Gregory Bernard

Dr. Bernard is involved in research focused on agricultural improvement. He is currently invested in nanobiotechnology for the production of biopesticides against major pests in crop production, the integration of autonomous farming phenotyping robots and AI-assisted phenotypic analyses in research, demonstrations, and collaborations with small-scale farmers to provide access to modern farming technologies and mechanization, and the genetic and metabolomics analyses of crops for disease resistance and secondary metabolites with nutraceutical benefits, respectively. Through transcriptome profiling and bioinformatic analyses, Dr. Bernard has identified several molecular factors governing nematode resistance in crops. Dr. Bernard and Dr. Naresh Shahi (Tuskegee, Dept. of Nutri. Sci.) have developed "green-engineered" nanoparticles to control specific plant pathogens. Additionally, Dr. Bernard has confirmed the efficacy of designed lytic peptides developed by Dr. Jesse Jaynes against plant-parasitic nematodes and is partnering with Dr. Deepa Bedi to develop a mass-production peptide platform for field and greenhouse use in pest management. Dr. Bernard has integrated automated plant phenotyping systems using autonomous robots housing A.I. and machine learning to enhance the university's research, teaching, and extension infrastructure while providing outreach, experiential demonstrations, and free crop diagnostics to small-scale and minority farmers. Dr. Bernard has co-assembled an autonomous plant propagation and monitoring tool, the Farmbot, with undergraduate students to be utilized in plant research and outreach to the campus and community. Dr. Bernard has co-developed an experiential cross-disciplinary training program for students in the Colleges of Agriculture and Arts and Sciences—the TU-St. A.R.T. (Student Agricultural Research Team). This program aims

• Agricultural Improvement
• Nanobiotechnology for Biopesticides
• Autonomous Farming Phenotyping Robots and A.I. Integration
• Genetic and Metabolomics Analyses of Crops
• Collaborations and Pioneering Research

• Nanobiotechnology for Biopesticides, Development of "Green-Engineered" Nanoparticles, Dr. Naresh Shahi
• Lytic Peptides and Pest Management, Efficacy Confirmation of Designed Lytic Peptides
• Mass-Production Peptide Platform, Collaboration with Dr. Deepa Bedi for developing a mass-production platform., Dr. Deepa Bedi
• Automated Plant Phenotyping Systems, Integration of Autonomous Robots with A.I.
• Farmbot Assembly and Utilization, Co-assembly of Farmbot with undergraduates for plant research and community outreach.
• Experiential Cross-Disciplinary Training Program, Co-Development of TU-St. A.R.T. Program

• P.I., 1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical Program, Developing High Throughput Phenotyping Tools for Climate Smart Sweet Potato., $60,000, 2024, 2025
• Co-PI, NSF CORNELL CROPPS, Exploring Sweetpotato and Peanut De-Novo Meristem Induction-Mediated Bioengineering Research., $450,000, 8/23, 12/24
• P.I., USDA/NIFA Robotics Integrated High Tunnels, Creating profitable food oases in urban ecosystems., $1,000,000, 01/01/2023, 12/31/2026
• Co-PI, Community Science Program, A reference level pangenome of soybean founder lines., In progress
• Co-PI, Cornell ILCI and MSI Collaboration, Training and Engagement for Capacity Development., $200,000, 10/01/2023, 09/30/2024

• Outreach to local and visiting teachers and students on autonomous farming tools.
• Mentor for CAENS summer programs, providing bioinformatics and plant biotechnology instruction.
• Service on the I.B.S. Ph.D. Selection Committee.
• Advisor to Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Beta Kappa Chapter.
• Participation in on-campus and off-campus service-related activities.
• Active involvement in community outreach initiatives for COVID awareness.

Research, Teaching, and Extension Assistant Professor of Plant Sciences, Tuskegee University, 2017, present, Post-doctoral Researcher, Tuskegee University, 2015, 2017, Graduate Researcher, N.C. State University, 2005, 2010, Graduate Researcher, N.C. A&T State University, 2001, 2004

• Ph.D., Integrative Biosciences, Tuskegee University, 2015
• M.S., Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, 2010
• M.S., Animal Health, N.C. A&T State University, 2004
• B.S., Animal Science, N.C. A&T State University, 2000

• 2023, PI USDA 1890 Sabbatical Grant, Developing high-throughput phenotyping tools for climate-smart sweet potato., $65,000, 8/24, 8/25
• 2023, Faculty Research Innovation Award
• 2022, B.D Mayberry Young Scientist Award, Association of 1890 Research Directors, Inc.
• 2020, Faculty Teaching Award, College of Ag., Envr. And Nutr. Sciences
• 2018, Sigma Xi National Scientific Research Honor Society Inductee

• Chapter 13 - Nematode Problems in Bulb Crops and Sustainable Management, Academic Press, 2023
• Mini-Review: The use of Autonomous Robots to Improve Efficacy in Agriculture, C.O.J. Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, in review
• Evaluation of Cowpea Morpho-physiological and Yield Responses, Journal of Plant Breeding and Crop Science, in press
• Potential Nematicidal Activity of Silver Nanoparticles, On J Complement & Alt Med, 2019
• An Interdisciplinary Research-based Education Program, 2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

1. 2023 Faculty Research Innovation Award, Tuskegee University

2. 2022 B.D. Mayberry Young Scientist Award, 1890 ARD Symposium

3. 2020 Faculty Teaching Award, CAENS, Tuskegee University

1. 2021-present Provided onsite demonstrations in autonomous farming (farmbot) and automated phenotyping for collegiate, high school, elementary students crop producers.

2. 2020–present Co-mentor to Global Youth Institute Scholars,REU, AgriTREK. Students identified several transcripts involved in sweetpotato resistance to nematodes through bioinformatic analyses

3. 2018-present currently mentoring an undergraduate student in plant breeding and bioinformatic analyses of next-generation sequencing data.

• FAA 107 Drone license