Dr. Emily Heaton
Professor, Regenerative Agriculture
Director of I-Regen go.illinois.edu/irai
Feedstock Production Theme Lead, Dept. of Energy Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (www.cabbi.bio)
heaton6@illinois.edu S-308 Turner Hall
I am a Professor of Regenerative Agriculture in the Crop Sciences department at the University of Illinois. My research investigates the growth and productivity of perennial C4 grasses to guide their management for biomass, ecosystem services, and profit. As Feedstock Production Theme Leader for the Center of Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) I advance CABBI’s generation of fundamental plant science for production of climate-smart, resilient grass crops that produce value-added bioproducts. As director of I-Regen, an I-state Regenerative Agriculture Initiative, I connect researchers and stakeholders to advance knowledge and practices that foster health and wealth, particularly in disinvested Midwest communities. My family owns and operates Caveny Farm near Monticello, IL where we graze cattle, sheep, and heritage poultry for local sale; the farm serves as inspiration and proving ground for our ideas and collaborations. I came back to Illinois after twelve wonderful years at Iowa State University, where I remain an Affiliate Professor in the Dept. of Agronomy.
Shah – Al Emran, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
September 2021- Present
Linkedin (Shah-Al Emran | LinkedIn )
Hello! I am Shah-Al Emran, a researcher and educator dedicated to advancing sustainable agriculture and building resilient food systems in the face of climate change. My work combines cutting-edge research with practical applications to address real-world agricultural challenges.
I specialize in sustainable and climate resilient agriculture, integrating perennial biomass crops and utilizing data-driven tools such as remote sensing and machine learning to optimize both productivity and sustainability. My research focuses on smallholder systems in climate-vulnerable regions as well as commercial-scale innovations in the U.S. Midwest.
Teaching and mentorship are equally important to me. I am particularly interested in courses that explore sustainable agriculture, climate change adaptation, and agroecosystem resilience to inspire the next generation of leaders in sustainable farming. Whether in the classroom, laboratory, or field, I aim to connect knowledge with action.
Please explore my site to learn more about my research, publications, and teaching initiatives. Let’s collaborate to shape the future of agriculture!
Michael Masters
Field Research Specialist
January 2024 – Present
mmasters@illinois.edu S-306 Turner Hall
I joined CABBI and the Heaton lab in January 2024 to continue more than 15 years of research on bioenergy crop biogeochemistry. My interests delve primarily belowground and currently focus on questions pertaining to root growth, C allocation, and turnover. I have brought my diverse background in soil C dynamics and greenhouse gas fluxes into a more traditional agronomic focus, although primarily with Miscanthus x giganteus. We are interested in knowing what drives differences in aboveground productivity within a single genotype and have ongoing experiments across fields and states to address this. I have had the privilege of working at the University of Illinois Energy Farm since 2008 and have been a part of the collection and analysis of many long-term data sets generated there. I describe myself as a methods person, and I love to adapt well-used procedures with new technology to address interesting scientific questions for both lab and field applications. I enjoy the days spent away from my desk the most, either in the lab buried under countless soil samples or pulling cores with a Giddings probe!
Heather Roney
Ph.D. Student
2022- Present
Hello! I am PhD student working under Dr. Heaton to help better understand carbon pools and fluxes in agriculture, focusing on the perennial bioenergy crop Miscanthus x giganteus. My PhD project connects many areas of CABBI’s current research objectives, including quantification of farmgate emissions, spatial variation in biomass pools, and the connection of spatial variability to large-scale carbon sequestration of crop canopies. When completed, this work will help unify several running areas of investigation within CABBI and help enable future research in the department. My short-term goals include finishing my PhD and connecting these areas of research and ushering in a new era of research into bioenergy crops. My long-term goals are to go into industry to use my expertise on perennial cropping systems obtained from my time here at UIUC. I look forward to what the future brings!
Theodore Hartman
Visiting Postdoctoral Research Associate
2023- Present
tmihart@illinois.edu S-306 Turner Hall
Growing up on a small farm in Southwest Iowa, I developed an early appreciation for the impact that weather and climate can have on our agroecosystems. Following this interest, I went to Iowa State University for a B.S. in meteorology and a Ph.D in agricultural meteorology. My work focuses on using the fusion of remotely sensed data and agroecosystem models to improve predictions of agricultural production and ecosystem services for existing and emerging cropping systems on our landscapes.
