Pictures are linked to hi-res scans David Soderlund Credit: J. Ogrodnick – NYSAES, Cornell University

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 3, 2007
Contact: Linda McCandless, llm3@cornell.edu

David Soderlund Named Entomology Chair at Cornell's NYS Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva
by Joe Ogrodnick

Geneva, NY: David M. Soderlund, professor of entomology at Cornell University's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (NYSAES) in Geneva, N.Y., has been appointed chairman of the Department of Entomology. He succeeds Wendell Roelofs, who is stepping down after 16 years. The appointment was effective July 1.

"Dave Soderlund will be an excellent chair of this department," Roelofs said of his successor. "He knows the importance of both applied research and extension and will be a strong advocate for all members of the department to maintain its standing as one of the best in the country for transferring basic findings to stakeholders."

"I am very pleased that Dave has agreed to serve as chair of Entomology," said NYSAES Director Tom Burr.  "The department has an exceptional history of accomplishment, and I am confident that Dave will provide the vision and commitment for that to continue. I very much look forward to working with him in his new role."

Soderlund anticipates that his greatest initial challenge will be balancing his new administrative responsibilities with the continued management of his research program, which is focused on determining the sites and modes of action of insecticides in the nervous system and elucidating the mode of action of insecticides acting at those sites. "I am very fortunate to have an excellent research and administrative support staff to help me make this transition," he said.

"Serving as chair gives me an opportunity to give something back to my own department," Soderlund said. "Entomology is a strong and vibrant department, and it has benefited from excellent leadership under Wendell Roelofs. My goal is simply to continue to support the faculty and assist the department in responding creatively to new opportunities."

Soderlund earned a B.S. in biology (magna cum laude) from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash. in 1971 and a Ph.D. in insecticide toxicology from the University of California, Berkeley in 1976.

He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Chemical Society, the Entomological Society of America, the Society for Neuroscience and the Society of Toxicology.

Soderlund received the Entomological Society of America Eastern Branch Distinguished Achievement Award in Insect Physiology (biochemistry and toxicology) in  2001.

He serves on the editorial boards of Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology and Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology, is associate editor of  Invertebrate Neurobiology  and  in 2002 was guest editor of a special issue of Toxicology.

Link: David Soderlund's faculty webpage

Home | About Us | Academics | Commodity & Diagnostic Help | Departments & Units News & Events | Public Outreach | Publications | Station Life