 Introduction to Agricultural Machinery, and more generally serves as a valued mentor, teaching students important skills related to experimental design and equipment operation.

Sophie Westbrook is this year’s recipient of the MacDonald-Musgrave Outstanding Graduate Student Award. Sophie was cited for her ” incredible work ethic, generosity, breadth and depth of knowledge in various fields of study, and her sheer productivity during her time as a graduate student in the DiTommaso program”. Among her many accomplishments, Sophie has mentored numerous undergraduates, authored 23 peer-reviewed publications, and taken on leadership roles in the graduate student community.

Also at the event, Johannes Lehmann was recognized for his 2023 election to the National Academy of Sciences. Lehmann is Liberty Hyde Bailey Professor in the Soil & Crop Sciences Section, and Professor of Global Development. His research and teaching focuses on soil biogeochemistry and soil fertility management, specializing in soil organic matter and nutrient studies of managed and natural ecosystems.