Sushil Adhikari
Christy Bratcher
Two faculty members in Auburn University’s College of Agriculture have assumed leadership roles at separate multidisciplinary Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station research, education and development centers on the Auburn campus.
Animal sciences associate professor Christy Bratcher took the reins as director of the Auburn University Food Systems Institute Sept. 1, the same day that Sushil Adhikari, biosystems engineering Alumni Professor, moved from associate director to director of the Center for Bioenergy and Bioproducts.
The food systems institute promotes food safety practices and supports research, teaching and training collaborations among Auburn faculty and through external partnerships with industry, government, consumers and other universities. The bioenergy center serves as a catalyst for generating innovative bioenergy and bioproducts ideas that will strengthen Alabama’s economy and improve the quality of life for all Alabamians.
Henry Fadamiro, associate dean for research in the College of Agriculture and associate director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, announced the appointments of Bratcher and Adhikari in late August.
“With their strong research backgrounds and track records of accomplishments, I believe Dr. Bratcher and Dr. Adhikari are both positioned well for great success in their new roles,” Fadamiro said.
Both Bratcher and Adhikari joined the College of Agriculture faculty in 2008 as assistant professors. Bratcher’s expertise is in meat science and food safety; Adhikari specializes in biofuels research and development.
In their three-year appointments, Bratcher and Adhikari will work with faculty in colleges and schools across campus to facilitate and support interdisciplinary research, outreach and teaching collaborations in their respective areas of food systems, food safety and alternative fuels and energy.