Sarah Beebout
Jessup,MD
Summary
Experienced research program director with a passion for delivering trans-disciplinary research products and assessing sustainability outcomes. Skilled at engaging diverse stakeholders and developing mission-driven strategic plans that foster team buy-in. Known for strong cross-cultural communication and problem-solving abilities, reliability, and a results-driven mindset.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
National Program Leader, Sustainable Intensification
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
01.2019 - Current
- Engaged with key stakeholders across public and private sectors to gather feedback and insights, using this information to refine and improve delivery of US$ 92 million (annual) research program to improve agriculture and food system sustainability.
- Developed and executed strategic plans for program enhancement, resulting in higher stakeholder and employee satisfaction across 25 locations within the USA.
- Cultivated a culture of continuous improvement empowering team members (105 PhD research scientists) to share ideas and suggestions for program optimization.
- Successfully integrated social science into a research program that had historically been focused on biophysical sciences, resulting in the creation of three new permanent research social scientist positions, as well as multiple post-doctoral fellowship positions. Recruited and mentored these scientists for success.
Senior Scientist, Soil Chemistry
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
01.2015 - 12.2018
- Engaged stakeholders from diverse backgrounds (research, NGO, private sector, regulatory, government) in the Sustainable Rice Platform. Successfully negotiated and published two major consensus documents (Sustainable Rice Platform Standard and Indicators).
- Led strategic change in my research division (2017-2018), providing oversight of about 200 employees (including about 10 direct reports), resulting in reorganization into the multidisciplinary Sustainable Impact Platform.
- Championed interdisciplinary collaboration across biophysical science and social science departments, fostering innovation and creative problem-solving among colleagues.
- Provided leadership and line management for 8 research leaders from diverse cultural (American, Australian, Bangladeshi, Filipino, German, Indian, Japanese) and disciplinary backgrounds (soil fertility, chemistry, and physics; agronomy; hydrology; plant physiology).
- Managed two rounds of employee lay-offs due to shifting organizational priorities and funding.
Scientist, Soil Chemist
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
01.2009 - 12.2014
- Coordinated interdisciplinary rice biofortification research collaborations (soil science, agronomy, plant breeding, plant physiology, human nutrition, sociology) to tackle the complex issue of human zinc deficiency from multiple perspectives effectively.
- Developed a high-performing research team of 2 post-doctoral fellows, 4 graduate students, 5 support scientists, and 6 research technicians, through targeted recruitment, training, and mentorship.
- Mentored an additional team of about 12 researchers and technicians on best laboratory practices, resulting in ISO 17025 certification of IRRI's Analytical Services Laboratory.
- Promoted a positive work culture that motivated both individual excellence as well as collaborative success within the research team, increasing both the number of team publications and the advancement of team members' careers.
- Participated as a manager in one investigation of employee misconduct and two investigations of scientific fraud (falsifying data).
- Organized international scientific conferences, promoting knowledge exchange and networking while serving as the American Society of Agronomy's Global Agronomy Section leader.
- Secured competitive research grants and fostered collaborations with international research teams, enriching the scope of scientific inquiry.
- Ensured integrity and reproducibility of research findings by serving as a technical editor for the Soil Science Society of America Journal.
International Research Fellow
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
05.2005 - 12.2008
- Modified and adapted at least 4 standard analytical chemistry methods and procedures to solve analytical problems related to the complex matrix of environmental (soil, water, and air) samples. Enhanced research quality by implementing rigorous quality control methodologies and data analysis techniques in my team of 4 technicians and 4 support scientists.
- Improved laboratory efficiency with implementation of robust safety protocols and training sessions, leading the division level Risk Management and Quality Assurance committee for 3 years.
- Mentored junior researchers, including 4 support scientists and 3 graduate students, providing guidance on experimental design, data analysis, and manuscript preparation.
- Secured grant funding for zinc soil chemistry project through persuasive proposal writing and effective collaboration with team members and collaborators.
Post-doctoral Fellow, Soil Scientist
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
04.2004 - 04.2005
- Designed, implemented, and published research studies (with 5 resulting publications) on managing rice crop residues between seasons, advancing understanding of greenhouse gas emissions from flooded soils.
