Dr. Melissa Remley has joined the William H. Darr School of Agriculture faculty as an Assistant Professor in the Environmental Plant Science and Natural Resources Unit.  Originally from East Moline, IL, Melissa received a B.S. in Horticulture and an M.S. in Plant Science from MSU before earning a Ph.D. in 2010 from the University of Missouri in Plant, Insect, and Microbial Sciences.

Her research has focused on plant physiology and nutrition, including nutrient dynamics in stockpiled tall fescue.   As a Cotton Inc. Postdoctoral Fellow, she examined carbohydrate dynamics in early vigor of cotton seedlings.  Melissa most recently served as a Teaching Assistant Professor in the University of Missouri’s Division of Plant Sciences where she taught undergraduate courses such as Plant Structure and Function, Forage Crops, and Principles of Viticulture I and II.

Melissa will be teaching plant and soil science courses, such as Soils with Dr. Ben Fuqua this fall, Plant Science Lab, and Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition.  She will also further her plant mineral nutrition research program here in both forages and horticultural crops.“I’m thrilled to be back at MSU.  It’s an exciting time to join the School of Agriculture and I look forward to working with the amazing students and faculty here.”

“Even though I grew up in northern Illinois, I claim Missouri as my native state.  My parents are from Centralia, MO, I grew up visiting here, and most of my family still resides throughout the state.  I guess I love it because I haven’t left since I moved here for school!”