Yuba Kandel, research scientist in plant pathology and microbiology, is the recipient of the 2022 Professional and Scientific Research Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. Kandel is an accomplished researcher in both laboratory and field settings. He independently develops and initiates new research ideas and has been a part of grants totaling more than $1.2 million. He has greatly augmented scientific literature regarding soybean disease management through 32 peer reviewed publications. He also contributes to the broader scientific community through multistate partnerships. Through this work, his research activities not only impact stakeholders in Iowa, but regionally and nationally as well.
Kandel has also been an author on 17 extension publications, which communicate his scientific work to broader audiences. Farmers, crops scouts and agribusiness employees make decisions that impact the economics and yield of farming operations and depend on plant disease research to inform best management practices. A colleague states, “His ability to plan, conduct and supervise research in lab, greenhouse and field conditions using applied, molecular and statistical tools is an indication of his versatility and his ability to quickly adapt to new challenges and responsibilities.”