The Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station is recognizing four outstanding faculty and staff members with the prestigious Early Career Recognition of Professional Excellence Awards, or RoPE.

This award celebrates individuals who have demonstrated exceptional performance in the experiment station's mission and goals.

"These four recipients exemplify the dedication, innovation and excellence that the RoPE Awards aim to honor," said Jean-François Meullenet, senior associate vice president for agriculture-research and director of the experiment station. "Their contributions are invaluable to the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and the broader research community."

To be eligible, nominees must be full-time employees who have completed at least two years and no more than seven years of service at the experiment station, the research arm of the U of A System Division of Agriculture.

Ryan Dickson

Dickson earned the research faculty RoPE Award, highlighting his early career scientific productivity.

Dickson has worked as an assistant professor of greenhouse and controlled environment agriculture in the Horticulture Department since October 2018.

In his research, he prioritizes soilless substrates and nutrient management in soilless and container production systems. In addition, Dickson focuses on developing and testing new dwarf plant varieties in greenhouses and fully indoor vertical environments for small fruit and vegetable production.

Dickson's colleagues commended him for demonstrating excellence in his research involving blackberries, hydroponics and controlled-environment agriculture. His innovative work has earned him a reputation as a forward-thinking scientist.

"Ryan's program is innovative and critical in the effort to provide new and novel cropping systems for the Arkansas fruit and vegetable protected culture industries," said Wayne A. Mackay, professor and recently retired Horticulture Department head.  

Dickson teaches within the ACCEPtS program, an online curriculum exchange for which he developed and taught two new courses: Greenhouse Management and Operations and Hydroponic and Soilless Food Crops.

"Dr. Dickson not only has made great achievements in his research projects but also excels as a compassionate and approachable teacher, both inside and outside of the classroom," said Ainong Shi, associate professor and vegetable breeder in the Horticulture Department.

Dickson's colleagues also praised his work ethic and ability to stay ahead of industry trends.

"Dr. Dickson works tirelessly on his diverse research activities and is addressing pressing problems for the small-fruit industry and hydroponic growers," Margaret Worthington, associate professor of fruit breeding, said.

Jiamei Li 

Li, a program associate in the Entomology and Plant Pathology Department, is being recognized for her work supporting experiment station research.

Li began her career with the experiment station as a program technician in 2017, shortly after completing her Ph.D., and has since taken on new responsibilities and impressed her supervisors and colleagues with her work ethic and collegial attitude.

According to Fiona Goggin, professor in the Entomology and Plant Pathology Department, Li's work ethic and dedication show in her day-to-day interactions, guiding other staff and students in the lab to being the first to respond to lab emergencies.

"Because of Dr. Li's diligence, dedication and cool head in times of emergency, we were able to save irreplaceable insect cultures that are essential to our research, as well as valuable samples and thousands of dollars' worth of reagents," Goggin said. "Everyone who works with Jiamei knows that she goes above and beyond to help them, and this, in turn, cultivates a spirit of cooperation in our laboratory and beyond."

Li has managed the Arkansas Bioimaging Facility for Agricultural Research for the last two years. She also plays a key role in the Plant-Herbivore Interactions Laboratory, where she tracks chemical safety and compliance. Li is responsible for managing a 280-square-foot greenhouse and multiple growth chambers. 

"Jiamei's professional approach and knowledgeable performance are why she is well-liked and respected by her colleagues. Jiamei has been an outstanding mentor and role model for student researchers. She is an excellent ambassador for ENPL and the Division of Agriculture in working with researchers from outside departments," said Ken Korth, professor and head of the Entomology and Plant Pathology Department. "She consistently goes above and beyond her stated duties and has made broader impacts on the research portfolio of UADA and its programs."

In addition to her duties as a program associate, Li conducts her own experiments and contributes to research publications.

Nathaniel Moss

Moss, a program technician at the Livestock and Forestry Research Station in Batesville, also received a staff research support RoPE award.

For the last three years since joining the experiment station, Moss's main responsibilities have been managing a beef cattle herd, including 372 breeding females, 231 nursing calves and 17 bulls, grazing approximately 850 acres.

During this time, Moss has managed cattle in estrous synchronization studies, a melatonin supplementation study, a mineral study and a heifer development study.

In his recommendation letter, Shane Gadberry, director of the Livestock and Forestry Research Station, commended Moss for his initiative and leadership in tracking cattle records, herbicide and fertilizer applications and hay feeding, as well as his successful rotational grazing efforts, ensuring the sustainability of the cattle herd.

"I can summarize Nate's attitude as 'keep calm and carry on,'" Gadberry said. "Sometimes the work plan is ever evolving with research as one adjusts around what isn't working as planned. I've never heard Nate voice any frustration when things aren't going as expected."

Moss' work ethic is also evident to those working alongside him.

"It was obvious that Nate was a serious and thoughtful person from the beginning; however, that was literally just the beginning," said Travis Glaze, research field technician. "My respect and admiration for this young man's potential has grown exponentially in the months that followed.

"The care and attention he shows toward the livestock in his care denotes an empathy and devotion that exemplifies what animal husbandry should always be about. I believe this is due to his strength of character; his priorities are clear, and his commitment speaks volumes."

In addition to his main job responsibilities, Moss speaks to producers and youth tour groups that visit the Livestock and Forestry Research Station. He also presents station work at professional and producer meetings. Moss is studying to get a master's degree in animal science.

Tina Poseno

Poseno, the Division of Agriculture Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee coordinator, received a RoPE Award for her work in the business and administrative support category.

Poseno has been the IACUC coordinator since 2019. Her supervisors say her excellent communication skills and professional attitude have been key to her success.

Her primary role is to support the committee, faculty and staff in upholding strict compliance with all applicable regulations.

"Tina has worked effectively and tirelessly toward helping all animal research personnel to become compliant and has found ways to help them get it done," said Billy Hargis, Distinguished Professor, director of the John Kirkpatrick Skeeles Poultry Health Laboratory and the Tyson Endowed Chair for Sustainable Poultry Health. "I have worked with or within IACUC committees for 35 years at two institutions, and I have never seen this run more smoothly."

Nathan McKinney, recently retired associate vice president of agriculture and assistant director of the experiment station, said Poseno essentially built a highly functioning committee from scratch.

"It has been my unique pleasure to observe Tina's work habits, skillset and personal interactions with others in the workplace," McKinney said.

In his recommendation letter, McKinney said Poseno currently manages over 180 protocols and, over the years, she has reviewed over 500 modifications to existing protocols, more than 300 reviews of new protocol submissions and over 750 new and annual protocol reviews.

In addition to exceeding expectations at her work duties, McKinney said Poseno voluntarily created a training module for poultry research that has now been adopted by the Division of Agriculture IACUC as a required training module. Poseno became a Certified Practicing IACUC Administrator in 2020 and obtained her Veterinary Technician license for Arkansas in March 2023. She is also a Registered Laboratory Animal Technologist with the American Association of Laboratory Science. 

Hargis said Poseno now gives lectures in Animal Science and Poultry Science introductory classes on welfare and Ag-IACUC compliance. The classes are for students working with animals.

"My hat is off to this dedicated and effective woman," Hargis said.

To learn more about the Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website. Follow us on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. Follow us on X at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.

About the Division of Agriculture: The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation's historic land grant education system. The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.