Jill Motschenbacher, MEd, PhD

About

Welcome – I am Dr. Jill Motschenbacher (a.k.a., “Dr. M”), an Associate Professor of Practice in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). I work with developing UNL’s Master of Applied Science (MAS) program within the Conservation Agriculture specialization. My work involves designing innovative, flexible, and unique online learning experiences for graduate students in agriculture- and Earth science-based disciplines that focus on understanding, designing, and discovering methods to strengthen the resiliency of food and fiber production systems.

I research and teach about the intricate connections between agroecosystem management practices, food system performance, biogeochemical cycling, global change, and societal responses to production modifications. My academic focus involves investigating obstacles that require multi-discipline approaches to solution development, such as ecological conservation, resource accessibility, soil and water management, transportation logistics, knowledge exchange and utility, and the identification of economic practices and social customs that influence food consumption patterns and food sovereignty. My courses incorporate domestic and international agriculture production systems and are designed to integrate students with varied personal and professional goals, including research scholars, applied practitioners, and inquisitive learners.

My teaching, research, and mentoring approaches are shaped by over 25 years of professional experience, academic study, and personal practice in the disciplines of agriculture sciences, engineering, and education. I use these rich experiences as inspiration to investigate, analyze, and teach students about practical methods towards creating resilient agricultural systems and food-secure communities.

Education & Professional Experience

Postdoc | Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, 2013

PhD | Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences (Soil Physics), University of Arkansas, 2012

MEd | Higher Education Administration (Agriculture), Middle Tennessee State University, 2007

BS | Agribusiness (Agriculture Economics & Environmental Science), Middle Tennessee State University, 2006

Academic Positions

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2022-Present

| College of Agriculture Sciences and Natural Resources – Associate Professor of Practice

North Dakota State University, 2014-2022

| School of Natural Resources, Department of Soil Science – Assistant Professor of Practice (last position)

| NDSU Office of Teaching and Learning (OTL) – Associate Director, 2017-2022 (last position)

Iowa State University, 2013

| Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering – Postdoctoral Researcher

University of Arkansas, 2008-2012

| Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences (Soil Physics) – Graduate Research Assistant (with Teaching)

Military Service

United States Navy, 1996-2000

| Interior Communications Electrician (E-4), USS Sacramento (AOE-1), Homeport: Bremerton, Washington

Courses

AGRI 896/NRES 898 – Section 701 – Conservation Agriculture Systems (Spring & Fall)

3-Credit, Online, Asynchronous Instruction; Explores historical foundations, motivations, advances, and outcomes in global and local agricultural systems across time. Broad principles of conservation agriculture are evaluated to connect system-based goals, processes, and outcomes. Social and civil issues influencing the viability of production agriculture, food security, economic prosperity, environmental health, and cultural sovereignty are rooted into the curriculum.

AGRI 896/NRES 898 – Section 702 – International Applications of Conservation Agriculture (Spring)

3-Credit, Online, Asynchronous Instruction; Investigates large-scale and small-holder food and fiber systems in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. Students learn strategies to develop science-based improvement plans for various issues in the agriculture systems explored, which have targeted goals, project objectives, theories to change, implementation strategies, and assessment indicators.

AGRI 896/NRES 898 – Section 703 – Resilience Design in Agroecosystems (Coming in Fall 2023)

3-Credit, Online, Asynchronous Instruction; Explores approaches to designing, or redesigning, food systems to optimize resource use, maximize efficiency, promote value-added incentives to controlling waste and pollution, strengthen ecological resilience, and explore economic concepts of circularity and solidarity. Design strategies focus on mitigating external disturbances of varying intensity and length (e.g., floods, droughts, heat waves) and regenerating agroecosystems affected by historical land management (e.g., reduced biodiversity, additions/losses in the system, soil/water management).

* Newly developed 2023 courses are offered under AGRI 896/NRES 898. All courses are under review and may obtain new AGRI/NRES numbers by Fall 2023/Spring 2024.

