New UADA nematology lab director looking at agriculture from the soil up
Feb. 11, 2026
By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- Demesyeux was immersed in agriculture in the Caribbean from a young age
- Plans to expand nematode education through producer training
(632 words)
Download photo of Demesyeux
(Editor’s note: ‘Lynhe Demesyeux’ is c.q.; all-caps EARTH is c.q.)
HOPE, Ark. — Lynhe Demesyeux, extension nematology educator for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and director of the Arkansas Nematode Diagnostic Laboratory, said her interest in farming — and the countless organisms that lie beneath the soil — began at an early age.
“I grew up around agriculture through my grandparents, who were farmers,” said Demesyeux, who was raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. “I also love science and was always curious about how nature works. As I became more aware of the challenges my grandparents and other farmers in the community faced, I felt strongly motivated to help find solutions that improve yield and support their livelihoods.”
After high school, Demesyeux moved to Costa Rica to complete her bachelor’s degree at EARTH University, which focuses on a four-year program in agricultural sciences.
“When the opportunity to study at EARTH University came up, I did not hesitate,” she said. “It felt like the right path immediately.”
After completing her undergraduate degree in 2013, Demesyeux went on to obtain a master’s degree in horticultural sciences and a Ph.D. in agricultural sciences at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Focusing on nematodes, abundant worms found in soil and water throughout the world, wasn’t her “original plan,” she said.
“It happened almost by accident,” Demesyeux said. “But once I realized how damaging plant-parasitic nematodes can be, and how often they are overlooked or underdiagnosed, I became deeply interested. I decided to pursue my Ph.D. in nematology because it aligned with my long-term goal, which is to develop practical, science-based solutions that help farmers.”
In October 2025, Demesyeux presented her vision for the Arkansas Nematode Diagnostic Laboratory, which is part of the Southwest Research and Extension Center in Hope, Arkansas, to an audience of Division of Agriculture faculty and staff as part of the hiring process. The center’s director, Daniel Rivera, said that throughout the entire hiring and interview process, Demesyeux left him with increasing confidence that she was the perfect fit for the job.
“During the interview phase, there were two things about her that caught my interest,” Rivera said. “The first was her attitude. She is very down-to-earth and easy to get along with.
“The lab requires a lot of close teamwork among the members, and I felt that she would fit right in with the lab group,” he said.
“The second was her questions,” Rivera said. “She asked me a lot of hypothetical questions regarding the position and what she could or couldn’t do. To me, I take that as a sign that she sees herself in that role and is thinking of ways to make it better.
“I am convinced we have a fantastic hire here,” Rivera said.
Demesyeux said she hopes to help producers and other residents across Arkansas develop a broader understanding of how nematodes and other aspects of soil ecology affect their work and lives.
“Nematode impacts on crops are often underestimated because the damage can be ‘invisible’ until yield losses occur,” Demesyeux said. “My goal is to ensure Arkansas growers have access to strong diagnostics and practical education so they can detect problems early and manage them sustainably.
“I would like to expand producer trainings and resources, strengthen the nematode diagnostic lab’s outreach and services and develop extension programming focused on integrated nematode management for Arkansas cropping systems,” she said.
“Helping growers and advancing agriculture has always been central to what motivates me,” Demesyeux said. “Through a combination of research, diagnostics and extension experiences in Costa Rica, Haiti and the United States, I developed the skills needed to connect science with real-world needs via effective communication.
“The University of Arkansas offered an opportunity to build a program that combines everything I care about: serving stakeholders directly through extension and strengthening diagnostic capacity that translates into better management decisions,” she said.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media Contact:
Ryan McGeeney
rmcgeeney@uada.edu
501-671-2120