Crop and Soil Sciences > Personnel > Faculty

Crop and Soil Sciences Faculty

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences faculty are divided into three areas of specialization - Agronomy, Soil Science, and Turfgrass Science. Clicking on the faculty members name will take you to their personal page, which contains detailed information.

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Agronomy | Soils | Turfgrass

Agronomy Faculty

	Douglas Archibald	(Ph.D. University of Washington), Research Associate in Agricultural Analytical Chemistry. Development and application of analytical chemistry for crop and soil sciences, with emphasis on plant tissue evaluation, fat quality assessment for commodities, mycotoxin analysis, soil organic matter evaluation, and analytical laboratory training and education; Expertise in multivariate analysis of instrumental data, spectral-property databases, spectroscopy (UV-vis, NIR, Raman and infrared), chromatography, mass spectrometry, and microscopy.
	Surinder Chopra	(Ph.D. Vrije Univ. of Brussels, Belgium.), Assistant Professor of Maize Genetics. Gene organization and molecular mechanisms of allele specific expression patterns. Biotic stress and regulation of plant flavonoid and phytoalexin biosynthetic pathways.
	James B. Cropper	(M.S. Illinois), Adjunct Instructor in Agronomy, USDA-NRCS. Developer of Forage Suitability Groups - like soils are grouped together within a Major Land Resource Unit that have the same forage yield potential, similar agronomic needs, and similar grazing management needs; nutrient and runoff management of pastures to protect animal well-being and water quality; riparian area management in pastures.
	William S. Curran	(Ph.D. Illinois), Professor of Weed Science. Extension weed science program; research in herbicide persistence, weed biology, ecology, and control; conservation tillage systems.
	Dr. Majid R. Foolad	(Ph.D. University of California, Davis), Courtesy Associate Professor of Plant Genetics. Genetic and Molecular Characterization of Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Tomato; Genetic and Molecular Characterization of Biotic Stress Resistance in Tomato; Germplasm improvement.
	David L. Gustine	(Ph.D. Michigan State), Adjunct Associate Professor of Crop Physiology, USDA-ARS. Biochemistry and molecular biological aspects of disease resistance in forage legumes and apomixis in forage grasses.
	Dr. Marvin H. Hall	(Ph.D. Minnesota), Professor of Forage Management. Extension forage program; research in establishment, management, and utilization of forage crops for livestock production and environmental sustainability.
	David H. Johnson	(Ph.D Arkansas), Senior Project Associate & Associate Professor. Scientist in charge of the Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center.
	Dr. Heather Karsten	(Ph.D. Cornell), Associate Professor of Crop Production\Ecology. Agroecosystem research and teaching; pasture plant ecology and physiology, Grazing management, forage plant persistence, and productivity.
	Dr. Daniel P. Knievel	(Ph.D. Wisconsin), Associate Professor of Crop Physiology. Physiology of grain and forage yield; photosynthesis and assimilate partitioning; physiological responses to environmental and biological stress; crop microclimate and crop growth modeling.
	Dr. Charles R. Krueger	(Ph.D. Wisconsin), Professor of Agronomy. Using public-private partnerships to achieve relevance and accountability of agricultural research and education programs; setting priorities, goals, and expected outcomes for research and education programs; organizing private-sector advocacy for funding of research and education programs; developing and implementing a regional agenda for livestock grazing programs through the Northeast Pasture Research and Extension Consortium.
	Dr. Jonathan P. Lynch	(Ph.D., University of California, Davis), Courtesy Associate Professor of Plant Nutrition .
	Dr. David Mortensen	(Ph.D. North Carolina State), Professor of Weed Ecology/Biology. Elucidates ecological principles underlying sustainable cropping systems. The influence of landscape and management heterogeneity on cropping systems performance and weed population dynamics are studied using spatially explicit empirical and modelling methods.
	Dr. Barbara W. Pennypacker	(Ph.D. Penn State), Assistant Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of Agronomy. Forage legume stress physiology; physiology of disease resistance and the impact of abiotic stress on disease resistance in forage legumes; mechanistic basis of polygenic resistance; greenhouse methods of improving soybean disease resistance.
	Dr. Janis T. Pruss	(Ph.D. Penn State), Manager, Crop Management Program / Affiliate Instructor, Agronomy. My goal is to promote integrated crop management practices that support crop productivity, economic profitability, and environmental sustainability. In this effort, I work with industry and local Crop Management Association members and consultants to develop and implement crop information management systems and other technologies that utilize site-specific data for enhanced decision-making.
	Dr. Marvin Risius	(Ph.D. Cornell), Professor Emeritus of Plant Breeding. Breeding and genetics of small grains for improved disease resistance, winter hardiness, straw strength, and yield; applied statistics; small grain production management.
	Dr. Gregory W. Roth	(Ph.D. Penn State), Professor of Agronomy. Corn and sorghum management; evaluation of cultural practices, nitrogen fertilizer management, and development of integrated pest management strategies for crop production.
	Dr. Matt A. Sanderson	(Ph.D. Iowa State), Adjunct Professor of Agronomy, USDA-ARS. The agronomy and ecology of grazing lands in the northeastern U.S. The goal of his research project is to develop the ecological and physiological bases for improving productivity, sustainability, and profitability of forage-livestock systems. The research approach uses basic ecology, molecular biology, and agronomy in analyzing the role of species diversity in grassland agriculture. The research is conducted at multiple scales from the molecular level to farm-scale experiments. Dr. Sanderson has 20 years of research experience in forage and grazing lands. His research has focused on the physiology, management, and use of forages in multipurpose systems. Research projects have been diverse including forage nitrogen use by ruminants, developmental morphology of forages, bioenergy crops, forages for manure management, and grazing land ecology.
	Dr. R. Howard Skinner	(Ph.D. Missouri), Adjunct Assistant Professor of Agronomy, USDA-ARS. Interrelationships between plant species diversity and pasture responses to abiotic and biotic stress, development of multi-species plant growth models, and long-term monitoring of carbon dioxide fluxes and carbon sequestration.