Research Projects & Grants

1. State of North Dakota | North Dakota Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER) – Higher Education COVID Modified Learning and Workforce Grants. 2020-2021. Investigators: J.M.D. Motschenbacher (PI) and M. Fitzgerald (Co-PI and Provost). Funding agency: North Dakota (ND) Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Funds, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Funding provided NDSU faculty and professional personnel with monetary compensation to develop 30 online professional development classes for K-12 educators across multiple disciplines. Grant length: 8/2020-8/2021 (Funded: $110,000).
2. USDA NIFA | New Beginnings: Making Good: Delivering Educational Equity for & With Tribal Students & Communities. 2020-2022. Investigators: C. Bilen-Green (PI), J. Wallette, C. Stoltenow, L. Flage, C. Anicha, R. Danielson, L. Oster-Aaland, K. Sassi, J. Motschenbacher, J. Nash, H. Keeler. Funding agency: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Funding provided support for an institutional framework to offer Tribal students the opportunities of higher education and provide a holistic support system to ensure their success. Grant length: 8/2020-8/2023 (Funded: $278,599).
3. NSF | IRES Track I: USA-China: International Research Experience for Native American Students in IoT-Enabled Environmental Monitoring Technologies. 2018-2023. Investigators: J. Wang (PI), J.M.D. Motschenbacher (co-PI), and A. Finley (co-PI). Funding agency: National Science Foundation (NSF): International Research Experiences for Students (IRES). Collaboration between North Dakota State University, South Alabama University, and Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College. Native American students from five Tribal Colleges in the state of North Dakota were recruited to participate in a six-week summer program in Beijing, China and Mobile, Alabama (due to Covid restrictions) to research Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled environmental monitoring systems and Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications. NSF Grant length: 7/2018-8/2022. (Funded: $299,919).
4. NDSU Alumni Association | Virtual Reality Inclusive Curriculum. 2017-2019. Investigators: J.A. Faris, (PI) and J.M.D. Motschenbacher (Education Evaluator). Funding Agency: North Dakota State University Foundation and Alumni Association’s Impact Fund Grant. An educational initiative to provide accessible experimental learning to the campus community through advanced visualization and simulation tools using Virtual Reality. Grant length: 2018-2019. (Funded: $19,522).
5. NSF | IUSE Gateways-ND: Advancing Learner-Focused Instruction to Catalyze Student Success. 2017-2021. Investigators: P. Kelter (PI), J. Ladbury (co-PI), M. Montplaisir (co-PI), J. Nyachwaya (co-PI/PI), Mark Hanson (co-PI 2015-2018) and J.M.D. Motschenbacher (co-PI: 2017-2021). Funding agency: NSF Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Education and Human Resources (IUSE: EHR). Gateways-ND was a faculty and instructional staff development program that provided faculty training and support for learner-focused teaching practices to STEM educators at North Dakota State University (NDSU) through five groups of 2-year cohorts (117 STEM Faculty participates). NSF Grant length: 8/2015-7/2021. (Funded: $2,632,673).
6. USDA NIFA | Soil Health and Water Quality Impacts of Growing Energy Beets for Advanced Biofuel Production in North-Central United States. 2015-2017. Investigators: Z, Lin (PI), B. Schatz, D. Ripplinger, M. Ostlie, J. Teboh, A-M Fortuna (2013-2015), and J.M.D. Motschenbacher (co-PI). Funding agency: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Assessment of the effects energy beet production systems have on soil health by mitigating soil salinity and improving the yields of rotational crops. Grant length: 9/2013-8/2018. (Funded: $443,709).
7. Bush Foundation | From Fire to Fire: Examining the Complexity of Learning for Refugee Adult English Learners, 2014-2017. Volunteer Community Literacy Researcher. Funded through the Bush Foundation and North Dakota State University via K. Brooks (PI), Professor of English. Research on the problems associated with learning English as a foreign national adult learner and specializing in adult African refugees who are English Language Learners (ELL). Problems addressed include learning barriers, long-standing health complications, and mental impediments associated with emotional and geographic transitions. Research participants located in Fargo, North Dakota via Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, and Nigeria. Research project length: 3/2014-3/2017. (Funded: All Research Costs). English Literacy Research Advisor: K. Brooks.
