Sarah Beebout

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.

• 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.

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