Catherine Simpson, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Urban Horticulture and Sustainability in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at Texas Tech University, where her work bridges plant science, sustainability, and human well‑being. She is the Thrust 2 lead within the NSF‑funded TARDISS Engineering Research Center, contributing expertise in controlled‑environment agriculture, water and soil sustainability, and sustainable crop production for arid and semi‑arid systems. Dr. Simpson’s research explores how innovative production systems, ranging from hydroponics and greenhouse cultivation to alternative water sources, can improve plant nutritional quality, phytochemical composition, and resilience while reducing resource use. Through TARDISS, her work helps advance sustainable solutions for domestic rubber and latex crops and broader agricultural systems facing climate and water constraints. Passionate about connecting science with society, Dr. Simpson also engages in outreach and interdisciplinary collaborations that link plants, people, and environmental health.