Soil Science Faculty

	Dr. Douglas B. Beegle	(Ph.D. Penn State), Professor of Agronomy. Extension education programs, plant nutrition, soil testing, manure management, and whole farm nutrient management. Research in soil test evaluation and calibration, fertility management (N, P, K, S), starter fertilizer management, development of nutrient management systems, and management of agricultural phosphorus and the environment. Advisor to state and federal government agencies and other organizations on nutrient management and agriculture related water quality issues.
	Dr. Jean-Marc Bollag	(Ph.D. Basel), Professor Emeritus of Soil Biochemistry and Director of the Center for Bioremediation and Detoxification. Transformation of pesticides and other xenobiotics in the soil; microbial participation in humus formation; interactions of heavy metals and microorganisms in the soil; effect of pollutants on denitrification.
	Dr. Mary Ann Bruns	(Ph.D. Michigan State), Assistant Professor of Agronomy/Soil Microbiology. Comparative microbial ecology of terrestrial systems; microorganisms involved in retention and loss of soil carbon and nitrogen; PCR-based DNA fingerprinting to track key microbial populations and community changes in soils and rhizospheres, groundwater, composts, biosolids, and managed systems; fate and transport of fecal indicator and pathogenic bacteria in the environment.
	Dr. Ray Bryant	(Ph.D. Purdue), Adjunct Professor of Pedology & Research Leader for USDA-ARS Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit. Landscape assessment and resource potential for use as grazing land and for predicting the economic and environmental impacts of farm management at pedon, field, farm, watershed, and regional scales. Soil and landscape processes affecting nutrient transport.
	Katharine L. Butler	(M.S. Penn State), Senior Lecturer of Soil Science. Introductory soil science, soil inorganic nitrogen, grazed pastures, coastal marshlands, paleontology.
	Dr. Edward J. Ciolkosz	(Ph.D. Wisconsin), Professor of Soil Genesis and Morphology. Soil genesis, mapping, and classification; soil geomorphology; soil characterization; land use.
	Dr. Rick L. Day	(Ph.D. Penn State), Associate Professor of Soil Science and Environmental Information Systems. Using geographic information systems, terrain analysis, remote sensing and global positioning for environmental assessment and modeling, soil mapping, and land use planning; soil hydrology; water quality.
	Dr. Curtis Dell	(Ph.D. Kansas State), Adjunct Assistant Professor of Soil Science, USDA-ARS. Optimizing nutrient management to sustain agricultural ecosystems and protect water quality; microbial processes in soil with the primary focus on soil organic matter dynamics and nitrogen cycling; impact of manure applications on carbon sequestration, soil organic matter quality, and nitrogen cycling; interaction of organic matter additions (manure) and improvement of soil physical properties.
	Dr. Sjoerd W. Duiker	(Ph.D. Ohio State), Assistant Professor of Soil Management and Applied Soil Physics. Determine the effects of tillage, crop rotations, and cover crops on soil quality. Evaluate soil degradation and search for improved management options in participative on-farm research projects.
	Dr. William E. Easterling	(Ph.D. North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Professor of Geography and Agronomy. Seasonal to interannual climate variability caused by El Nino events of agricultural productivity; social drivers of land use change in response to climate change in the Great Plains; use of high-resolution climate change scenarios to simulate crop yields in the Great Plains.
	Dr. Daniel D. Fritton	(Ph.D. Iowa State), Professor of Soil Physics. Site evaluation for disposal of septic tank effluent; soil physical properties and plant root growth; soil compaction; ion movement through soils with dual pore systems.
	John Hudak	(M.S. Penn State), Adjunct Instructor in Soil Conservation.
	Dr. Peter Kleinman	(Ph.D. Cornell), Adjunct Assistant Professor of Soil Science, USDA-ARS. Explore the interactions between land management and landscape processes that control the transfer of nutrients from land to water; Comparison of phosphorus transport processes at plot, field, hillslope and catchment scales; Assessment of landscape processes on seasonal transport of phosphorus from agricultural lands; Role of soil P in controlling phosphorus losses in overland and subsurface flow; Role of mineral and manurial phosphorus sources on phosphorus losses in runoff and leachate; Developing an environmental phosphorus test for manures; Use of Phosphorus Sorbing Amendments (PSAs) to reduce soluble phosphorus losses from agricultural lands.