- Conducted field research in challenging environments and supplemented it with data from more controlled greenhouse and laboratory experiments.
- Translated complex scientific concepts into accessible presentations for cross-cultural international audiences.
Education
Ph.D. - Soil Science
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY01.2004
Master of Science - Soil Chemistry
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX12.1999
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL05.1997
Skills
- Trans-disciplinary research collaboration
- Stakeholder engagement
- Strategic planning
- Program management
- Employee mentorship
- Cultural competency
Accomplishments
- Developed the USDA Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network Sustainability Framework (v.2024) in collaboration with a transdisciplinary team of scientists.
- Led a collaborative process to develop a 5-year research strategy for sustainable agricultural systems research program, resulting in the implementation of 28 peer-reviewed team projects.
- Achieved the integration of social sciences into USDA Agriculture Research Service programs through building stakeholder buy-in, creating social science research positions, and mentoring scientists to overcome barriers.
- Co-led USDA Climate Hubs to translate climate science into usable information and tools for agricultural and forestry stakeholders.
Quote
Don’t believe everything you think.
Byron Katie
Publications
Sustainable Agriculture
Devkota, K.P., Beebout, S.E.J., Sudhir-Yadav, and Bunquin, M.A.B. 2022. Setting sustainability targets for irrigated rice production and application of the Sustainable Rice Platform performance indicators. Environmental Impact Assessment Review 92:106697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2021.106697
Devkota, K.P., Pasuquin, E., Elmido-Mabilangan, A., Dikitanan, R., Singleton, G.R., Stuart, A.M., Vithoonjit, D., Viriyangkura, L., Pustika, A.B., Afriani, R., Listyowati, C.L., Keerthisena, R.S.K., Kieu, N.T., Malabayabas, A.J., Hu, R., Pan, J., and Beebout, S.E.J. 2019. Economic and environmental indicators of sustainable rice cultivation: A comparison across intensive irrigated rice cropping systems in six Asian countries. Ecological Indicators 105:199-214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.05.029
Stuart, A., Devkota, K., Sato, T., Pame, A.R.P., Balingbing, C., Nguyen, T.M.P., Nguyen, T.K., Pham, T.M.H., Tran, H.L., Beebout, S., Singleton, G.R. 2018. On-farm assessment of different rice crop management practices in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, using sustainability performance indicators. Field Crops Research 229:103-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2018.10.001
Multidisciplinary
Harmel, R.D., Kleinman, P., Eve, M., Ippolito, J.A., Beebout, S., Delgado, J., Vandenberg, B., and Buser, M. 2021. The Partnerships for Data Innovations (PDI): Facilitating data stewardship and catalyzing research engagement in the digital age. Agricultural and Environmental Letters 6:e20055. https://doi.org/10.1002/ael2.20055
Rubianes, F.H.C., B.P. Mallikarjuna Swamy, and S.E. Johnson-Beebout. 2018. Irrigation management risks and Zn fertilization needs in Zn biofortification breeding in lowland rice. Experimental Agriculture 54(3):382-398. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479717000084
Mabesa, R.L., S.M. Impa, D. Grewal, and S.E. Johnson-Beebout. 2013. Contrasting grain-Zn response of biofortification rice (Oryza sativa L.) breeding lines to foliar Zn application. Field Crops Research 149:223–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2013.05.012
Impa, S.M., M.J. Morete, A.M. Ismail, R. Schulin, and S.E. Johnson-Beebout. 2013. Zn uptake, translocation, and grain Zn loading in rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes selected for Zn-deficiency tolerance and high grain Zn. Journal of Experimental Botany 64(10):2739-2751. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/ert118
Redox Chemistry
Wells, N.S., Clough, T.J., Johnson-Beebout, S.E., and Baisden, W.T. 2019. Effects of denitrification and transport on the isotopic composition of nitrate (δ18O, δ15N) in freshwater systems. Science of the Total Environment 651(2): 2228-2234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.065
