Agriculture and food security specialist with over ten years of international and domestic work experience. Versatile, bilingual professional with background designing and executing agronomic and soil science field and bench research for natural resource management. Kate has specialized knowledge of U.S. government program management in West Africa, experience managing project implementation teams and data collection, and evaluated food system supply chain and soil quality challenges in South America.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Ph.D. Candidate, Agronomy
Madison, Wisconsin - August 2016 - Current
Graduate Research Assistant;
Quantify agricultural management influence on crop nitrogen uptake and allocation in two perennial grain crops, Kernza (a cereal) and Silphium (an oil seed). Research crop nutrient selection in various growing environments and evaluate Kernza physiological requirements for flowering.
M.Sc. Soil Science and Agroecology
Madison, Wisconsin - January 2014 - June 2016
Graduate Research Assistant;
Executed quantitative analysis of water quality, irrigation and soil fertility in high value crop production systems in Wisconsin. Authored graduate thesis and provided strategic, place-based recommendations for soil fertility and sustainable intensification of agriculture to industry and regional growers.
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
Institute of International Education
Montevideo, Uruguay - March 2012 - March 2013
Research Fellow; Agriculture and Water Resources
Researched Uruguayan agricultural policy around land use change and soil conservation. Collected archival land use data, reviewed geospatial satellite imagery, and interviewed associated parties (i.e. government officials, agricultural producers, agricultural scholars, and industry representatives) regarding the regulatory and global trade influences on the emerging soybean industry. Analyzed trade, economic, regulatory, and environmental data to determine the Uruguayan agricultural capacity to improve water quality and natural resource degradation after land use transition from pasture to soybean production. Presented research findings to Uruguayan and Chilean industry, academic, and government audiences through oral (in both English and Spanish) presentations and written summaries.
United States Department of Agriculture
Foreign Agricultural Service
Washington, DC - January 2010 - March 2012
Program Analyst; Food Assistance Division
Collaborated closely with FAS Foreign Service, State Department, and USAID colleagues to synergize inter-governmental efforts toward foreign market development through public-private partnerships. Managed a 12-country multi-million-dollar McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition portfolio in West Africa. Negotiated inter-governmental and non-governmental organization cooperative agreements through iterative process and review of timelines, budgets, transportation and logistic details. Evaluated program progress through field visits, examination of progress reports, research of host-country political position, and evaluation of benchmark progress throughout the life of the program. Identified inefficiencies, reporting inconsistencies, and the potential for food aid spoilage on a managed project in Niger. Resolved contract violation through an emergency in-country visit and contract negotiation with UN, WFP for the removal and emergency distribution of food aid.
Office of Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Washington, DC - October - December 2009
Legislative Fellow
Conducted legislative research, constituent correspondence, and economic analysis regarding agricultural, environmental, and energy legislative issues for the state of Ohio. Tracked current legislation and wrote issue-specific talking points, memos, and press releases.
Ministerio de Educación
Madrid, Spain - Fall 2008 - Summer 2009
Auxiliar de Conversación English Language
Grant recipient, taught science and English within a bilingual public primary school.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Sidney, Ohio - Summer 2007 - Summer 2008
Soil Conservationist; Natural Resources Conservation Service
Negotiated the implemented conservation contracts with farm operations of various sizes—small, mid-sized specialty crop operations, to large, confined animal feeding operations. Provided technical assistance to agriculturalists and authored conservation plans, resource and GIS maps, and delineated forest and wetland areas. Provided regulatory guidance to farm owners regarding manure land spreading quantities and timing, agrochemical application quantity and timing, and agricultural runoff in order to remain compliant with the Clean Water Act. Authored conservation plans detailing placement, size, and construction guidelines for, irrigation systems, manure-holding ponds, grassed waterways, animal fencing, and buffer strips for farms in my county jurisdiction. Advised farmers on management decisions such as irrigation systems and schedules, crop rotation patterns, tillage practices, timing of manure land spreading/fertilizer applications, and cover crop/forage seed mixtures. Holistically advised farmers as a unified means to reducing soil erosion, nutrient loss, and ground and surface water contamination.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Agronomy - Aug. 2016 – Current
Nutrient Cycling and Global Potential of Perennial Grain and Forage Crops, Thinopyrum intermedium and Silphium intergrifolium
University of Wisconsin, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Madison
M.Sc., Soil Science and Agroecology - Jan. 2014 – June 2016
Evaluating the Effects of Cover Crops in the Central Sands
University of Wisconsin, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Madison
B.Sc., Environmental Policy and Management - Fall 2003 – Spring 2007
Minor: German
The Ohio State University, School of Environment and Natural Resources, Columbus
LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE
Principles and Practices in Crop Production, Agronomy 100
Teaching Assistant; Madison, WI - September 2018 – Present
Lecture and teach fundamentals of plant and soil science in an agronomic context. Design and execute interactive laboratory curricula.