	Dr. Sridhar Komarneni	(Ph.D. Wisconsin), Professor of Clay Mineralogy. Cation exchange, selectivity and fixation in relation to crystal chemistry of clay minerals and zeolites; specific adsorption of heavy metals on hydrous metal oxides; clay mineral transformations; synthesis of clay minerals; pillared clays; hazardous and nuclear waste disposal; zeolite fertilizers.
	Dr. Les E. Lanyon	(Ph.D. Ohio State), Professor of Soil Science and Management. Soil fertility for forage crops; soil-plant-animal system; soil properties and crop response; mineral composition of crops in relation to soil management and animal health; nutrient flow in managed pathways; efficient use of animal wastes; dynamics of nutrient flow on farms; farm-level modeling.
	Dr. Henry Lin	(Ph.D. Texas A&M), Assistant Professor of Hydropedologist/Soil Hydrologist. Hydropedology, soil physics/hydrology, pedology, soil structure and preferential flow, pedometrics, watershed water quality, OASIS (Online Advanced Spatial Information Systems), Web-based tools, geospatial technologies (GIS, GPS, RS), environmental modeling, and artificial intelligence applications in soil science, hydrology, and watershed science.
	Dr. Carmen Enid Martínez	(Ph.D. Rutgers), Assistant Professor of Environmental Soil Chemistry. The occurrence, distribution, and transformations of trace elements in the environment and their interactions with soil surfaces. The biogeochemical behavior of trace elements in conjunction with their solid- and solution- phase chemical speciation, and the effect of speciation on trace element biological availability, mobility, and transport in both complex environmental systems as well as model systems in the laboratory.
	Dr. Xianzeng Niu	(Ph.D. Penn State), Post-doctoral Scholar.
	Dr. Gary W. Petersen	(Ph.D. Wisconsin), Distinguished Professor of Soil and Land Resources. Morphology, mapping, and interpretive uses of soils; remote sensing, and geographic information systems; environmental quality and land use planning.
	Dr. Andrew S. Rogowski	(Ph.D. Iowa State), Adjunct Professor of Soil Physics. Incorporation of geostatistics, risk assessment, soil variability, and decision support system concepts into models of runoff, erosion, and pollutant transport on agricultural, or multi-use watersheds.
	Larry Schardt	(Ph.D. Penn State) Natural Resource Conservationist
	John P. Schmidt	(Ph.D. N.C. State), Adjunct Associate Professor of Soil Science, USDA-ARS. Dr. Schmidt serves as a team member on the research project concerning Optimizing nutrient management to sustain agricultural ecosystems and protect water quality. His research addresses the physical, chemical, and biological processes controlling nitrogen transformations and movement in soils, focusing on processes controlling nitrogen movement at the field and landscape scales.
	Dr. Andrew N. Sharpley	(Ph.D. Massey, New Zealand), Adjunct Professor of Soil Science, USDA-ARS. Phosphorus cycling and transformations in soil-plant-water systems in relation to soil productivity and water quality including fertilizer, crop residue and manure management and quantification and simulation of processes controlling agricultural chemical loss in runoff.
	Dr. Richard Stehouwer	(Ph.D. Ohio State University), Associate Professor of Environmental Soil Science. Characterization of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in composts as a function of compost maturity, and the influence of DOC on metals binding and transport in soils and minespoils. Effects of long-term application of municipal sewage biosolids on the quality of agricultural soils and crops.
	Dr. David Sylvia	(Ph.D. Cornell University), Professor of Soil Microbiology & Head, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences.
	Dr. Jack Watson	(Ph.D. Arizona), Professor of Soil Science.
	Jennifer Weld	(M.S. Penn State), Adjunct Instructor of Agronomy, USDA-ARS.
	Dr. Ann M. Wolf	(Ph.D. Penn State), Director, Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory / Affiliate Assistant Professor, Soil Science. Development and evaluation of methods for testing soil, plant and agricultural waste materials; phosphorus chemistry of soils; phosphorus pollution in agricultural systems.
	Dr. Yuanhong Zhu	(Ph.D. Penn State), Post-doctoral Scholar.

