December 2, 2024
For third year in a row, Prasad named one of world's most Highly Cited Researchers
Submitted by Division of Communications and Marketing
Vara Prasad, university distinguished professor and R.O. Kruse Professor of Agriculture in Department of Agronomy in the College of Agriculture, is again one of the world's most influential researchers, according to Clarivate's 2024 Most Highly Cited Researchers list.
The yearly award, which Prasad has received each of the past three years, is given to researchers who rank in the top 1% for citations in their given field, among other factors reflecting prestigious research reputation.
"We are incredibly proud to celebrate Dr. Prasad for being recognized as one of the most highly cited researchers worldwide," said Hans Coetzee, interim vice president for research. "This prestigious achievement is a testament to Vara's groundbreaking research, dedication and the impact he continues to make on the agricultural field. His work not only enhances our academic community but also advances knowledge that reaches far beyond our institution, influencing scholars and professionals around the globe."
Prasad is director of K-State's recently announced Climate Resilient Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab. With up to $50 million in funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development over the next five years, the lab continues the work previously done by the Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab, or SIIL, which Prasad also led.
Prasad received his bachelor's and master's degrees in agriculture from Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University in India, followed by his doctorate in crop physiology from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom.
He has been at K-State since 2005, where his research has focused on understanding responses of crops to changing environments and developing best management strategies to improve and protect yields.
Prasad has published nearly 500 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, with his work cited more than 33,100 times. Research projects including Prasad have received more than $200 million in grant and donation funding, including nearly $150 million for projects in which he was the principal investigator.
Beside research, Prasad is also passionate about teaching, having trained more than 200 students and research scholars from 25 countries, in addition to presenting more than 150 invited talks in 40 countries.
His outreach in human and institutional capacity building includes active programs in several African, Asian, Latin American and Caribbean countries focused on bolstering food, nutrition and climate security and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and the people they serve.
An active member of his field, Prasad is an elected fellow of the American Society of Agronomy; the Crop Science Society of America, of which he is a former president; and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is a former member of the International Commission on Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and a current representative on the board for the Council of Agricultural Science and Technology.