Bruce Bugbee

College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Plants, Soils and Climate

Dr. Bruce Bugbee, professor in the Plants, Soils and Climate Department at Utah State University, is a remarkable example of excellence in research creativity. His nationally-acclaimed findings have been critical in bringing Utah State University research to the forefront of public conscious as a top-tier research institution. Dr. Bugbee studied at the University of Minnesota for his undergraduate degree, completed his master’s degree at the University of California, Davis, then earned a Ph.D. from Penn State University. He joined USU in 1981 as a postdoctoral student, where he remains a faculty member, researcher and mentor. The tremendous growth of his research program during his more than 30-year commitment to the university make him a distinguished example of dedication to discovery and a strong force of innovation. Dr. Bugbee’s research portfolio includes a range of NASA-funded projects, developing a life-support system for people traveling to space and investigating how to best grow plants in artificial mediums. Central to his research is the application of the principles of physics to plant biology, finding answers fundamental to developing biological life-support systems on earth and in reduced gravity environments. Dr. Bugbee is the recipient of many accolades, including the 2012 Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology, the 2005 College of Agriculture Researcher of the Year Award and the 2001 USU Graduate Mentor of the Year Award. He continues to demonstrate significant feats of scholarship, having been invited to speak at 21 universities in eight different countries around the world. With his students he has published over 100 journal articles and book chapters. He has 3,170 citations, among the highest in his field, across some of the discipline’s most prestigious peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Bugbee has mentored over thirty graduate and undergraduate students and is well-known among his colleagues for his eagerness to support all students in their academic pursuits. The far-reaching impact of his work as a scholar and mentor has proven time and time again to be an invaluable asset to Utah State University and the State of Utah. He embodies quality of research and national and international recognition as a scholar, as symbolized by the D. Wynne Thorne Career Research Award. He is well deserving to join its cohort as the 2016 recipient.