Benjamin R. K. Runkle Data-verified

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

High Impact

Associate Professor

University of Arkansas
Last publication 2026 Last refreshed 2026-05-22

faculty

32 h-index 196 pubs 3,092 cited

Research Areas

Links

ORCID Lab Website

OverviewAI-generated summary

Benjamin R. K. Runkle is an Associate Professor at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He holds a B.S.E. in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in Civil & Environmental Engineering from UC-Berkeley. He also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Hamburg Institute of Soil Science.

Runkle's research focuses on ecosystem dynamics, particularly the emission of greenhouse gases like methane from various environments. His work investigates the environmental factors influencing these emissions, including seasonality and temperature sensitivity. He has contributed to the development of large-scale datasets, such as FLUXNET-CH4, which provides global methane flux data from freshwater wetlands. His publications explore methods for gap-filling flux data using machine learning and assess the potential of nature-based climate solutions.

His research has involved collaborations with several colleagues at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, including Beatriz Moreno‐García, Gerardo Celis, Will Richardson, and Dakota S. Dale. Runkle maintains an active lab website. He is recognized as a highly cited researcher, with 192 publications and over 3,000 citations, and an h-index of 31.

Metrics

  • h-index: 32
  • Publications: 196
  • Citations: 3,092

Selected Publications

  • 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
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from November 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex

View all publications on OpenAlex →

Federal Grants 9 $8,675,914 total

Note: 9 grants are marked "Topic-matched" — attributed by description keywords rather than verified PI records.

USDA/National Institute of Food and Agriculture 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

$750,000
USDA/National Institute of Food and Agriculture 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

$749,625
USDA/National Institute of Food and Agriculture 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

$180,000
USDA/National Institute of Food and Agriculture 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

$650,000
USDA/National Institute of Food and Agriculture Topic-matched Jan 2022 - Sep 2025

WITH THE WORLD POPULATION PROJECTED TO REACH 9.8 BILLION BY 2050, THERE IS IMMENSE PRESSURE ON ANIMAL AGRICULTURE TO INCREASE PRODUCTION TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND FOR HIGH-QUALITY PROTEIN. BROILER CHICKENS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN WORLDWIDE MEAT PRODUCTION, AS THEY ARE ONE OF THE MOST EFFICIENT FOOD SOURCES, AND SUPPORT THE LIVELIHOODS AND FOOD SECURITY OF BILLIONS OF PEOPLE. GENETIC SELECTION FOR HIGH GROWTH RATE AND ENHANCED MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT HAS MADE IMPRESSIVE PROGRESS IN TERMS OF BREAST

$299,944
USDA/National Institute of Food and Agriculture Topic-matched Jul 2021 - Jun 2025

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROJECT SUPPORTS THE ACQUISITION OF THE LEICA STELLARIS 8 LASER SCANNING CONFOCAL MICROSCOPE TO ADVANCEMULTI-DISCIPLINARY, COLLABORATIVE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN ARKANSAS. LASER SCANNING CONFOCAL MICROSCOPY ELIMINATESUNWANTED OUT-OF-FOCUS LIGHT TO PERMIT HIGH-RESOLUTION OF BIOLOGICAL SPECIMENS WHILE ENABLING VISUALIZATION OF T

$463,472
NASA/National Aeronautics and Space Administration Topic-matched Jun 2021 - May 2026

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

$1,069,563
USDA/National Institute of Food and Agriculture 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

$193,368
USDA/National Institute of Food and Agriculture 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

$4,319,942

Collaboration Network

306 Collaborators 165 Institutions 27 Countries

Top Collaborators

Similar Researchers

Based on overlapping research topics

Beatriz Moreno‐García University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Greenhouse Gases Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics Rice Cultivation and Yield Improvement
Related 3 shared topics