Scott Senseman, Ali Mirchi and Damona Doye — Scott Senseman, associate vice president of Oklahoma State University Ag Research, and Damona Doye, associate vice president of OSU Extension, present Ali Mirchi, associate professor in the OSU Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, with the James A. Whatley Award for Meritorious Research in Agricultural Sciences. (Photo by Mitchell Alcala, OSU Agriculture)

OSU Agriculture names Whatley Award recipient

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Media Contact: Mandy Gross | Sr. Manager of Strategic and VP Communications | 405-744-4063 | mandy.gross@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University’s Ali Mirchi has been named the 2024 recipient of the James A. Whatley Award for Meritorious Research in Agricultural Sciences by the OSU Division of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources.

First recognized in 1982, the award is presented annually and recognizes outstanding research contributions to advancements in agricultural sciences.

Mirchi, associate professor in the OSU Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, received the prestigious award last month during the OSU Agriculture Appreciation and Awards Luncheon.

“I am truly honored to receive this recognition,” Mirchi said. “Addressing water resources challenges in agriculture presents exciting research opportunities, but it also means tackling real problems that impact farmers and communities on the front lines of food security and environmental protection. I take these challenges seriously and work closely with stakeholders to find solutions that drive real-world action.”

Mirchi’s research program supports sustainable human-environmental systems, considering possible, probable and preferable futures of water availability and quality.

He focuses on developing tools, guiding policies, and advising on management interventions to foster healthy ecosystems and sustainable agriculture. These efforts support food, feed and fiber production and resource management amid challenges caused by climate change, urbanization, irrigation expansion and fragile ecosystems.

Mirchi’s research has advanced climate-informed adaptation planning for U.S. and overseas sustainable water futures facing limited resources, increasing demand, competing interests, environmental problems and growing uncertainties.

“I am proud to have built an internationally visible interdisciplinary research program with a solid funding stream to make outstanding contributions to the field of water resources and mentor highly competent early career scholars,” he said.

Mirchi’s collaborations have led to 70 journal articles in prestigious scientific journals, including an article in the “Journal of American Water Resources Association” that was recognized as one of its most cited papers in 2023. He published eight peer-reviewed manuscripts in 2023 and 10 manuscripts in 2024.

In addition, Mirchi produces at least 10 presentations per year at state, national and international conferences to enhance the exposure of his program and train graduate students and post-doctoral scholars.

Mirchi is an exceptionally productive faculty member who has excelled in research scholarship with significant national and international impact, said Mari Chinn, biosystems and agricultural engineering professor and department head.

“Dr. Mirchi has demonstrated the commitment and ability to serve as a leader of novel, high-impact research that addresses the most pressing water resources challenges of the 21st century that threaten our food security and ecosystem sustainability,” she said. “His accomplishments contribute to our reputation as a well-recognized land-grant, tier-one research institution with a long and rich history of water resources programs.”

Mirchi has been recognized not only at OSU but also worldwide.

Past achievements include being named an OSU nominee for the Blavatnic National Awards for Young Scientists in Physical Sciences and Engineering, U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture Partnership Award for Program Improvement through Global Engagement, 2021 Early Career Award for Applied Research from The Universities Council on Water Resources, Communication Award for a Fact Sheet from the Oklahoma Association of Extension Agriculture Agents, Outstanding Reviewer for the American Geophysical Union, and Arab-American Frontiers Fellow from the U.S. National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, to name a few.

“I am proud of his accomplishments and the distinguishing impact of his programs internationally,” Chinn said. “He is an extremely valuable faculty member to the department, division and OSU.

Whatley, in whose name the award is presented, was an animal geneticist who became director of the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station system and dean of the division, which is comprised of the OSU Ferguson College of Agriculture and two state agencies: OSU Extension and OSU Ag Research. Whatley served OSU for 41 years.