OSU Soil Scientist Tyson Ochsner Earns National Recognition

First posted on 12-15-2009

Tyson Ochsner of Oklahoma State University’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources has been named a 2009 S-1 Early Career Award recipient by the Soil Science Society of America.
The SSSA award recognizes scientists who have made outstanding contributions to the field of soil physics within six years of completing their doctoral degree.

“Dr. Ochsner is a rising star in the world of soil physics,” said Dave Porter, head of the OSU department of plant and soil sciences. “We’re extremely proud that the science community has recognized his achievements and awarded him this prestigious title.”

Ochsner specializes in the theoretical and applied aspects of soil thermal properties, including sensor development and data analysis. His work cuts across many disciplines of scientific effort, and is often cited by other scientists in their own research endeavors.

“Tyson was the first scientist to demonstrate that simultaneously measuring soil electrical and thermal properties could be used to determine the volumetric fractions of all three phases in soil,” Porter said.

A native of Chattanooga, Okla., Ochsner has already served as co-principal investigator on grants totaling more than $1 million during his relatively brief career. He is the principal investigator on a $124,357 grant currently being used to renovate and improve OSU’s soil physics laboratory.

The potential effects of biofuels crops on groundwater is one key area of soil physics study being examined by Ochsner and his collaborating scientists and engineers.

“Crop growth models are being used to compare the productivity of switchgrass, sorghum and mixed-species biofuel cropping systems to that of corn under full irrigation, deficit irrigation and dryland conditions,” Porter said. “These are vital areas of scientific inquiry given the U.S. southern High Plains is a region with declining groundwater levels and rising investment in starch- and cellulosic-based ethanol production.”

An OSU College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources alumnus, Ochsner earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental science in 1998. He then attended Iowa State University, earning his master’s degree and doctoral degree in soil science and water resources in 2000 and 2003, respectively.

Ochsner worked as a soil scientist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service in St. Paul, Minn., from 2003-2008. He also served as an adjunct assistant professor for the University of Minnesota’s department of soil, water and climate throughout his tenure with USDA.

His professional and scholarly affiliations include membership in SSSA, the American Geophysical Union and the Blue Key and Phi Kappa Phi honorary organizations.

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