Introducing Kurt Hockemeyer, Research Fellow, Turfgrass Pathology
2014. I attended the American Phytopathological Society annual meeting in Minneapolis in 2014 where I met Dr. Angela Orshinsky who was looking for a research I grew up on a small dairy farm in fellow in turfgrass pathology. Soon Indiana where I developed a love for working outdoors and a passion for the after that I moved to the Twin Cities to start work with Dr. Orshinsky. game of golf. Pursuing an undergrad My research projects are focused degree in turf science from Purdue on comparing the potency of University allowed me to combine different fungicides against all the these interests. As an undergrad, I snow mold pathogens, particularly experienced a golf course internship, at Chevy Chase Club near Washington Myriosclerotinia borealis, the snow scald pathogen. Since M. borealis is D.C. and at the Ford Plantation near an ascomycete and the Typhula snow Savannah, GA. These opportunities molds are basidiomycetes, we expect allowed me the chance to work with both cool and warm season turfgrasses. that there might be differences in the sensitivity of the pathogens to various I was offered the opportunity to conduct a small research project while active ingredients. I am also going to working at the Ford Plantation, which screen various grass and plant species, including weeds to determine the host inspired me to pursue a career in range of M. borealis. I am excited for research. the chance to live in Minnesota where After graduating with my BS in turf science in May 2011, I started work on I can fish and enjoy the outdoors. my MS with Dr. Rick Latin at Purdue University. My thesis research worked to quantify fungicide residues in turf verdure/thatch, roots, and rhizosphere sand when the fungicides were applied to control root diseases. I also tested the potency of several fungicides against Magnaporthe poae, the summer patch pathogen. I graduated with my MS in turf pathology in August of
Above, turf pathologist Kurt Hockemeyer Page 27