Match tier Confirmed
Presence Current · Arkansas
Last published 2026
Sources OpenAlex · ORCID
Refreshed 2026-10-08

Benjamin R. K. Runkle

Affiliation confirmed via AI analysis of OpenAlex, ORCID, and web sources.

High Impact

Professor

University of Arkansas

Also affiliated: Agricultural Research Service (2023); United States Department of Agriculture (2022); University of Alaska Fairbanks (2021); Max Planck Society (2014); Universität Hamburg (2011–2022); St. Petersburg Department of Steklov Institute of Mathematics (2013); Steklov Mathematical Institute (2013); Delta Water Management Research Unit (2023); Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska (2023); University of California, Berkeley (2008–2011); Stanford University (2021)

32 h-index 203 pubs 3,380 cited

Research Areas

Biomedical Subjects

  • Ecosystem
  • Oryza
  • Methane
  • Agriculture
  • Soil
  • Climate Change
  • Greenhouse Gases
  • Climate
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Remote Sensing Technology
  • Seasons
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Wetlands
  • Carbon
  • Arkansas

Links

ORCID Lab Website

OverviewAI-generated summary

Benjamin R. K. Runkle's research focuses on understanding and quantifying greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane (CH4), from various ecosystems. His work has involved significant contributions to the FLUXNET-CH4 Synthesis Activity, a global effort to collect and analyze methane seasonality data from freshwater wetlands. This research aims to identify key environmental factors influencing methane fluxes across different timescales, from diurnal to seasonal variations.

Runkle has investigated methane emission reductions in agricultural settings, specifically studying the impact of alternate wetting and drying techniques in rice fields using the eddy covariance method. His publications also address the broader implications of climate change, including the increasing contribution of peatlands to boreal evapotranspiration and the hysteresis observed in the temperature sensitivity of global wetland methane emissions. He has also contributed to science communication for climate solutions, as seen in his work on informing nature-based climate solutions for the United States.

His academic background includes a B.S.E. from Princeton University and a Ph.D. from UC-Berkeley, both in Civil & Environmental Engineering, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Hamburg. Runkle has been a Co-Principal Investigator on multiple federal grants totaling over $8.2 million, with funding from agencies such as the USDA/National Institute of Food and Agriculture and NASA. These grants have supported research related to water resource management, agricultural emissions, STEM education for Native American youth, and invasive species prevention.

Metrics

  • h-index: 32
  • Publications: 203
  • Citations: 3,380

Positions

  • Professor 2025–present
    University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Biological & Agricultural Engineering ORCID
  • Associate Professor 2020–present
    University of Arkansas Fayetteville Biological & Agricultural Engineering ORCID
  • Assistant Professor 2014–2020
    University of Arkansas Fayetteville Biological & Agricultural Engineering ORCID

Selected Publications

  • Depth-dependent hydrological and substrate dynamics enhance methane modeling and inform water management in rice systems (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from November 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from November 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from October 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from November 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from November 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from October 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from November 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from October 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from November 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from November 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from November 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from November 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from November 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from November 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex

View all publications on OpenAlex →

Federal Grants 7 $7,887,681 total

Note: 7 grants are marked "Topic-matched" — attributed by description keywords rather than verified PI records.

USDA Topic-matched Sep 2024 - Aug 2028

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH ARE AMONG THE LEAST REPRESENTED IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM) FIELDS IN THE US. THERE ARE FOUR CHALLENGES THAT ARE COMMON FOR STUDENTS FROM TRIBAL COMMUNITIES: 1) A SENSE OF BELONGING; 2) A VISION AND PURPOSE; 3) COLLEGE PREPARATION, AND 4) ECONOMIC SUPPORT TO COMPLETE THE DEGREE. THE U

National Institute of Food and Agriculture $750,000
USDA Topic-matched Sep 2023 - Aug 2027

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH ARE AMONG THE LEAST REPRESENTED IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM) FIELDS IN THE US. THERE ARE FOUR CHALLENGES THAT ARE COMMON FOR STUDENTS FROM TRIBAL COMMUNITIES: 1) A SENSE OF BELONGING; 2) A VISION AND PURPOSE; 3) COLLEGE PREPARATION, AND 4) ECONOMIC SUPPORT TO COMPLETE THE DEGREE. THE U

National Institute of Food and Agriculture $749,625
USDA Topic-matched Jun 2023 - May 2026

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** IN COMING DECADES, CLIMATE CHANGE WILL JEOPARDIZE PRODUCTION OF STAPLE CROPS IN THE U.S., HIGHLIGHTING THE NEED FOR SUSTAINABLE INTENSIFICATION AND IMPROVED CLIMATE-CROP RESPONSE PREDICTION. THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO ADDRESS THIS CHALLENGE THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF MACHINE LEARNING TO DEVELOP MULTI-SCALE (WITHIN-FIELD TO NATIONAL SCA

National Institute of Food and Agriculture $155,183
USDA Topic-matched May 2023 - Apr 2027

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** GLOBALLY, INVASIVE SPECIES CAUSE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGES TO ECOSYSTEM SERVICES, INCLUDING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND BIODIVERSITY, AND THESE DAMAGES WILL ONLY INCREASE AS CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRESSES. THE U.S. HAS ADOPTED EARLY DETECTION AND RAPID RESPONSE (EDRR) POLICIES TO PREVENT SPREAD AND ESTABLISHMENT OF INVASIVE SPECI

National Institute of Food and Agriculture $650,000
NASA Topic-matched Jun 2021 - May 2027

RICE IS A SIGNIFICANT FOOD CROP THAT IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR 8% OF GLOBAL ANTHROPOGENIC METHANE EMISSIONS DUE TO ITS CULTIVATION IN ANAEROBIC SOIL ENVIRONMENTS. THERE IS STILL CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY TO THE METHANE EMISSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH RICE

National Aeronautics and Space Administration $1,069,563
USDA Topic-matched Sep 2020 - Sep 2024

THE FOOD, AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCE, AND HUMAN SCIENCES ARE EXPERIENCING COMPLEX CHALLENGES, SUCH AS CLIMATE CHANGE, POPULATION GROWTH, GLOBALIZED MARKETS AND A SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED GRADUATES TO FILL POSITIONS, ESPECIALLY AMONG UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS. THE CURRENT EDUCATIONAL AND RECRUITMENT MODEL FOR POSTSECONDARY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND CAREERS HAS FAILED TO ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THESE NEEDS.THIS PROJECT PROPOSES USING A MODEL OF HIGH-IMPACT PRACTICES (HIPS) TO ENHANCE INSTRUCTIONAL EXPER

National Institute of Food and Agriculture $193,368
USDA Topic-matched Aug 2018 - Jul 2025

THE COMBINATION OF CONTINUED GLOBAL POPULATION GROWTH, WITH AN ADDITIONAL 3 BILLION PEOPLE OVER THE NEXT 40 YEARS, AND EXPECTED INTENSIFICATION OF CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND RESULTING VARIABILITY IN RELIABLE WATER RESOURCES REQUIRES THAT WATER RECYCLING BECOME AN INTEGRATED PART OF AGRICULTURAL WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. FURTHER, IMPORTANT NUTRIENTS ARE LOST TO WASTEWATERS BUT COULD BE RECYCLED AND REUSED FOR FOOD PRODUCTION. ABSENT A CONCERTED EFFORT TO RECYCLE THESE NUTRIENTS, THE FOOD SUPPLY DEM

National Institute of Food and Agriculture $4,319,942

Collaboration Network

470 Collaborators 247 Institutions 31 Countries

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