Undergraduate Research Scholars Program
Research Mentor; Madison, WI - September 2016 – June 2018
Supervised and mentored undergraduate students to complete independent research projects. Facilitated experiment design, edited research materials, provided feedback, and assigned final grades.
International Agricultural Colloquium
Joint Leadership and Media Outreach Coordinator; Madison, WI - January 2016 – May 2017
Organized discussion panels, workshops and events stimulating campus dialogue around a multitude of topics relating to international agriculture. Updated web presence through live tweeting and facebook.
Pines Bach LLC
Expert Soil Scientist; Madison, WI - January 2017
Reviewed proposed Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Reissuance Application, Nutrient Management Plan, and adjoining materials evaluating soils, geography, crop use, and nutrient application. Authored report evaluating resource use and potential sources of water contamination.
Cropping Systems of the Tropics, Agronomy 377
Guest Lecturer; Madison, WI - February 2017
Taught class on soil health and its impact on cropping systems in tropical climates. Lead interactive discussion about soil development and cropping system considerations under various landscapes.
CIMMYT
Graduate Student Assistant; Texcoco, Mexico - August 2016
Co-advised international research trip on sustainable intensification of agriculture for undergraduate students to CIMMYT research headquarters in Mexico. Translated technical material to students.
Ruark Laboratory Field Projects
Research Supervisor; Madison, WI - January 2014 – June 2016
Managed up to 10 people in the execution of multi-step project design, implementation, field data collection, laboratory analysis and final statistical evaluation.
HONORS AND AWARDS
World Food Prize – Borlaug Fellow Participant; Des Moines, IA - October 2017
Borlaug Summer Institute – Fellow; Purdue University - June 2017
Elwood and Lydia Brickbauer Research Award; Madison, WI - April 2017
Dwayne Rohweder Forage Extension Fund Fellowship; Madison, WI - April 2017
Fulbright – U.S. Student Grantee; Montevideo, Uruguay - March-December 2012
Fulbright – Grant Extension Recipient; Montevideo, Uruguay - Dec. 2012-March 2013
John Glenn Academic Washington Internship; Washington, DC - Fall 2006
PRESENTATIONS
- Intermediate Wheatgrass, Kernza®-Red Clover Intercropping: Nitrogen and Root Mass Dynamics ASA, CSSA, and CSA, Baltimore, MD, Nov. 2018
- Kernza®, where will it successfully grow? Vernalization and Photoperiod Requirements for Perennial Grain Crop Intermediate Wheatgrass. Crop Science Society of America, Tampa Bay, FL, Oct. 2017
- How Quantitative are in-situ Mineralization Columns in Sandy Soils?, Soil Science Society of America, Phoenix, AZ, Nov. 2016
- Spring Planted Cover Crop Impact on Sweet Corn Production, Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association, Hancock, WI, March 2016
- Quantifying Nitrogen Mineralization of Oat on Sandy Soil, Soil Science Society of America, Minneapolis, MN, Nov. 2015
- Sostentabilidad y la Industria de la Soja: Los Sistemas Socio-Ecológicos Explican la Pérdida del Pricipal Recurso Uruguayo, Seminario Regional Fulbright, Santiago, Chile, Sept. 2012
PUBLICATIONS
Ivancic, Kate and Matthew Ruark. 2018. “Nitrogen Availability of Cover Crops and Impact on Sweet Corn Yields in Sandy Soils.” Under review.
Ivancic, Kate and Valentin Picasso. 2018. “Vernalization and photoperiod requirements for perennial grain crop Intermediate Wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium), Kernza.” In preparation.
Ivancic, Kate and Matthew Ruark. 2018.“Oat Cover Crop Growth and Influence on Net Mineralization in Sandy Soil.” In preparation.
Ruark, Matthew D. and Kate Ivancic. “Nitrogen Supply from Soil & Irrigation in Central Wisconsin.” Badger Common’tater” 19, May 2016: 68 (5): 18-20.
Ivancic, Kate. “Leaders Address Global Food Security.” Agri-View 14 Nov. 2017: Web.
SKILLS/LANGUAGES/GEOGRAPHICAL EXPERIENCE
Computer Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, SAS and R statistical software
Languages: Spanish (professional proficiency); German (conversational); English (mother tongue)
Countries of Work Experience: Spain, Liberia, Niger, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo-Brazzaville, Uruguay