Vander Luis Novaes Nunes

Biography

Dr. Nunes was born and raised in Minas Gerais, Brazil, where he spent his early years in an agricultural region known for its production of coffee, corn, soybean and dairy products. He earned his B.S. in agronomy, during which he was awarded three scientific initiation scholarships to conduct research focused on soil fertility.

Continuing his academic journey, Dr. Nunes pursued M.S./Ph.D. in soil science and plant nutrition at the Federal University of Viçosa. Conducting research related to the development, characterization, and evaluation of novel amendments and fertilizers for crop production.

For four years, Dr. Nunes had the opportunity to work as a postdoctoral researcher at Illinois University at Urbana Champaign, where he gained expertise in applying isotopic techniques to perform, laboratory, greenhouse and field experiments. His research was focused on increasing nutrient uptake efficiency by crops, the development of methods of soil analysis and sustainable agricultural practices.

During his M.S., Ph.D. and Postdoc, Dr. Nunes was involved in teaching labs for undergraduate courses and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students on laboratory research.

Dr. Nunes joined SDSU in August 2024 with a research focus in sustainable agriculture and soil management.