Galvin McQuellon
Academic Hourly Employee
November 2023-Present
Hi there! I am currently a full-time hourly employee in the Heaton Lab. I aid in the day-to-day operations of the lab and assist in fieldwork necessities for various research projects focused around Miscanthus x giganteus. I enjoy the opportunities to help make a difference in agricultural research surrounding climate change and perennial cropping systems. My long-term goals include working in an academic or governmental position as a research specialist, helping usher in a new era of regenerative agricultural practices in the Midwestern US.
Cate Loomis
IL SARE Coordinator
February 2024 – Present
cloomis3@illinois.edu 217-333-1106
Cate has ten years experience developing and coordinating grant funded conservation agriculture programs. These have included managing government conservation programs at a Soil and Water Conservation District, advocating for legislation to support sustainable agriculture in Illinois, and developing a multi-year SARE funded research project. They now use their grant writing experience and knowledge of the SARE program to help farmers, researchers, and agriculture educators learn about and apply for SARE grants. Their additional experience as a regenerative produce farmer helps them better understand the challenges facing farmers and find new opportunities for IL SARE to support them and their operations. When not working on IL SARE programs, Cate can be found working on their farm, playing in nature with their kids, tangoing, and when possible, taking the odd night off to just relax with their partner.
Hellen Ninsiima Kayaga
Academic Hourly Research, Carl R. Woese Institute
March 2025–Present
Hello, I am a passionate agriculturist with training in genetics, field-based agronomy, and crop improvement. Currently, I am interested in bridging the gap between agricultural research and public health through outreach and education. I am interested in exploring the interactions between human nutrition, particularly the bioavailability of nutrients in widely grown, improved crop varieties, lifestyle, and agronomic practices. I am committed to translating scientific findings into practical knowledge that can improve dietary outcomes, promote sustainable farming, and empower communities to make informed choices about food and health.
In my current role as an academic hourly researcher in the Heaton lab, I am improving my skills in outreach, website posting and maintenance, and publishing online articles that are suitable for farmers and industry involved in sustainable agriculture using bioenergy crops such as Miscanthus giganteus.
Virginia Leach
Project Coordinator, Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment
August 2025 – Present
Virginia Leach is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Sociology at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Her research interests include intersectionality, disparities in breast cancer, and medical sociology. Her work serves to highlight the injustices in breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship of Black women in the U.S. She recently joined the Heaton Lab to support their grant proposal projects and to disseminate communications that highlight the work of I-Regen and Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment.
Alex Ramirez
Visiting Outreach Associate
August 2025 – Present
I am an Illinois Extension Outreach Associate with I-Regen, where I develop programs and share information to promote the adoption and awareness of sustainable agriculture. My path to Extension began on a small farm in Michigan, where I developed a deep appreciation for conservation systems at an early age. In high school, I volunteered with my local conservation district, learning the intricacies of conservation practices and education. I was also an active 4-H member, teaching youth across the county about animal husbandry—these experiences sparked my passion for agricultural outreach and education.
I earned my B.S. in Environmental Studies from Central Michigan University and an M.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. My graduate research focused on agroforestry adoption in Illinois, exploring stakeholders’ values and decision-making around perennial systems.
In my current role, I’m excited to engage with stakeholders across the Midwest and help them succeed with making decisions best for their operation. In addition, I want to create opportunities for individuals who are motivated towards transforming conventional farming landscapes to a more holistic and sustainable one.
Research Group Alumni
Dr. Matt Nowatzke, Ph.D.
Dr. Alex Steiner, Ph.D.
Dr. Mauricio Tejera, Ph.D.
Dr. Nicholas Boersma, Ph.D.
Dr. Guler Alsan Sungur, 2019-2020
Dr. Elke Brandes 2013-2017
Dr. Catherine L. Bonin, 2012-2016
Dr. Kate Glanvile, Postdoctoral Researcher
Bryan Peterson, MS.
Josh Bendorf, MS.
Andy Vanloocke, MS.
Jacob Studt, MS.
Williard Mott, MS.
Ruth Burke, MS.
Matthew Heims, MS.
Brittany Follon, MS.
Danielle Wilson, MS.
Muhammad Aurang Zaib, MS.
Chris Mckone, MS.
Anya Knecht, I-Regen Assistant Director
Killian Delaney, Research Assistant