Lisa Beirn has been chosen to travel this summer with the agronomists from the Northeast Region.  Lisa is a second year Ph.D. student at Rutgers University where she is studying turfgrass pathology under the direction of Dr. Bruce Clarke. Her research emphasizes several fungal pathogens of turfgrass, including rust, dollar spot, and anthracnose disease.

            Lisa’s interest in turfgrass diseases began during her undergraduate career while working as an assistant at the Rutgers Plant Diagnostic Laboratory. It was at that time she was first exposed to turfgrass pathology and discovered her passion for disease diagnostics.  She has since worked to advance disease identification methods and increase the understanding of pathogen biology to improve disease management control.

            Lisa plans to graduate in 2014 and begin her career as a turfgrass pathologist in extension or industry.