8. USAID | Preventing Postharvest Grain Losses: Improving Handling and Storage for Maize Farmers in Iganga, Uganda. 2014-2015. Investigator: J.M Motschenbacher (PI). May 2014 – May 2015. Funding Agency: United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Catholic Relief Services (CRC), and in association with Namungalwe Area Cooperative Enterprise (ACE). Project assessed postharvest handling and storage practices and improve local farmers’ knowledge in preventing farm maize losses. Technical support was provided in postharvest processes, such as maturity indices, drying, storage, quality control and assurance, control of storage pests, cost effective storage facilities, how insects and molds contribute to storage losses, aflatoxin development in the field and in storage, and the relationship between grain quality and food quality. USAID project length: 4/2014-4/2015. (Funded: All Costs for Development Project).
9. USAID | Effects of Mechanization of Rice Production and Harvesting Systems in the Mwea Irrigation Scheme of Wang’uru, Central Province, Kenya. 2013-2014. Investigator: J.M Motschenbacher (PI) Funding agency: USAID through the Citizen’s Network for Foreign Affairs (CNFA), and in associated with the Mwea Rice Growers Multipurpose (MRGM) Cooperative Society. Project assessed production practices and developed a 5-year plan and clear implementation steps to boost mechanization in rice production and harvesting systems for MRGM. Aims focused on increasing production through timely farm operations, reducing losses, reducing the cost of operations, and encouraging the productivity of natural resources to ensure agriculture sustainability. USAID project length: 8/2013-12/2013. (Funded: All Costs for Development Project).
10. Iowa State University | Evaluating Planting Techniques for the Successful Establishment of Cover Crop Mixtures and Single Varieties in Iowa. 2013. Postdoctoral Research Scientist Evaluation of seeding techniques to increase fall cover crop growth, reduce nutrient losses, improve water quality, and enhance soil health. The project involved scientific research and extension outreach education programs and aimed to reduce nitrate runoff through farmland tile-drainage and increase soil organic matter for system sustainability. Measured observations: Soil carbon and nitrogen, biomass production, soil chemical properties, water infiltration rates, and soil compaction (bulk density). Research project length: 8/2013-12/2013. (Funded: All Research Costs). Postdoctoral Advisor: M. J. Helmers
11. University of Arkansas | Long-Term effects of Alternative Management Practices in a Wheat-Soybean, Double-Cropped Production System. 2008-2013. Doctoral Research Scientist. Evaluation of a long-term (11 years; 2001-2012) wheat-soybean double-cropped production system using different tillage treatments (conventional tillage and no-tillage), burn management (burn and no burn), nitrogen fertilizer treatments, and irrigation regimes (irrigated and non-irrigated). The project involved directing a soil infiltration experiment and providing field research assistance to doctoral advisor. Measured observations: Biomass production, soil nutrient cycling, soil chemical properties, water infiltration rates (double-ring and mini-disk infiltrometer), soil surface CO2 flux, and soil compaction (bulk density). Research location: Lon Mann Cotton Research Station, Marianna, Arkansas. Project length: 8/2008-2/2013.Doctoral Research Advisor: K.R. Brye.
12. University of Arkansas | Long-Term effects of Rice Rotation, Tillage, and Fertility on Near-Surface Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling. 2008-2013. Doctoral Research Scientist – Dissertation Research. Evaluation of rice-based crop rotations (with continuous rice, soybean, corn, and winter wheat), tillage treatments (conventional tillage and no-tillage), fertility regimes (optimal and sub-optimal), and soil depth (0- to 10-cm and 10- to 20-cm) on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling, and soil physical and chemical properties, over 12 years (1999-2011). Measured observations: Soil organic matter dynamics, biomass production, soil nutrient cycling, soil chemical properties, water stable aggregates and their associated C and N contents, soil surface CO2 flux, and soil compaction (bulk density and penetration resistance). Modeling observations: Data used to model and compare measured observations using the Century Model. Field research location: Rice Research and Extension Station, Stuttgart, Arkansas. Project length: 8/2008-2/2013. Doctoral Research Advisors: K.R. Brye and M.M. Anders.

