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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 23, 2000
Contact: Linda McCandless, llm3@cornell.edu, 315-787-2417
Epidemiologist Joins Geneva Faculty
By Peter Seem
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William Turechek, new assistant professor of plant pathology, at Cornell’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. CREDIT: K. Stevens/NYSAES/Cornell |
GENEVA, NY: William Turechek has been named assistant professor of tree fruit and berry crop pathology at Cornell University in the department of plant pathology at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, in Geneva, NY.
As an epidemiologist Turechek studies the movement of disease through time and space in a population of plants. "I would really like to initiate research with small fruits, cherries or peaches," said Turechek.The position is 40 percent research and 60 percent extension. "The key was finding somebody who truly wanted to do the extension, not just give it lip service. It really came through from Bill’s previous research with hops’ growers that he was willing to address their needs and answer their questions," said Helene Dillard, chairwoman of the department of plant pathology.
Turechek is very enthusiastic about the extension work he will be doing with Cornell. "There are many well qualified agents and researchers doing a tremendous amount of research in tree fruits and small fruits," he said.
Turechek, originally from the Hudson Valley, came to Geneva from his post-doc at Oregon State University. While in Corvallis, Oregon, he studied the epidemiology of powdery mildew, which had been unknown in the Northwest prior to 1995. He received his masters from the University of Georgia working with pecan scab and his Ph.D. from Ohio State studying strawberries, both in plant pathology.
Dillard said, "Bill is an excellent candidate. We’re really fortunate to have him on board — a fresh new young person with a lot of energy and very eager to get started."
