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In this episode of the Deep Roots Podcast, host, Vikram Baliga, PH.D., sits down with Lance Nicholas, a senior agricultural education student at Texas Tech University, to talk about his journey as a student leader, undergraduate researcher, and future educator. Hailing from the small town of Brookshire, Texas, Lance shares how saying yes to new opportunities has transformed his college experience and shaped his passion for agricultural education.

Lance reflects on his involvement across campus, from serving as president of Agricultural Educators of Tomorrow and recruiting future students as an Agri-Techsan to mentoring peers through the Tech Leadership Institute. These experiences helped him develop as both a leader and educator while reinforcing the importance of curiosity, service and personal growth.

A major focus of this episode is Lance’s undergraduate research, where he completed two projects. His first examined the relationship between school administrators and agricultural educators in districts experiencing high teacher turnover, seeking ways to strengthen communication and improve teacher retention. Through interviews with school leaders, Lance gained firsthand insight into the challenges facing agricultural education and the value of collaborative leadership. His second project explored media framing of Texas’s school choice legislation and its implications for rural education, broadening his understanding of research methods and public policy.

Throughout the discussion, Lance emphasizes how undergraduate research has prepared him for a career in education by developing critical thinking, communication and problem-solving skills. He also shares the challenges of conducting qualitative research, including building trust with participants and learning how thoughtful communication can open doors to meaningful conversations.

Looking ahead, Lance discusses his acceptance into the agricultural education graduate program at Texas Tech, where he plans to continue researching teacher recruitment and retention. He hopes to mentor future students while expanding his own research interests under the guidance of faculty mentors.

Let us know your thoughts on Lance’s research, reach out to him for more information, and be sure to subscribe to Deep Roots!

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In this episode of the Deep Roots Podcast, host, Vikram Baliga, Ph.D., sits down with Syed Badruddoza, Ph.D. and Modhurima Amin, Ph.D., from the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics to explore how economics, artificial intelligence, and data-driven decision making are shaping the future of agriculture.

This episode highlights the growing role of decision intelligence in agriculture and how researchers are helping producers, industry leaders, and policymakers navigate an increasingly complex global marketplace. Badruddoza and Amin discuss their work developing AI-powered forecasting tools designed to better understand U.S. meat exports and predict how agricultural markets respond to disruptions such as disease outbreaks, trade policy changes, food safety incidents, and supply chain challenges.

Listeners will gain insight into the real-world impacts of agricultural economics, from supporting rural communities and strengthening food systems to helping industries become more resilient in the face of uncertainty. The episode also explores how trade disruptions can influence food prices, consumer confidence, employment, and market stability.

Badruddoza and Amin share how collaboration with industry partners, organizations such as the Texas Cattle Feeders Association and Texas Sorghum Association, and interdisciplinary teams strengthens their work and ensures their research addresses practical challenges facing producers and agricultural stakeholders.

Looking ahead, Badruddoza and Amin discuss their vision for creating long-term decision-support systems that provide earlier warning signals, clearer risk assessments, and more accurate market forecasts. Their goal is to help agriculture move from a reactive approach to a proactive one, using precision intelligence to identify opportunities, anticipate disruptions, and support informed decision making.

Let us know your thoughts on Dr. Badruddoza and Dr. Amin’s research, reach out to them for more information, and be sure to subscribe to Deep Roots!

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Our second guest on the Deep Roots Podcast is Catherine Simpson, Ph.D. Simpson is an Associate Professor of Urban Horticulture and Sustainability. Simpson’s research is driven by a strong sense of curiosity and fascination with plants, as well as her love for the environment which has guided her research throughout her career.

She has conducted impactful research with the National Science Foundation’s Engineering Research Center (ERC) on the Transformation of American Rubber through Domestic Innovation for Supply Security (TARDISS). Her work focuses on evaluating guayule lines for the High Plains and advancing domestic alternatives for natural latex and rubber.

During this episode, she explains the importance of natural latex and rubber, and how it makes an impact in our everyday lives. Simpson’s research passions also lie within biofortification, which consists of external applications of vitamins, such as increasing vitamin C in vegetables like lettuce.

Simpson credits her students as a source of motivation. Their fresh perspectives, passion, and curiosity continue to inspire her and have even led her to explore new research directions she may not have pursued independently. Collaboration is also a vital part of her research, as meaningful feedback, ideas, and connections across the department, college, and university are all parts of great research.

To wrap up the episode, Simpson discusses her challenges, which are often looked at as opportunities to expand as a researcher, as well as the biggest takeaway she hopes individuals will learn from her research.

Let us know your thoughts on Dr. Simpson’s research, reach out to her for more information, and be sure to subscribe to Deep Roots!

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Our first guest on the Deep Roots Podcast is Jhones Sarturi, Ph.D. Sarturi comes from a diverse background, a veterinarian with additional degrees in agronomy and animal science. When he joined Texas Tech University in 2019, he stepped into a newly created position that allowed him
to build courses and develop research programs. Today, he also serves as a Faculty Fellow in the Office of International Affairs, splitting his time as an Associate Professor in the Department of
Animal and Food Sciences in Beef Cattle Nutrition & Metabolism.

In this episode, we sit down with Sarturi to talk about his research focus, challenges, and the unanswered questions that motivate him to get out of bed before his alarm clock goes off.The heart of Sarturi’s research is digestive physiology, seeking ultimately to understand how animals metabolize and utilize nutrients. While much of his early work focused on beef cattle, his research now spans much broader applications. As Sarturi strives to blend both basic and applied science, researching not just what happens inside an animal’s digestive system, but how
it happens is important. By understanding these pathways, researchers can develop strategies to help animals use nutrients more efficiently. This can lead to improved productivity, reduced resource use, and greater sustainability, especially in challenging environments such as semi-arid regions.

Collaboration plays a vital role in his research. From partnerships with other universities to direct engagement with producers and agricultural associations, he emphasizes that meaningful research begins with meaningful questions. Often, those questions come directly from the
community. He reminds us that good research doesn’t just provide answers; it generates better questions.

Sarturi hopes listeners can takeaway one key message, and that is to ask yourself, “Are we making somebody’s life better and are we doing our best to make that a reality?” Sarturi emphasizes applying that to any job, especially in research. Looking ahead, his vision centers on contributing to large-scale, team-based solutions, particularly those addressing sustainability, water use, and global food production.

Let us know your thoughts on Dr. Sarturi’s research, reach out to him for more information, and be sure to subscribe to Deep Roots!

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Welcome to the first official episode of the Deep Roots Podcast! In this debut episode, we introduce the visionary leadership behind Davis College by sitting down with the college’s deans to discuss the purpose, passion, and direction that guide the work and research happening at Davis College. As the driving forces, the deans share insight into their leadership philosophies, their values, and the priorities that influence the continued growth and success.

A common theme for this episode’s conversation is PRIME. The deans reflect on what PRIME means to them personally and professionally, explaining how it informs decision-making, strengthens academic programs, and supports a culture of innovation. They discuss how PRIME is much more than a word, serving as a daily standard that inspires faculty, staff, and students to pursue meaningful impact.

We are excited to launch the Deep Roots Podcast, and hope you enjoy the conversation that highlights initiatives that define Davis College and its ongoing In Pursuit of PRIME.

Learn more about the Texas Tech Davis College and our Pursuit of Prime at our links below, and follow us on social media for more information, updates, and fun!

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