Affholder, M.C., Weiss, D.J., Wissuwa, M., Johnson-Beebout, S.E., and Kirk, G.J.D. 2017. Soil CO2 venting as one of the mechanisms for tolerance of Zn deficiency by rice in flooded soils. Plant, Cell & Environment 40(12):3018-3030. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.13069
Bunquin, M.A.B., S.Tandy, S. Johnson Beebout, and R. Schulin. 2017. Influence of soil properties on Zn solubility dynamics under different redox conditions in non calcareous soils. Pedosphere 27(1):96-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002 0160(17)60299-6
Johnson-Beebout, S.E., J.B. Goloran, F.H.C. Rubianes, J.D.C. Jacob, and O.B. Castillo. 2016. Zn uptake behavior of rice genotypes and its implication on grain Zn biofortification. Scientific Reports 6:38301. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep38301
Tuyogon, D.S.J., S.M. Impa, O.B. Castillo, W. Larazo, and S.E. Johnson-Beebout. 2016. Enriching rice grain Zn through Zn fertilization and water management. Soil Science Society of America Journal 80:121-134. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2015.07.0262
Reviews
Slamet-Loedin, I.H., S.E.Johnson-Beebout, S.M. Impa and N. Tsakirpaloglou. 2015. Enriching rice with Zn and Fe while minimizing Cd risk. Frontiers in Plant Science 6:121. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2015.00121
Impa, S.M., and S.E. Johnson-Beebout. 2012. Mitigating zinc deficiency and achieving high grain Zn in rice through integration of soil chemistry and plant physiology research. Plant and Soil 361:3-41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1315-3
Bijay-Singh, Shan YH, Johnson-Beebout SE, Yadvinder-Singh, Buresh RJ. 2008. Crop residue management for lowland rice-based cropping systems in Asia. Advances in Agronomy 98:117–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0065-2113(08)00203-4
Selected Publications
Sustainable Agriculture
Devkota, K.P., Beebout, S.E.J., Sudhir-Yadav, and Bunquin, M.A.B. 2022. Setting sustainability targets for irrigated rice production and application of the Sustainable Rice Platform performance indicators. Environmental Impact Assessment Review 92:106697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2021.106697
Devkota, K.P., Pasuquin, E., Elmido-Mabilangan, A., Dikitanan, R., Singleton, G.R., Stuart, A.M., Vithoonjit, D., Viriyangkura, L., Pustika, A.B., Afriani, R., Listyowati, C.L., Keerthisena, R.S.K., Kieu, N.T., Malabayabas, A.J., Hu, R., Pan, J., and Beebout, S.E.J. 2019. Economic and environmental indicators of sustainable rice cultivation: A comparison across intensive irrigated rice cropping systems in six Asian countries. Ecological Indicators 105:199-214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.05.029
Stuart, A., Devkota, K., Sato, T., Pame, A.R.P., Balingbing, C., Nguyen, T.M.P., Nguyen, T.K., Pham, T.M.H., Tran, H.L., Beebout, S., Singleton, G.R. 2018. On-farm assessment of different rice crop management practices in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, using sustainability performance indicators. Field Crops Research 229:103-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2018.10.001
Biofortification
Miner, G.L., C.E. Stewart, J.A. Delgado, J.A. Ippolito, R.E. Mason, S.D. Haley, M.J. Guttieri, E.A. Ainsworth, J.M. McGrath, and S.J. Beebout. 2024. Global change impacts on mineral nutritional quality of cereal grains: Coordinated datasets and analyses to advance a systems-based understanding. Field Crops Research 310:109338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2024.109338
Goloran, J.B., Johnson-Beebout, S.E., Morete, M.J., Impa, S.M., Kirk, G.J.D., Wissuwa, M. 2019. Grain Zn concentrations and yield of Zn-biofortified versus Zn-efficient rice genotypes under contrasting growth conditions. Field Crops Research 234:26-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2019.01.011
Rubianes, F.H.C., B.P. Mallikarjuna Swamy, and S.E. Johnson-Beebout. 2018. Irrigation management risks and Zn fertilization needs in Zn biofortification breeding in lowland rice. Experimental Agriculture 54(3):382-398. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479717000084
Mori, A., Kirk, G.J.D., Lee, J-S., Morete, M.J., Nanda, A.K., Johnson-Beebout, S.E., Wissuwa, M. 2016. Rice genotype differences in tolerance of zinc-deficient soils: Evidence for the importance of root-induced changes in the rhizosphere. Frontiers in Plant Science 6 - 2015. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2015.01160
