Martin-Gatton CAFE announces The Bill Gatton Foundation Professorships 2026

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 20, 2026) — Thirteen University of Kentucky faculty members in the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) are the 2026 recipients of The Bill Gatton Foundation Professorships, awarded through the college. 

Through the generosity of The Bill Gatton Foundation’s historic $100 million gift, these Martin-Gatton CAFE faculty awards are designed to support innovative research, teaching, extension and transdisciplinary collaboration — addressing critical challenges facing agriculture, food systems, environmental stewardship, animal and human health, and community well-being.

“These professorships represent the kind of bold, collaborative thinking that defines our college and our land-grant mission,” said Laura Stephenson, Ph.D., vice president for land-grant engagement and Martin-Gatton CAFE dean. “Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of The Bill Gatton Foundation, the discoveries, partnerships and solutions that emerge from this work will strengthen Kentucky’s communities and create lasting benefits across the Commonwealth and beyond.”

The Bill Gatton Foundation Professorships are awarded through a competitive process and provide three years of support to advance innovative ideas, strengthen interdisciplinary partnerships, expand student opportunities and generate meaningful impacts for Kentucky and beyond. Martin-Gatton CAFE faculty recipients must have demonstrated a successful record in research and Extension instruction and/or service, including an emphasis on transdisciplinary efforts.

The following faculty are The Bill Gatton Foundation Distinguished Professors, along with their applicable research proposals:  

• Zachary DeVries, Ph.D., Department of Entomology. DeVries is leading research and outreach efforts to better understand how indoor pests impact human health and to develop safer, more effective and more sustainable approaches to pest management. His project will investigate the connections between indoor pest exposure and chronic health conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular disease, while evaluating innovative strategies to prevent pest infestations before they occur.

• David Gonthier, Ph.D., Department of Entomology. Gonthier is building a nationally recognized program focused on coffee, sustainable food systems and experiential learning. Through the UK Coffee Lab, his project will expand innovative programs that connect students directly with coffee producers, roasters and industry professionals while advancing research on coffee quality, sustainability and consumer preferences.

• Yosra Helmy, Ph.D., Department of Veterinary Science. Helmy is leading a comprehensive One Health initiative to address antimicrobial resistance, one of the most pressing challenges facing animal health, food safety, agriculture and public health. Her project will expand an integrated research and innovation platform focused on tracking AMR, developing alternatives to traditional antibiotics and advancing microbiome-based approaches that improve disease prevention and treatment.

• Tomo Kawashima, Ph.D., Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. Kawashima is investigating the fundamental biological processes that drive plant reproduction, seed development and crop productivity. His project will examine the cellular and molecular mechanisms that influence fertilization and early seed development in important agricultural crops, including soybean and hemp. 

• Carrie Shaffer, Ph.D., Department of Veterinary Science. Shaffer is developing technologies that transform how researchers study equine health, infectious diseases and medical treatments. Her project will expand a pioneering “horse-on-a-chip” platform that recreates key biological functions of equine organs, making it a powerful tool to study infectious diseases, evaluate new treatments and support the development of precision medicine approaches for horses.

• Jian Shi, Ph.D., Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering. Shi is developing innovative technologies that combine artificial intelligence, automation and sustainable bioprocessing to address some of the most pressing challenges facing agriculture, food production and manufacturing. His project will establish an AI-enabled autonomous laboratory platform that accelerates the discovery of sustainable chemicals, food ingredients and bioprocessing technologies.

• Nick Teets, Ph.D., Department of Entomology. Teets is investigating how insects survive some of the harshest environments on Earth, including the extreme cold of Antarctica. His project builds upon a unique international research program focused on Antarctic insects, including participation in a scientific expedition designed to explore how extreme-adapted organisms may inform future advances in space exploration and human health.

• Shuoli Zhao, Ph.D., Department of Agricultural Economics. Zhao is building a research program focused on understanding the factors that influence food purchasing and consumption decisions. His project will develop a Kentucky-focused Food Demand Ecosystem platform that integrates information on food access, consumer purchasing behavior, nutrition programs, retail environments and agricultural markets. 

The following faculty are The Bill Gatton Foundation Early-Career Professors, along with their applicable research proposals:

• Tyler Barzee, Ph.D., Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering. Barzee is advancing innovative fermentation technologies to create more sustainable food, energy and agricultural systems. His project will explore how fermentation can address some of the most pressing challenges in agriculture and food production, including reducing waste, creating healthier food products, developing sustainable alternatives to traditional materials and improving the environmental footprint of food and beverage manufacturing.

• Kendall Corbin, Ph.D., Department of Horticulture. Corbin is establishing a first-of-its-kind translational colon model facility to better understand the connections between agriculture, diet, gut health and chronic disease. Working with partners across the university, including the Food as Health Initiative and UK HealthCare, her project will investigate how diet and nutrition affect gut health, with a particular focus on improving health outcomes for Kentuckians.

• Abigail Pace, Ph.D., Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition. Pace is leading an innovative research and outreach initiative focused on Alpha-gal Syndrome, an emerging tick-borne condition that can cause severe allergic reactions to foods and products derived from mammals. Her project will work with Kentuckians living with AGS to better understand how the condition affects daily life, nutrition, health, employment and overall well-being.

• Allen Page, D.V.M., Ph.D., Department of Veterinary Science. Page is leading research to improve the health, welfare and performance of horses by developing innovative approaches to injury prevention, health monitoring and personalized treatment strategies. His project will investigate early indicators of musculoskeletal and cardiovascular injury risk, allowing veterinarians, trainers and horse owners to identify potential health concerns before they become serious.

• Katie VanValin, Ph.D., Department of Animal and Food Sciences. VanValin is developing innovative approaches to strengthen the profitability, sustainability and long-term resilience of Kentucky’s beef industry. Her project will establish the Beef Extension Education Farm as a statewide hub for hands-on learning, applied research and producer engagement.

Visit The Bill Gatton Foundation or gatton-legacy.mgcafe.uky.edu to learn more about Bill Gatton’s historic gift along with the The Bill Gatton Professorship projects and faculty profiles.