The interdepartmental graduate program in Integrated Plant and Soil Sciences offers graduate work leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees with specialization in Crop Science, Horticultural Science, Forest Science, Plant Biology, and Soil Science. Our faculty belong to the Departments of Forestry, Horticulture, and Plant and Soil Sciences in the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment. IPSS builds strength in the current graduate M.S. and Ph.D. research areas of Crop Science, Horticulture, Forest Science, Plant Biology, and Soil Science. The integrated program provides a unique opportunity to cultivate and exploit the benefits of an interdisciplinary approach to graduate education and research. The IPSS program provides a dynamic environment that can evolve interdisciplinary credentials, programs, and projects tailored to suit the needs of current and future graduate students in the plant and soil science disciplines, and develop options responsive to developing scientific trends in agricultural science.
With over 80 participants in three departments, the graduate faculty in IPSS program routinely produces over 130 books, journal articles, and other types of publications on an annual basis. This research and teaching activity is fueled by extramural grants that have averaged more than $5 million over the past 5 years.
Our diversity lets us span the range of agricultural research from cellular molecular biology and nanoparticles to landscape scale watershed hydrology to ecosystem modeling on a regional and global scale. Our scientists grow the grapes and the grain and study the products in the bottles and the barrels. Whether cells, crops, forests, rangeland, or soils, our faculty and graduate students are involved in a vast array of laboratory and field-based research projects that address such topics as: Biofuels, Biotechnology, Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling, Cell Wall Synthesis, Crop Management, Crop Physiology, Developmental Biology, Ecosystems Modeling, Enzymology, Genetics and Genetic Regulatory Mechanisms, Forest, Range, and Wildland Soils, Grassland Ecology, Hemp Production, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Plant Natural Products, Plant Physiology, Plant Production and Quality, Rhizosphere Science, Seed and Fruit Biology, Soil Biogeochemistry, Soil and Environmental Chemistry, Soil and Water Environmental Quality, Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition, Soil Genesis and Classification, Soil Management and Conservation, Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry, Soil Mineralogy, Soil Physics, Spatial Analysis and Precision Resource Management, Sustainable/Organic Production Practices, Tobacco Science, Turfgrass Science, Weed Science, Wheat Science.
Our latest research in the news includes:
Our faculty excels in Teaching (two Great Teacher Awards from the UK Alumni Association in the past four years – John Grove and Mark Coyne), Extension (Service to American/World Agriculture from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents – Lloyd Murdock), and Research:
With over 60 M.S. and Ph.D. graduate students, we have great diversity domestically and internationally. Domestic students come from Virginia to California; international students from China to Venezuela. Students come straight out of a Bachelor’s program, after years in the work force, or as part of continuing education programs at the University of Kentucky. Each graduate student identifies a specific research mentor to work on a thesis or dissertation project and each student works with a graduate committee to prepare an individualized program of academic study that will best prepare them to succeed in their project and in their career aspirations.
The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
Applicants must meet the Graduate School admission requirements.
To better understand the interests and areas of study available within the Integrated Plant and Soil Sciences Department, browse these recent dissertations and theses from our graduates:
Optical Seed Sorter-Based Selection Lowers Deoxynivalenol Accumulation in Soft Red Winter Wheat
William Jesse Carmack. 2021
Incorporation of Summer Annual Mixtures in Grazing Systems in Kentucky
Kelly Marie Mercier. 2021
The Balancing Act of Cytokinin in Enviornmental Stress Tolerance
Sumudu Sandeepani Karunadasa. 2020
The Integrated Plant and Soil Science Graduate Student Association: The University of Kentucky IPSS GSA is to welcome new graduate students into the program as well as sponsor professional and social events for all graduate students in the IPSS program. All graduate students in the IPSS graduate program are automatic members in this organization. The IPSS GSA meets once a month during the school year.
Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food & Environment
Department of Plant & Soil Sciences
105 Plant Science Building
Lexington, KY 40546-0312
859-218-0709