Sarah R. (Devereux) Thompson, Ph.D., a recent graduate from North Carolina State University in entomology, has been chosen to receive the Musser International Turfgrass Foundation Award of Excellence for 2006.
The annual award is presented to an outstanding doctoral student of turfgrass
science who has made significant and innovative contributions to turfgrass
science research. This year’s award winner also receives a $20,000 cash
award.
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A native of Monkton, Md., Thompson earned a Bachelor's degree from
the University of Maryland in 1999. She earned her Master's and Ph.D at North Carolina State University where her work involved the investigation of the
biology and behavior of mole crickets and and examination of factors that limit the success of biological control agents for control of turfgrass insect pests.
Thompson is currently a Senior Research Scientist at BASF Corporation in Research Triangle Park, NC. Her position is in research and development of innovative technologies for the global insecticide market.
Since 2002, Thompson has published 24 peer-reviewed scientific papers,
progress/field day research reports, abstracts, extension publications and
popular articles. Her speaking activities included various guest lectures at
North Carolina State University as well as invited speaking engagements at the 2005 International Turfgrass Research Conference, the 2006 Golf Industry Show, and numerous N.C. Turf Industry Conferences and N.C. Pest Control Technicians’ Schools.
During her graduate studies at North Carolina State University, Thompson worked under the direction of Rick Brandenburg, Ph.D. Her involvement in the turfgrass science program included conducting field, greenhouse, and laboratory research, as well as teaching and guest lecturing in the areas of turfgrass science and entomology.
Thompson’s Master's and Ph.D. work involved a detailed examination into the biology of Scapteriscus mole crickets and biological control with the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana. Thompson’s initial work explored strain differences in spore viability and pathogenicity and detection and avoidance by the mole crickets. The final phase of her research involved a closer look at the environmental conditions and management practices that influence the success of the fungus for mole cricket control. In addition to her applied research, she conducted studies to determine the mechanism that mole crickets utilize to detect and avoid contact with pathogens, such as B. bassiana.
“Sarah represents excellence in all that she does," says Rick Brandenburg, Ph.D. at North Carolina State University. " She stands head and shoulders above all other Ph.D. students I know.”
Thompson’s career goals are to:
- Gain a better understanding of the life cycles and behaviors of insect pests
- Identify the factors that influence the success of biological control products
- Develop new environmentally-safe chemistries for insect control
- Prevent the development and spread of insecticide resistance
- Provide training to turfgrass professionals to help them accurately identify insect pests and implement more efficient monitoring and management programs
University of Wisconsin Graduate Receives Musser Foundation Award
Kurt Steinke, Ph.D., a recent graduate from the University of Wisconsin in horticulture and soil science, also has been chosen to receive the Musser International Turfgrass Foundation Award of Excellence for 2006.
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A native of Belvidere, Ill., Steinke earned a Bachelor’s degree in soil science from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1999. He earned his Master’s degree and Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where his work involved the investigation of physiological stresses on Poa supina and the use of vegetative buffer strips in quantifying and controlling phosphorus and urban stormwater runoff within urban landscapes.
Steinke is currently an Assistant Professor of Turfgrass Ecology at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. His appointment is 70 percent research and 30 percent teaching within the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences. Since 2000, Steinke has published 40 peer-reviewed scientific papers, progress/field day research reports, abstracts, and popular articles. His speaking activities have included presentations both nationally and internationally, including the 2003 International Turfgrass Management and Science for Sports Fields Conference in Athens, Greece.
He has given numerous extension talks around the upper Midwest region including the annual Wisconsin Turfgrass and Greenscape Expo. Steinke began working in the agricultural industry as an intern at the agricultural research station in Hancock, Wis. While interning, he primarily focused on vegetable crop production but was soon intrigued by that green, non-edible crop known to most as turfgrass.
During his graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Steinke worked under the direction of John Stier, Ph.D. and Wayne Kussow, Ph.D. His primary involvement in the turfgrass science program focused on applied field research and extension activities relating to the sod production, golf and landscape turfgrass industries as well as environmental issues relative to turfgrass and urban environments.
Steinke also functioned as a teaching assistant and was a frequent guest lecturer in the areas of turfgrass science and management. His graduate work involved a relatively new turfgrass species called Poa supina. He studied physiological environmental stresses of this turf including the shade, cold, traffic, and herbicide tolerances. A new management system was developed specifically for golf course superintendents dealing with shaded golf course tee boxes.
Steinke’s doctorate work investigated the use of turfgrass and native plant communities as vegetative buffer strips to effectively prevent and filter urban stormwater runoff. Kurt’s work was able to quantify the amount of phosphorus leaving these landscapes either through surface water runoff or infiltrating through to groundwater. He was able to determine what, if any, impact fertilizer applications had on the nutrient load exiting urban environments. The final phase of his research involved various impervious to pervious surface ratios with different vegetation types to determine what affect ratio and vegetation choice had on surface runoff flows.
Steinke’s career goals are to
- Develop a productive and successful turfgrass ecology research program at Texas A&M University
- Effectively educate and prepare undergraduate environmental and agricultural students with the tools necessary to manage the complex ecological systems and tolerate the political pressures that are both represented within urban environments
- Develop improved management practices for the turfgrass industry that eliminate any fear of environmental contamination
- Enjoy, enhance, and contribute to the vast knowledge that exists in the field of turfgrass science
The Musser International Turfgrass Foundation is dedicated to fostering turfgrass management as a learned profession. Named in memory of a turfgrass scientist, professor H. Burton Musser, The foundation acknowledges and rewards those individuals who have demonstrated excellence in the Doctoral phase of their turfgrass science education and research. These students, the Foundation believes, will be the leaders of turfgrass development and management in the years to come.
