Umer is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Specializing in Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of bioenergy crops, particularly switchgrass, he earned his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Inner Mongolia Agricultural University. His doctoral research focused on sustainable agricultural practices amidst climate change and crop production. Umer’s current research revolves around the TEA and LCA of bioenergy feedstocks, with a primary emphasis on switchgrass cultivation. His expertise lies in developing climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies within the bioenergy sector. He endeavors to strike a balance between global energy and food demand while mitigating environmental impacts.