Turfgrass Faculty

	Dr. Michael Fidanza	(Ph.D. Maryland), Courtesy Professor of Turfgrass Science. Turfgrass management and turfgrass ecology; Turfgrass IPM (emphasis on weed and disease management); Ornamental and landscape horticulture.
	Dr. George W. Hamilton, Jr.	(Ph.D. Penn State), Assistant Professor of Turfgrass Science. Coordinator turfgrass research facilities. Advisor Two-Year Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program. Teaches cultural turfgrass management and golf course specifications, construction, and renovation. Research in soil and water relationships and other areas of turfgrass management.
	Dr. David R. Huff	(Ph.D. University of California), Associate Professor Turfgrass Breeding and Genetics. Basic and applied genetics of turfgrass species; germ plasm development and improvement; marker assisted selection; host-pathogen interactions; reproductive biology.
	Dr. Peter J. Landschoot	(Ph.D. Rhode Island), Professor of Turfgrass Management. Extension program in turfgrass management systems. Research in turfgrass integrated pest management; biology and ecology of ectotropic root-infecting fungi; weed control; and variety evaluation.
	Andrew S. McNitt	(Ph.D. Penn State), Assistant Professor of Turfgrass Science. Maximizing the safety and playability of athletic field playing surfaces through development of improved construction and maintenance techniques. Current projects include: Maximizing the surface stability of a sand rootzones through manipulation of maintenance practices; Evaluation of bentgrass root morphology and water use in rootzones of varying depths; Evaluation of spent mushroom substrate as topdressing for athletic fields; Evaluation of the playing surface characteristics of infilled synthetic turf systems; Evaluation of sand topdressing procedures for varying bentgrass varieties.
	Dr. Max Schlossberg	(Ph.D. Georgia) Assistant Professor of Turfgrass/Soil Science. Maximizing treatment efficacy of acid soil complex in turfgrass systems; Evaluating current interpretation of soil nutrient levels and site-specific management practices in recommending fertilizer type, rate, and application frequency; Evaluating soil amendments for improvement of nutrient use efficiency in turfgrass; and Geospatial analysis of soil hydrophobicity development in Mid-Atlantic Psamments and golf course putting green sands.
	Dr. A. J. Turgeon	(Ph.D. Michigan State), Professor of Turfgrass Management. Teaches a case studies course in turfgrass management, and leads the development of high-technology courseware for the College of Agricultural Sciences. Also, conducts research in turfgrass morphogenesis, edaphology and management systems.
	Dr. Thomas L. Watschke	(Ph.D. Virginia Polytechnic), Professor of Turfgrass Science. Advisor to and undergraduate coordinator for Turfgrass Science Major in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences. Teaches course in turfgrass management and team teaches pest management in the four-year curriculum and teaches weed control and management systems in the two-year curriculum. Weed control, growth regulation, fertilizer effects, and cultivar evaluation for turfgrass; physiology and microclimate of turfgrass; contributions of turfgrass to environmental quality; nutrient and pesticide contents in runoff and percolating water from turfgrass sites; factors affecting water infiltration and percolation on turfgrass areas.