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Jo Anne A Crouch

Research Leader

Contact information

Dr. Jo Anne Crouch

joanne.crouch@usda.gov

Foreign Disease/Weed Science Research
1301 Ditto Avenue, Fort Detrick, MD 21702

Beneficial Insects Introduction Research
501 South Chapel Street, Newark, DE 19713

Phone: 240-405-6225

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Jo Anne Crouch is the Research Leader for the USDA-ARS Foreign Disease/Weed Science Research Unit (FDWSRU), located on the Fort Detrick U.S. Army installation in Frederick, MD. At the FDWSRU, Dr. Crouch leads a multidisciplinary team of scientists studying numerous foreign and newly emerging plant pathogens and weeds that pose threats to U.S. agriculture and the environment. The FDWSRU is the only USDA-ARS facility equipped to safely study hazardous plant pathogens requiring high containment at Biosafety Level 3. The FDWSRU’s unique science and technology base serves not only to address current threats to U.S. agriculture, but is also an essential element in the response to any future biological threats posed by foreign plant pathogens.

Dr. Crouch is also serving as the Acting Research Leader of the USDA-ARS Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit (BIIRL). The BIIRL conducts research to help manage invasive insect pests by introducing effective natural enemies from the pest’s native range. This approach (classical or introduction biological control) can lead to permanent reductions in pest populations.

 

Research Emphasis

Identify genotypes, variants & species limits of high consequence foreign pathogens of U.S. agriculture; and develop identification resources for fungi and oomycete plant pathogens, including diagnostic assays, molecular datasets, barcoding tools, & molecular phylogenies. Current research projects in the lab are focused on pathogens that cause downy mildew diseases of cereals & grasses, fungal pathogens of corn and other cereal crops, boxwood blight, and foreign oak wilt diseases.

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Projects

 

Publications

  • Use the drop down box below to view publications at USDA-ARS (2011-present):

 

Education

Ph.D. Plant Biology, Rutgers University
B.S. Plant Science, Rutgers University  

  

Research Experience

  • Research Leader, USDA-ARS, Foreign Disease/Weed Science Research Unit, Frederick, MD, 2022-present
  • Acting Research Leader, USDA-ARS, Beneficial Insect Introductions Research Unit, Newark, DE, 2024-present
  • Research Molecular Biologist, USDA-ARS, Mycology and Nematology Genetic Diversity and Biology Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, 2011-2022
  • Acting National Program Leader, Plant Health, USDA-ARS, Office of National Programs, Crop Production and Protection, Beltsville, MD, 2017-2018
  • Post-doctoral Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS, Cereal Disease Laboratory, St. Paul, MN, 2009-2011
  • Research Fellow/Assistant/Associate, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 2002-2009

 

Honors & Awards

  • Partnership Award for Program Improvement Through Global Engagement Category; team award associated with Speciality Crop Research Initiative boxwood blight research consortium, USDA National Institute for Agriculture, 2022.
  • Arthur S. Flemming Award for Applied Science, George Washington University & the Arthur S. Flemming Awards Commission, 2020.
  • Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), White House Office of Science and Technology, 2019.
  • Distinguished Service Award, American Phytopathological Society, Potomac Division, 2019.
  • USDA-ARS, Herbert L. Rothbart Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award, 2016.
  • Northeast Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors Award for Excellence in Multistate Research, NE1025: Biology, Ecology and Management of Emerging Pests of Annual Bluegrass Golf Courses, 2011.
  • Rutgers Cooperative Extension “Best of the Best” Team Award: “Integrated Program for Management of Emerging Pests of Annual Bluegrass on Golf Courses”, 2011.
  • The Musser International Turfgrass Foundation, Award of Excellence, 2009.
  • Mycological Society of America/North American Mycological Association Memorial Graduate Fellowship, 2008.
  • Gerald O. Mott Scholarship for Meritorious Graduate Students in Crop Science, Crop Science Society of America, 2008.
  • Rutgers University Dean's Award for Graduate Student Research, 2008.
  • Theobald Smith Society, New Jersey Branch of the American Society of Microbiology, Scholarship for Exemplary Achievement in Graduate Study in Microbiology, 2007.
  • Spencer Davis Graduate Research Award, Rutgers University, 2005.
  • Executive Women of New Jersey, Graduate Merit Award, 2005.
  • The Land Institute Natural Systems Agriculture Graduate Fellowship, 2004-8.
  • Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowship, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2005.
  • Peter Selmer Loft Memorial and Ralph Geiger Scholarships, Rutgers Center for Turfgrass Science, 2002-7.
  • Plant Science Excellence Award, Rutgers University, 2002.

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