Publications

1. Motschenbacher, J.M.D., J. Wang, and. A, Finley. 2023. Native American Student Research Experiences in IoT-Enabled Environmental Monitoring Technologies: An Analysis of North Dakota Tribal Student Experiences in Beijing, China and Mobile, Alabama. American Society of Engineering Educators (ASEE) 2023 Conference Proceedings. (Accepted)
2. Wang, J., J.M.D. Motschenbacher, and A. Finley. 2022. International Research Experience for Native American Students in IoT-Enabled Environmental Monitoring Technologies. ASEE 2022 Conference Proceedings.
3. Motschenbacher, J.M.D., E.A. Berg, J. Ladbury, J. Nyachwaya, L. Montplaisir, and P. Kelter. 2020. Gateways-ND: Demonstrating Institutional Change in STEM Teaching and Learning within North Dakota State University. ASEE 2020 Conference Proceedings.
4. Wang, J. and J.M.D. Motschenbacher. 2020. IRES Track I: USA-China: International Research Experience for Native American Students in IoT-Enabled Environmental Monitoring Technologies. ASEE 2020 Conference Proceedings.
5. Motschenbacher, J.M.D., M. Vosen Callens, J. Nyachwaya, E, Berg, J. Ladbury, R. Reichenbach, and P. Kelter. 2019. Gateways-ND: Building the Institutional Infrastructure towards Viable Postsecondary STEM Education Reform. ASEE 2019 Conference Proceedings.
6. Vosen Callens, M., P. Kelter, J.M.D. Motschenbacher, J. Nyachwaya, J. Ladbury, and A. Semanko. 2019. Developing and Implementing a Campus-wide Professional Development Program: Successes and Challenges. Journal of College Science Teaching 49(2): 68-75. doi: 10.2505/4/jcst19_049_02_68
7. Motschenbacher, J.M.D., R. Reichenbach, M. Hanson, E.A. Berg, J. Ladbury. P. Kelter. L. Montplaisir, and J. Nyachwaya. 2018. Gateways-ND: Advancing Learner-Focused Instruction to Catalyze STEM Student Success. American Society of Engineering Educators (ASEE) 2018 Conference Proceedings, Salt Lake City, Utah.
8. Daigh, A.L.M. and J.M.D. Motschenbacher. 2017. Breaking Tradition to Create Self-Motivated, Collaborative Students. Soil and Agronomy (CSA) News Magazine, October issue. 62(10):33-34
9. Welker, E., J.M.D. Motschenbacher, and P. Kelter. 2017. Classroom design manual: Guidelines for creating and remodeling learning spaces. Provost Office and the Office of Teaching and Learning. North Dakota State University.
10. Motschenbacher, J.M.D. 2015. Bringing the passion back: Using your expertise to gain experience, improve motivation, and create real change in global agriculture. Soil and Agronomy (CSA) News Magazine, April issue. 60(4):34-35
11. Brye, K.R., R.L. McMullen, M.L. Silveria, J.M.D. Motschenbacher, S.F. Smith, E.E. Gbur, and M.L. Helton. 2015. Environmental controls on soil respiration across a southern climate gradient: A meta-analysis. Geoderma Regional 7:110-119.
12. Motschenbacher, J.M., K.R. Brye, M.M. Anders, E.E. Gbur, N.A. Slaton, and M.A. Evans-White. 2015. Daily soil surface CO2 flux during non-flooded periods in flood-irrigated rice rotations. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 35:771-782. doi: 10.1007/s13593-014-0278-6
13. Motschenbacher, J.M. 2014. A glimpse at a typical first week in the life of a Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer: A personal diary. United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Blog, Farmer-to-Farmer Program.
14. Motschenbacher, J.M., K.R. Brye, M.M. Anders, and E.E. Gbur. 2014. Long-term rice rotation, tillage, and fertility effects on chemical properties in a silt-loam soil. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 100:77-94. doi: 10.1007/s10705-014-9628-7
15. Motschenbacher, J.M., K.R. Brye, M.M. Anders, E.E. Gbur, N.A. Slaton, and M.A. Evans-White. 2014. Long-term crop rotation, tillage, and fertility effects on soil carbon and nitrogen in dry-seeded, delayed-flood rice production systems. pp. 129-156. In C.R.V. Morgado and V.P.P. Esteves (eds.). CO2 Sequestration and Valorization. InTech Europe. doi: 10.5772/57064
16. Motschenbacher, J.M., K.R. Brye, M.M. Anders, E.E. Gbur, N.A. Slaton, and M.A. Evans-White. 2013. Rice rotation and tillage effects on water-stable soil macroaggregates and their associated carbon and nitrogen contents in a silt loam soil. Soil Science 178:596-611. doi: 10.1097/SS.0000000000000028
17. Motschenbacher, J.M., K.R. Brye, M.M. Anders, and E.E. Gbur. 2012. Soil surface CO2 flux as affected by rice-based rotation and tillage. B.R. Wells Rice Research Studies 2011, University of Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Publication, Research Series 591.
18. Motschenbacher, J.M., K.R. Brye, M.M. Anders, and E.E. Gbur. 2012. Water-stable soil aggregation in rice-based crop rotations. B.R. Wells Rice Research Studies 2011, University of Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Publication, Research Series 591.
19. Motschenbacher, J.M., K.R. Brye, and M.M. Anders. 2011. Bulk density as affected by rice-based cropping systems. B.R. Wells Rice Research Studies 2010, University of Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Publication, Research Series 591.
20. Motschenbacher, J. M., K.R. Brye, and M.M. Anders. 2011. Long-term rice-based cropping system effects on near-surface soil compaction. Agricultural Sciences 2:117-124. doi: 10.4236/as.2011.22017