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Lubbock, TX
Sandeep Kumar, a nationally recognized soil scientist whose research and federal leadership have influenced agricultural research priorities in the United States, has been appointed chair of the Department of Plant & Soil Science at Texas Tech University. He will begin his new role on Sept. 1.
Kumar joins Texas Tech after serving as a national program leader with the Institute of Bioenergy, Climate & Environment at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). In that position, he guided federal research investments focused on soil health, lowering agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and developing farming systems better equipped to withstand environmental challenges.
His move to Texas Tech marks a return to higher education and provides an opportunity to strengthen collaborations across agricultural disciplines.
“I’m honored to join Texas Tech University and the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources,” Kumar said. “I look forward to working with our outstanding faculty, staff, students, alumni and stakeholders to build on the department’s strong foundation, expand interdisciplinary research and innovation, and prepare the next generation of leaders.”
Kumar’s research has focused extensively on the effects of conservation-oriented farming practices on soil and agricultural sustainability. His work has examined approaches such as no-till farming, cover cropping, integrating livestock into cropping systems and using more diverse crop rotations.
A significant part of his research has involved measuring how different agricultural management practices influence soil organic carbon, greenhouse gas emissions, water retention and water quality. The findings have contributed to a broader understanding of conservation practices and their potential to support sustainable agriculture across the country.
Kumar has also incorporated advanced technologies into soil research. Among them is X-ray computed tomography, an imaging technique that allows researchers to examine soil structures below the surface and study the movement of water, nutrients and contaminants through agricultural environments.
Originally from India, Kumar earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agriculture and soil science from Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University. He later received a doctorate in soils from the University of Missouri and completed a graduate certificate in Geographic Information Systems.
His work has earned recognition from leading organizations in the agricultural sciences. In 2025, Kumar was elected a Fellow of both the Soil Science Society of America and the American Society of Agronomy. His honors also include several USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Achievement Awards and the Gamma Sigma Delta Research Award from South Dakota State University.
At Texas Tech, Kumar is expected to build on the department’s existing strengths while expanding research collaboration and innovation in areas central to the future of agriculture.