Yeutter Institute provides opportunity after canceled internships
The COVID-19 pandemic paused many student internships, but the Clayton Yeutter Institute of International Trade and Finance at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln refused to let the pandemic disrupt student learning opportunities. Before the pandemic arose, five Husker student interns were set to work as a team for a leading global food and agriculture company through a partnership arranged by the Yeutter Institute. The pandemic interrupted the project they were to work on, but the institute remained dedicated to providing hands-on learning experiences for the interns.
Buffett Institute awards fellowships to two Nebraska doctoral students
The Buffett Early Childhood Institute has awarded one-year grants to two Nebraska doctoral students through a pioneering fellowship program. The two students are Keting Chen and Erin Hamel, both human sciences students in the Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies. Keting, of Shanghai, China is exploring how the home numeracy environments and child care numeracy environments are associated with preschool-age children’s numeracy skills. Hamel, of Athens, Georgia, will investigate the workplace support of planning/non-contact time, a widely overlooked facet of early childhood teachers’ workday.
Nebraska climbs in U.S. News rankings, peer assessment increases
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln continued to build positive momentum in the annual U.S. News and World Report rankings, building on strengths in national reputation, value, veteran supports and academics. The 2021 rankings place Nebraska in the top third nationally in comparisons of all public universities. Among public universities, Nebraska is No. 62, an advancement of two positions from a year ago. Nebraska is also the only Big Ten institution to show improvement in the peer assessment score in back-to-back years.
Nebraska team wins grant to advance irrigation in six African nations
An interdisciplinary University of Nebraska team led by the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute has received a three-year, $1 million grant from the International Fund for Agricultural Development to advance access and education around smallholder farmer irrigation in Africa. The grant, partially matched and co-funded by the Daugherty Institute, will focus on work in six countries: Rwanda, Ethiopia, Burundi, Senegal, Niger and the Gambia. Collaborating closely with local partners, the team will explore whether identified business models for providing irrigation to smallholder farmers are inclusive and sustainable within their existing markets.
Jarquin receives Early Career Scientist Award
Diego Jarquin, research assistant professor of agronomy and horticulture at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, has earned the 2020 National Association of Plant Breeders Early Career Scientist Award. This award recognizes a scientist in the early stages of their plant-breeding career who exhibits the ability to establish strong research foundations, interact with multidisciplinary teams and participate in relevant professional societies. Jarquin, originally from Mexico, merges statistical methodology, quantitative genetics, computer algorithm development, data science and collaborative work with plant sciences.
$5M gift creates program on water, climate and health
The University of Nebraska will receive a $5 million gift to create a multi-institution program aimed at addressing some of Nebraska’s most pressing public health issues associated with water and climate. The gift from Dr. Anne Hubbard will establish the Water, Climate and Health program in the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Public Health, and will bring together experts from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute to conduct research and disseminate information on environmental issues related to water, climate and health.
Desai works to empower student growth through educational upliftment
Pankaj Desai has always wanted to contribute to communities through educational upliftment. Originally from India, he received his master’s degree in North Carolina and is now a doctoral candidate and a residence director at Nebraska. Thanks to his dedication to empowering student learning and education, Desai has become a steadfast advocate for students in the midst of turbulence from a global pandemic.
Undergrad to lead research collaboration with Oxford archive
Hastings native Andrew Malesker’s leadership skills and passion for classics earned him a position leading a student research team this fall. The team merged modern technology with classical language as they write and create a multimedia interactive e-book on “Antigone” in conjunction with Oxford University’s Archive of Performances of Greek and Roman Drama.
30 Huskers earn Gilman scholarship for education abroad
Thirty University of Nebraska–Lincoln undergraduates have earned the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to support credit-bearing study abroad, internship abroad or virtual international opportunities between spring 2021 and Dec. 31, 2021. The Gilman is a nationally competitive scholarship awarded twice a year by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by the Institute of International Education. Between the October 2019 and March 2020 cycles, 47 Nebraska students were awarded, surpassing Nebraska’s previous record of 34 recipients in 2017-18.
Nebraska stands up for its international students
International students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln continue to be supported despite challenges brought on by the coronavirus. More than 3,000 international students and scholars study and research at UNL, according to Nebraska Today, but when classes adapted to be remote in March due to the coronavirus, some students were unable to return to their home country. In response, UNL allowed international students to continue to live on campus and created an International Committee as a subcommittee of UNL’s COVID-19 Task Force to provide additional support.