University of Massachusetts' Peter Veneman, Professor and Head at the Department of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences, has announced the hiring of a turf physiologist, Michelle DaCosta.
ATG President Steve Curry is "very excited about this development and the forward progress the University is making in reinvigorating the turf program."
DaCosta graduated with honors in 2000 from the turf program at Rutgers University and recently completed her Ph.D. degree, also from Rutgers University. Her dissertation was entitled: "Physiological and morphological characteristics associated with drought resistance in bentgrass species." Her advisor was Professor Bingru Huang, a well-known turf physiologist. Dr. DaCosta, although just starting her academic career, has been already widely published.
"The university is making good on its promise to invest and develop the turf program," Curry says. Dr. DaCosta is the great addition Umass needed to lead the turf program back to prominence."
"I'm really excited about the prospects of meeting and working with the members of the UMASS Alumni Turf Group and New England turfgrass industry," DaCosta says. "The willingness of the industry to be active and support the turfgrass research program at UMASS was one of the major reasons for my decision to join the turf group at UMASS."
DaCosta has considerable experience with both field and laboratory research, as well as with fundamental and applied research, but she recognizes the importance of relating her research objectives to the needs of the turfgrass industry.
"Her references spoke very highly about her abilities as a teacher and public speaker," Veneman says.
DaCosta will start at UMass on September 1, 2006. She is planning on attending the UMass Turf Field Day on June 21, 2006.
ATG President Steve Curry is "very excited about this development and the forward progress the University is making in reinvigorating the turf program."
DaCosta graduated with honors in 2000 from the turf program at Rutgers University and recently completed her Ph.D. degree, also from Rutgers University. Her dissertation was entitled: "Physiological and morphological characteristics associated with drought resistance in bentgrass species." Her advisor was Professor Bingru Huang, a well-known turf physiologist. Dr. DaCosta, although just starting her academic career, has been already widely published.
"The university is making good on its promise to invest and develop the turf program," Curry says. Dr. DaCosta is the great addition Umass needed to lead the turf program back to prominence."
"I'm really excited about the prospects of meeting and working with the members of the UMASS Alumni Turf Group and New England turfgrass industry," DaCosta says. "The willingness of the industry to be active and support the turfgrass research program at UMASS was one of the major reasons for my decision to join the turf group at UMASS."
DaCosta has considerable experience with both field and laboratory research, as well as with fundamental and applied research, but she recognizes the importance of relating her research objectives to the needs of the turfgrass industry.
"Her references spoke very highly about her abilities as a teacher and public speaker," Veneman says.
DaCosta will start at UMass on September 1, 2006. She is planning on attending the UMass Turf Field Day on June 21, 2006.
