LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An internationally known expert on water, food and environmental research will serve as the next leader of the University of Nebraska’s Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute.

Peter McCornick will begin his new role as the institute’s executive director on Sept. 1.

McCornick currently serves as deputy director general for research at the International Water Management Institute in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He will succeed Roberto Lenton, who became the Water for Food Institute’s founding executive director in 2012.

McCornick is among the feature speakers at the 2016 Water for Food Global Conference, set for April 24-26 at the Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln.

He has led research and development programs on water, agriculture and the environment in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the United States.