Toby Adjuik

Welcome

About Me

Scientist advancing biodegradable polymers for sustainable agriculture.

I am passionate about solving real-world problems at the intersection of agriculture, sustainability, and technology. Whether it’s enhancing soil health, creating more innovative bio-based products, or applying data-driven tools to complex systems, my work is rooted in a deep commitment to impact. My work integrates scientific discovery with commercial application to make sustainable solutions deployable at scale. Beyond the lab and field, I enjoy mentoring students and collaborating across disciplines to push boundaries and reimagine what’s possible for the future of food, energy, and the environment.

What I do

What I do:

● Translate biopolymer research into environmentally friendly agricultural products.

● Design experiments to develop biodegradable polymeric material and test their interactions with soil under lab and field conditions.

● Help drive innovations to commercialize biobased agricultural soil and seed inputs.

● Collaborate with cross-functional teams (materials science, agronomy, process engineering, marketing) to bring concepts to scale.

Research Interests

  • Circular bioeconomy
  • Super-absorbent polymers for precision water management in agriculture
  • Encapsulation technologies for controlled release of nutrients or biocontrol agents
  • Data-driven soil health modelling for sustainable product development
  • Soil greenhouse gas emissions
  • Soil physics
  • Machine learning
  • Water quality
  • Process-based modeling

Professional Appointments

Research Scientist

EF Polymer Global – 9/2025 – Present

Research Scientist

Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI)and Iowa State University (Department of Agronomy), Ames, IA – 8/2024 – 9/2025

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) and Iowa State University (Department of Agronomy), Ames, IA – 8/2022 – 7/2024

Graduate Research Assistant

Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY – (8/2019 – 8/2022) 

Graduate Research Assistant

Environmental Studies Program, Ohio University, Athens, IA – (8/2017 – 8/2019) 

Research  and Teaching Assistant

Department of Food Process Engineering, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana – (8/2016 – 8/2017) 

Education

  • Ph.D. in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, 2022
  • University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
  • MS in Environmental Studies, 2019
  • Ohio University, Athens, OH
  • BS in Food Process Engineering, 2016
  • University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana