Pictures are linked to hi-res scans Kerik D. Cox has joined the Department of Plant Pathology as assistant professor of tree fruit and berry crop pathology at Cornell University's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. Credit: J. Ogrodnick – NYSAES, Cornell University

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 10, 2006
Contact: Linda McCandless, llm3@cornell.edu, 607-254-5137

Plant Pathologist Joins faculty at Cornell's Geneva Experiment Station

By Joe Ogrodnick

GENEVA, NY: Kerik D. Cox has joined the Department of Plant Pathology as assistant professor of tree fruit and berry crop pathology at Cornell University's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (NYSAES).

"We are pleased that Dr. Cox has joined our faculty and look forward to working with him as he develops a research and extension program that will be important to the stakeholders of New York," said Harvey C. Hoch, professor and chair of Plant Pathology.

Cox will lead the statewide extension program on tree fruit and berry crop pathology, including an education program addressing the cause and control of crop diseases in New York directed toward extension educators, growers, private consultants, and agribusiness personnel.

Hoch said that Cox brings to Cornell expertise in peach and blueberry diseases-a background that will help him transition into solving problems on these and other fruit diseases of the region. "With 50 percent extension responsibilities, we anticipate his role as the 'point person' for tree fruit and berry diseases to continue the longstanding recognition the Experiment Station and the department have historically held in this area."

"This position was an excellent match for my scientific background and interests," Cox said. "I've worked primarily with tree and small fruit pathosystems and with fruit extension pathologists throughout my scientific career, and I feel most familiar and comfortable with issues related to fruit disease and fruit production systems."

Cox is in the process of shifting his research from peaches and blueberries to apples, cherries, strawberries, and the other small fruit planted in the Northeastern U.S. "I still plan to focus my research on questions related to disease development and disease management." he said "I'm interested in investigating biological, safe chemical, and cultural control practices as well as pathogen survival and inoculum dynamics of fruit diseases of critical importance to the region. One long-term goal for my program would be the development of a fruit pathology genomics initiative that would be of benefit to the New York fruit industry."

Cox received a B.S. (Biology) in 1998 from Furman University, an M.S. (Plant Pathology) in 2000 from the University of Georgia, Athens, and his Ph.D. (Plant Pathology) in 2004 also from the University of Georgia, Athens.  His most recent position was that of a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Entomology, Soils, and Plant Science at Clemson University.

Cox is a recipient of numerous awards and honors. Among them is the Roger C. Pearson Award from the American Phytopathological Society; The Kenneth E. Papa Outstanding Graduate Student Award, Georgia Association of Plant Pathologists; Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, April, 2002; the E. Broadus Brown Award for the best M.S. Student in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia; and first place in the Georgia Association of Plant Pathologists Student Paper Competition, March 2000. He is a member of the American Phytopathological Society (APS) and the Georgia Association of Plant Pathologists (GAPP).

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Related Links:
Kerik Cox's faculty webpage

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