Johnson-Beebout, S.E., J.B. Goloran, F.H.C. Rubianes, J.D.C. Jacob, and O.B. Castillo. 2016. Zn uptake behavior of rice genotypes and its implication on grain Zn biofortification. Scientific Reports 6:38301. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep38301
Tuyogon, D.S.J., S.M. Impa, O.B. Castillo, W. Larazo, and S.E. Johnson-Beebout. 2016. Enriching rice grain Zn through Zn fertilization and water management. Soil Science Society of America Journal 80:121-134. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2015.07.0262
Mabesa, R.L., S.M. Impa, D. Grewal, and S.E. Johnson-Beebout. 2013. Contrasting grain-Zn response of biofortification rice (Oryza sativa L.) breeding lines to foliar Zn application. Field Crops Research 149:223–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2013.05.012
Impa, S.M., M.J. Morete, A.M. Ismail, R. Schulin, and S.E. Johnson-Beebout. 2013. Zn uptake, translocation, and grain Zn loading in rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes selected for Zn-deficiency tolerance and high grain Zn. Journal of Experimental Botany 64(10):2739-2751. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/ert118
Soil Redox Chemistry
Wells, N.S., Clough, T.J., Johnson-Beebout, S.E., and Baisden, W.T. 2019. Effects of denitrification and transport on the isotopic composition of nitrate (d18O, d15N) in freshwater systems. Science of the Total Environment 651(2): 2228-2234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.065
Affholder, M.C., Weiss, D.J., Wissuwa, M., Johnson-Beebout, S.E., and Kirk, G.J.D. 2017. Soil CO2 venting as one of the mechanisms for tolerance of Zn deficiency by rice in flooded soils. Plant, Cell & Environment 40(12):3018-3030. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.13069
Bunquin, M.A.B., S.Tandy, S. Johnson Beebout, and R. Schulin. 2017. Influence of soil properties on Zn solubility dynamics under different redox conditions in non calcareous soils. Pedosphere 27(1):96-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002 0160(17)60299-6
Izquierdo, M., Impa, S.M., Johnson-Beebout, S.E., Weiss, D.J., Kirk, G.J.D. 2016. Measurement of isotopically-exchangeable Zn in Zn-deficient paddy soil. European Journal of Soil Science 67(1): 51-59. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejss.12303
Soil Chemistry Methods
Jacob, J.D.C., Rubianes, F.H., Johnson-Beebout, S.E., Buresh, R.J. 2014. Zinc fertilizer test kit for semi-quantitative verification of fertilizer quality. Journal of Plant Nutrition 37(8):1237-1254. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2014.881868
Reviews
Slamet-Loedin, I.H., S.E.Johnson-Beebout, S.M. Impa and N. Tsakirpaloglou. 2015. Enriching rice with Zn and Fe while minimizing Cd risk. Frontiers in Plant Science 6:121. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2015.00121
Impa, S.M., and S.E. Johnson-Beebout. 2012. Mitigating zinc deficiency and achieving high grain Zn in rice through integration of soil chemistry and plant physiology research. Plant and Soil 361:3-41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1315-3
Bijay-Singh, Shan YH, Johnson-Beebout SE, Yadvinder-Singh, Buresh RJ. 2008. Crop residue management for lowland rice-based cropping systems in Asia. Advances in Agronomy 98:117–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0065-2113(08)00203-4
Harmel, R.D., Kleinman, P., Eve, M., Ippolito, J.A., Beebout, S., Delgado, J., Vandenberg, B., and Buser, M. 2021. The Partnerships for Data Innovations (PDI): Facilitating data stewardship and catalyzing research engagement in the digital age. Agricultural and Environmental Letters 6:e20055. https://doi.org/10.1002/ael2.20055
Timeline
National Program Leader, Sustainable Intensification
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
01.2019 - Current
Senior Scientist, Soil Chemistry
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
01.2015 - 12.2018
Scientist, Soil Chemist
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
01.2009 - 12.2014
International Research Fellow
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
05.2005 - 12.2008
Post-doctoral Fellow, Soil Scientist
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
04.2004 - 04.2005
Ph.D. - Soil Science
Cornell University
Master of Science - Soil Chemistry
Texas A&M University
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
Wheaton College
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